Letters to the editor Dec. 19

When politics eclipses science

The article, “County extends health officer contract, OKs pay raise,” only addresses half of the problem the health department has faced in recruiting a new health officer.

In the third paragraph the resignations of the previous health officer and the interim who replaced her (both within a year and both quality people we were lucky to have) are mentioned but not explained. One factor making recruitment difficult in addition to a low salary is the lack of support for these two health officers from the three commissioners as they faced the pandemic.

The appointment of an antivaxing board member (Annie Bukacek) and her early success, with the help of other board members including Commissioner Holmquist, in blocking reasonable policies that the interim health officer tried to institute, caused her resignation.

The newest commissioner, Brad Abell, seems to follow the pattern of his predecessor, Phil Mitchell.

“I don’t agree very much with Joe,” sums up the problem. Working with Joe at the vaccine clinics, I can attest to his in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the science of this pandemic. I seriously doubt that Abell bases his disagreement on anything but opinion, and opinion should not be used to set policy on such a serious medical issue as a pandemic virus. He and the other politicians (commissioners) exemplify what happens when politics eclipses science.

Annie Bukacek, the antivaxer board member, has been a negative force for any reasonable policies put forth by now three health officers. She should never have been appointed and based on her continued and very public anti-public health behavior should be removed.

I see little chance in successful recruitment of a quality candidate regardless of salary as long as the unconditional support of the Board and the Commissioners for the health officer is lacking.

— David Myerowitz, Columbia Falls

Political activists

I am writing to express my concern for the Imagine If library, I have been reading about the ongoing conflict between the library professionals and the board appointed to: hire and evaluate the performance of the library director, set policy, approve the operating budget and oversee its implementation, and serve as an advocate and spokesperson for the library.

It seems there are a couple of board members who either are unaware of their job description or so focused on their own agendas they have disrupted the staff and operations.

The recent resignations of Martha Furman and her predecessor following months of contentious meddling by the board is an alarming sign of a toxic situation. As Ms. Furman noted “the library has a responsibility to protect the people from government interference.”

Dave Ingram has asserted a desire to insert himself into material selection. Doug Adams went much further and very political as he called out the American Library Association, “Their line is a radical leftist agenda. As a trustee, I do not agree with their agenda and I will not be held to that agenda. It would be my goal to disassociate from them completely and rewrite policy accordingly.”

Bear in mind the ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world. Founded in 1876 “to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information to all.”

Contrary to the aforementioned board members another board member, Connie Leistiko stated, “This library has become an absolute jewel of the community, and to have new people come on board and think they need to start all over again is very concerning. I don’t apologize for trying to emphasize the role of the board for public institutions. The library has a lot of very important interests they have to protect such as First Amendment rights, rights to access and expression.”

This county has shown a propensity for making board appointments of political activists. Our county boards need to be separate from the political agendas of the commissioners. The board members need to stay in their lane and allow professionals the respect and latitude to continue to do their job.

— Kate Shaw, Lakeside

Thankful for health board members

As a citizen of Flathead County and a practicing physician, I wanted to take a moment to thank two members of the Flathead County Board of Health whose terms expire on Dec. 31.

Flathead County owes Kalispell City Councilman Kyle Waterman, and past Board of Health Chair Bill Berg a debt of gratitude. In the most challenging times ever seen in our community from a public health standpoint, they consistently advocated for evidence based decisions soundly rooted in the best available science, and did their best to keep politics out of their decision making.

It came as no surprise to me that these gentlemen answered the call to serve in this way and with such distinction. I have had the pleasure of serving with Mr. Berg on the Glacier Symphony Board, and I am proud to call Councilman Waterman a fellow Rotarian of the Rotary Club of Kalispell Daybreak. These are the good apples. These are the people who show up time and time again for our community. These are the public servants in the truest sense.

I wish the reappointed and new members the very best and hope that they can also look toward science, not politics, in their sacred task to safeguard the health of our population. And I wish Mr. Berg Councilman Waterman the satisfaction of a job well done and all the best in their future endeavors. What I am certain of is that we will all see them again serving our community in whatever capacity they can. They are the “serial do gooders.”

As we near the dawning of another new year, this is the perfect time to reflect on the year past and all that we are thankful for. I am sincerely thankful for both Bill Berg and Kyle Waterman and all they do for our community.

— Dr. Melissa Kaptanian, Kalispell