Letters to the editor June 1

Endorses Joe Dooling for PSC District 5

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Joe Dooling for running for the Montana Public Service Commission in District 5. I’m glad to see that someone with his previous experience with infrastructure projects and the experience of running a ranch in today’s world is willing to invest his time in the important work of the PSC.

I’ve known Joe and his wife Julie for several years and I have found them to be the kind of hard working people that you can count on in tough times. I appreciate that they have close family ties in our valley and understand the challenges we face.

I think most of us would agree that the Commission has been through a particularly difficult past few years and it’s clear that it needs some new ideas and energy. I think Joe is the kind of tough-minded person that can represent our best interests in the complicated world that is regulated by the Public Service Commission. I’m glad to see Joe is willing to make this commitment and appreciate his willingness to serve.

— Frank Garner, Kalispell

Neumann will make government work

Our Montana Constitution states, “All political power is vested in and derived from the people.” I love that quote.

In our current world of lobbyists, big money and media political favoritism there is one candidate that stands above the fray, Constance Neumann for HD 9. Neumann has the tools and the backbone to make government work for the people of Montana. There is not one individual Montana legislator that can change the culture in Helena, but a vote for Neumann this June 7 will be one small step towards pressing back against government forces that desire to congregate that political power to the halls in the Capitol. \

Vote for Neumann is a vote to move more political power to us, ‘the people”.

— Matt Regier, Kalispell

Liberal in conservative’s clothing?

This year Flathead County Commissioner Pam Holmquist spent $1,700,000 of the taxpayers’ money with the county’s insurance company MACo. That is up from $1,270,000 in 2019. Of that amount $400,000 plus was for general liability insurance. That was up from $342,900 in 2019.

General liability insurance is used to cover legal costs when the county commissioners gets sued for making bad decisions, i.e. the bridge at the north end of Flathead Lake and Friends of Lake Five. Pam Holmquist doesn’t care if the county gets sued because she just hands the court case over to the county insurance company. Why does not the county attorney represent the commissioners in court? Hmmmm!

You’d think the commissioners would be in the business of making good decisions rather than relying of their insurance company to bail them in court.

Is Pam Holmquist a fiscal conservative or a liberal in conservative’s clothing? She sure likes to spend taxpayer’s money on insurance to cover her bad decisions.

Kind of makes one wonder what other self serving decisions Commissioner Holmquist has made during her last two terms in office.

Perhaps it is time for a change in the commissioners’ office.

— Lee Pinski, Kalispell

Climate change scores

The Montana Free Press asked Montana’s congressional candidates 11 questions. Question #5 is:

“To what extent do you see climate change as an urgent issue? What if any federal action would you support to mitigate its effects?”

Only one candidate, Republican Dr. Al Olszewski gets an “A” because he correctly and boldly answered, “Man-made climate change is a hoax.”

Two Republicans, Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale, get a “C” because they put energy sources on a level playing field, but they do not fight for climate truth.

Without climate truth, we waste time, talent, and money on the illusion that our CO2 causes dangerous climate change. We waste money capturing carbon dioxide when we need CO2 to grow food. We damage America’s economy, education, energy, national defense, national IQ, and child sanity.

Five Republicans, five Democrats, five Libertarians, and one Independent – plus MTGOP and NRP – get an “F” because they are pathetically climate-change illiterate.

They think human CO2 – which is only 5% of human plus natural CO2 emissions – is 30% of atmospheric CO2. They think human CO2 stays in the atmosphere longer than natural CO2. These illusions cannot happen because human and natural CO2 molecules are identical, so they must flow out of the atmosphere at the same rates.

Climate truth is the science of the people who will not be slaves.

— Ed Berry, Bigfork

Sprunger supports police, veterans

I am writing this letter in support of Courtenay Sprunger for House District 7. Courtenay is a friend of mine and is a staunch supporter of law enforcement and first responders. With the rising crime in the valley, we need someone who will stand behind our men and women in law enforcement and provide legislation that will help them and not hurt them! She is also a proud supporter of veterans and will guarantee that our veterans will be taken care of.

Courtenay has a long record of service to the citizens of Kalispell and the Flathead Valley. She is the immediate past chair of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. She is a Montana ambassador and has served on local nonprofits and organizations such as Flathead Area Young Professionals and the Conrad Mansion. She is a member of Daybreak Rotary, has served as a youth mentor for teen girls in her church, and coached Rotary basketball and volleyball.

Courtenay has the ability to work well with others to tackle complex issues facing the Flathead such as housing, workforce development, and the rise of crime. As I have pointed out, she has a long history of working for Kalispell and will continue to do so as the representative for House District 7.

— Martin Schrock, Kalispell

Brockman most qualified for HD9

Much like Capt. Renault in “Casablanca” I was “shocked, shocked” to see Republican campaign literature that disavows the most qualified Republican running for office, Tony Brockman.

I have known Tony since he was an eighth grade student at Helena Flats School, but didn’t start talking politics with him until he was in high school, working at Norm’s News and a member of the Young Republican Club. I tried to convince him to switch to the Young Democrats, but Tony couldn’t be swayed. He was already a hard-core Republican.

My next attempt came when he was a staff member for the Montana Legislature and we shared an elevator ride together. When I asked if he was ready to switch parties I got a resounding “No”.

A similar failure occurred when he was working in the election office. My request that time was that he run for office — hoping he was finally ready to switch. He said he’d run someday, but as a Republican.

By the time I saw him next, at the Planning Board meeting to adopt the Flathead County Trails Plan, I had given up hope that he would ever change. But I was impressed that he had taken the time to attend the meeting, something that none of the elected Republicans had done.

Besides a lifelong commitment to the Republican party Tony’s qualifications include a degree in Political Science and History from U of M, a stint as the committee secretary for the Montana House Appropriations Committee, a 2011 recipient of the prestigious ServeMontana awards, a stint in the Flathead County Elections Office, and another at the Agency on Aging.

Tony and I have different priorities. But even with our differences I cannot think of anyone better qualified to represent House District 9 in the 2023 Montana Legislature.

And I find it ironic that after my best efforts over the years to turn Tony into a Democrat, it is a Republican group that is doing so.

— Diane Taylor-Mahnke, Whitefish

Conservative climate solutions

After TV cameras were turned off at the District 1 Congressional Republican debate in Whitefish I had the opportunity to ask the candidates a question about climate change.

Most of Montana is seized by drought. Last year swaths of Montana had “Exceptional” drought, the worst it gets. Scientists say climate change is making it much worse. Rising temperatures means more evaporation.

The debate touched on the devastation our farmers and ranchers are experiencing from drought. Given all this, I asked what conservative solutions to climate change they supported.

Most of what I heard can be summed up as “no reason to even ask.”

I disagree. Polling shows Republicans, especially younger Republicans, are concerned about climate change. Some Republicans are speaking up, like Congressman Curtis in Utah.

In Montana it sometimes seems there is no place for conservatives to talk about climate change. But, there is with Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). Climate change is not just a single party issue. It affects all of us.

At CCL we promote bipartisan market-based policy. Carbon Cash-Backs make big polluters pay us, driving them to use clean energy. Also, Europe and Canada’s planned border carbon taxes are coming soon. Taxing carbon at our border will keep America competitive and eliminate free-riding by other more polluting countries.

Tired of politics? Want to talk solutions? Join us! All are welcome.

— Robin Paone, Whitefish