Letters to the editor June 6

Public records

Fact: Ryan Zinke and his wife have one principal residence and that is in Santa Barbara, California. (a Santa Barbara County tax filing Bill # 20211025923, submitted with the Santa Barbara county government shows a homeowner exemption for the California home for the fiscal year that started last July. The exemption, which offers a $7,000 deduction on property value assessments, applies to homes that “MUST HAVE BEEN THE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF RESIDENCE OF THE OWNER ” at the beginning of the calendar year.

Fact: California state statute (505.0078, states “when a husband and wife have more than one residence, their principal residence is the residence at the place at which they intend to live permanently,”

Fact: Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution makes it legal to run for Congress in another state.

So, either you are cheating on your California taxes or lying to Montanans. Which is it?

Come on Montanans! Vote for a Montanan Republican or a Montanan Democrat, but just not California resident.

— Patty Sommerfield-Brennan, Lakeside

Down the stretch they come

In the campaign for PSC5, a four-horse race has developed. The two favorites, Skees and Dooling, are career politicians, backed by big money special interest groups. Bukacek and Crabb are the underdogs, backed only by voters in four counties. That’s like flatulating against thunder!

It’s akin to the recent Kentucky Derby, and as we enter the far turn, the favorites are in front. Crabb is faltering, but Bukacek is moving up. Dr. Annie has become the Rich Strike of this race. A candidate with heart; a long shot surging forward as we come down the stretch.

Seems that Skees, as chair of the House Energy Committee, voted against HB99 in 2021, a bill that would have removed favoritism reserved for North Western Energy and their six paid lobbyists.

Now, I ain’t nuthin’ but a natural-born fool from the Canyon, but Skees’ vote stinks like a four-day sun-soaked road-killed possum.

Don’t know about y’all, but I’m fixin’ to vote for Dr. Annie Bukacek — the Rich Strike, 80:1 longshot with a heart bigger than Montana. Let’s get Annie to the Winner’s Circle on June 7. Kick the foxes out of the henhouse!

— Willie Douglass, Hungry Horse

Endorses Dooling

It’s my pleasure to recommend my husband Joe Dooling, candidate for Public Service Commission District 5, as I truly believe that he is the best candidate.

I am most proud of Joe’s strong work ethic. Joe began his dream to one day own his own farm/ranch in 1999, when he moved to the Helena Valley and leased a 230-acre hay field with only a pick-up truck and borrowed tractor. From there, Joe has worked tirelessly each year to improve and grow the business, while working full-time at an engineering firm. Now our family farm/ranch has grown to include malt barley and a cow/calf operation.

Joe’s 15+ years as project manager and business development with a multi-state engineering firm has left him with a deep knowledge of Montana’s electric and water infrastructure and a vast array of friends and business contacts from every corner of Montana and beyond.

Joe was appointed by President Trump to the Montana Farm Service Agency (FSA) where one duty of the committee was to rule on appealed cases. At their meetings, the FSA staff provided recommendations for the cases being heard. While Joe appreciated the work the staff put into their recommendations, occasionally he would “buck the system” and vote against the recommendation. He didn’t figure he was there to be “yes man,” rather he was there to hear the whole story and fight for the farmer or rancher that really needed the assistance. I was told those were really interesting meetings!

Joe will use his lifelong work ethic of “work hard and stand up for those who need it the most” to work for all Montanans at the Public Service Commission.

Please join me in voting for Joe Dooling - Montana’s PSC District 5.

— Julie Dooling, Helena

Ingram will represent conservatives

As a Flathead County resident for more than 80 years, a conservative Republican, and a former president of the Republican Women’s Club, I feel confident and qualified to recommend my neighbor and friend, Dr. Dave Ingram, for House District 7.

He is a compassionate caring retired physician. One of his primary concerns is our children’s future, with a goal of protecting our children and grandchildren from pedophilic pornography and empowering their parents to be involved in their children’s character development. Another primary concern is to protect the provider-patient relationship to ensure Montana citizens have Healthcare freedom and resist Federal overreach/mandates and “Big Tech” censorship.

Dave has previously served our community on physician and hospital board positions and has coached youth sports. He is an active member of the Flathead County Republican Central Committee, Flathead County Republican Women’s Club, and Glacier Country Pachyderm.

In contrast, it is my understanding his opponent, Courtenay Sprunger, does not actively participate in any of these organizations.

Please consider who will best represent the conservative citizens of Flathead County and vote for Dr. Dave Ingram for House District 7 on June 7.

— Fran Ollendike, Kalispell

Tranel a true Montanan

By now, many Western Montana voters may vote by absentee ballot in the primary election. There is little doubt that the most important race in this election is for the recently created seat in Congress. In particular, voters in the Democratic primary have an opportunity to choose not only the best candidate to go up against the likely Republican nominee, Ryan Zinke, but also to select someone who would be a strong voice for Montana in a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.

Monica Tranel, is the person best prepared for that job. She has worked as a public interest attorney, demonstrating her commitment to taking on powerful interests on behalf of Montana consumers. In addition, Monica is a true Montanan, raised on a ranch, the mother of three children, a two-time Olympian, and a tested and experienced candidate for office. An important consideration for most voters is where a candidate gets her money. In that regard you need to know that, based on the latest available reports, 81% of Monica’s financial supporters are Montanans. In contrast, only 23% of her strongest competitor’s contributors are from Montana.

Monica Tranel is clearly the best candidate and deserves your vote.

— Fred Van Valkenburg, Missoula

Bukacek is an Energizer Bunny

I am writing in support of Dr. Ann Bukacek for District 5 Public Service Commissioner.

For one, she is a lauded physician and thankfully not another power-hungry career politician looking for a place to sleep for eight years.

Over the past couple years as a member of the Flathead County Health Board, Dr. Bukacek has proven to be the most consistent, measured voice of reason among a crowd of panic-mongers and would-be authoritarians. She demonstrated the firmest commitment to constitutional principles and limited government, especially in the face of loud, pernicious opposition by those who do not like their authority questioned. She demonstrated an unwavering tenacity when standing against bureaucratic overreach and backed herself up with meticulous research every time.

She also displayed the limitless energy of a fusion reactor crossed with the Energizer Bunny. If any government body in this state needs that level of energy right now, it’s the Public Service Commission.

All these qualities combined in one person make her the obvious choice. Dr. Bukacek is easily my preferred candidate by a long shot. I will check that box by her name on my ballot this year, and I will do so with a smile.

— Chris Weil, Kalispell

Look at Skees’ record

Montana citizens passed Initiative 80 with solid non-partisan support, including over 70% of voters in Flathead County and Lake County. Initiative 80 set safety and liability requirements, and required voter approval, for establishment of any nuclear generating facilities in the state.

Prompted by Rep. Derek Skees, the 2021 Montana Legislature repealed those requirements. Upon being term-limited out of the Legislature, Mr. Skees now seeks election as District 5 Public Service Commissioner. This raises concern because he has also been promoting a proposal to allow private construction of a nuclear reactor in the shell of the coal fired power plant in Colstrip, favoring a company with a history of faltering finances and skyrocketing development costs. Montana ratepayers would be saddled with such expenses during the reactor’s usable lifespan, as well as with the costs of on-site storage and security for the resulting radioactive waste for thousands of years to come.

Fortunately, there are some conscientious and qualified candidates running for the Public Service Commission. Try to choose one who will respect the interests and wishes of the voters.

— Perry Gliessman, Butte