Letters to the editor May 23

Friess is the right choice

I write this letter is support of Brian Friess for Flathead County Commissioner. It is beyond time that we elect a representative that is totally committed to serving Flathead County without hidden agenda or hidden motives. We need someone who is highly intelligent and capable to lead in these profoundly unique times we live in.

He is an educated man (master’s degree as a Montana-certified science teacher) and has vast world experiences and humanitarian work in some of the harshest regions of the world. We actually are fortunate to have someone of this quality run for a local elected office. He is a believer that small healthy, robust and transparent local government is a standard we should never lose sight of.

I have known his family most of my life: his father as a local dentist and his mother as a local teacher. He and his family are of the highest degree in integrity and hard work. I know and believe he will do the best job of leading this county for all the right reasons. He is a quick learner and an amazing listener.

Please vote for Brian Friess as our next Flathead County Commissioner.

— Matthew Hall, Columbia Falls

An advocate for the fairgrounds

I am a longtime resident, and small business owner, of Kalispell; born and raised in rural Montana. I’m enthusiastically looking forward to marking my ballot in the upcoming primary election, for our conservative Republican, Pam Holmquist, for Flathead County commissioner.

Working with Pam on the Fair Board for the last few years has been a true privilege. She is very instrumental to the success of the fair and grounds, a true steward for us all. Pam is a strong advocate for our kids in 4-H and FFA, on and off the grounds. She was thoroughly thoughtful in keeping our fair going safely through the pandemic, one fair of very few.

Pam’s significant support for the fairground improvements include the recent upgraded arena panels, and one we have all enjoyed; really nice, clean restrooms.

Please join in continued support of our community by voting for Pam Holmquist in the upcoming primary election. We need her working for us!

— Helen Keil, Kalispell

Ingram will protect our values

As a seasoned voter, I like to investigate the pros and cons of issues as well as the backgrounds and current views of those running for office. With these guidelines in mind, I think the best candidate for Montana House District 7 is Dr. Dave Ingram.

Dave is a compassionate conservative not backed by big money, whose vision for Montana includes rejecting the “woke agenda” and government overreach, securing election integrity, protecting the 1st and 2nd amendments, pursuing property tax relief, and fostering environmentally sound practices, to name a few.

Dave believes in providing our children with multiple educational options and promoting vocational and trades related opportunities. Ensuring parents have significant authority over the content of their child’s curriculum is a priority. He believes in providing guardrails to protect children from created conflict with parental family values involving such concepts as sexual identity and gender fluidity.

Revisiting the obscenity laws for Montana would also be on his “to do” list hoping that public entities can more easily facilitate age-appropriate access to certain materials without any infringement on adult rights.

As a long-standing doctor in our community, he’s seen people at their worst and at their best which gives him a unique perspective when it comes to tackling the individual freedoms connected with health care issues.

Isn’t it time for a new face in the Montana House? Isn’t it time for a good, solid listener… a man who is rooted in logical and informed decision making, and who will represent and implement the core values that have made our community and state a cherished place to live and raise families?

On June 7, I encourage you to vote for Dr. Dave Ingram for House District #7.

— Nancy Ross, Kalispell

Reject the woke agenda

I grew up in Flathead County and my career made me move away for many years. I always longed to return to the Flathead. Recently, I was able to move back to the Flathead. I wanted to escape the woke agenda in the Seattle area.

I have been doing my research on the upcoming county commissioner race and I believe that Jack Fallon pushed a transgender agenda on our children back in 2015 as a member of the Kalispell school board. That year, the School District 5 school board adopted Policy 3210 and Fallon led the sub-committee that created this terrible policy. I was so surprised and discouraged when I discovered this because I thought I had escaped this woke insanity when I left the West Coast. I wanted my children to be able to live in the conservative Flathead County, free from the radical left’s transgender agenda indoctrination of my children.

Unfortunately, Fallon has made it much more difficult for us and our kids to escape the left’s radical transgender agenda.

I recommend voting for Pam Holmquist. Pam has a proven record of protecting private property rights, protecting freedom and rejecting the radical left’s woke agenda.

— Jeff Barker, Kalispell