Letters to the editor Nov. 2

Write-in for U.S. House

Montana Republicans tell those candidates who don’t win their primary races if they don’t get behind the winner; the consequences are they won’t support their next attempt for elected office. All are now behind Zinke, a flawed candidate, at best.

If you vote for Zinke here is my prediction: He will do it again.; resign in disgrace. He is a serial “what’s in it for me guy.”

How many investigations for wrongdoings? Were they all political witch hunts? No. Where there is smoke there is fire.

He barely won his primary against fellow Republican candidates of integrity and who had no trace of scandal attached to their names and who are faithful to their spouses and live their Republican family values.

Does the Montana Republican party continue to label everyone a RINO who does not support Zinke? They won’t admit it but …yes.

It’s time for Republicans to write in a candidate or just not vote on that race on their ballot.

— Karlene Khor, Kalispell

Outspoken concern

Most of us were afraid while in forced lockdown in 2020. At that time, Dr. Annie Bukacek worked diligently to bring people safely out of isolation and brought a reasoned and researched perspective to give us knowledge that helped alleviate our fears, open businesses and get us back to work. What Dr. Bukacek taught us in March and April of 2020 has over time panned out to be true without exception.

Now much of the world is in an energy crisis because of reliance on foreign and so-called “green” sources of energy. Dr. Annie unabashedly tackles this crisis, again based on reason and research, and has developed solutions based on the sensible approach of promoting energy sources that are reliable, sustainable, and available in the natural resource-rich “Treasure State” of Montana.

She has a balanced perspective that takes into account the pros and cons of the various sources of energy — wind, solar, hydroelectric, coal, natural gas, nuclear — instead of rejecting or embracing any particular source of power outright.

We need someone with Dr. Bukacek’s intelligence, dedication, research abilities, balance and outspoken concern for her fellow citizens. To me, the choice is obvious: Dr. Annie Bukacek for Public Service Commission.

— Jessica Menard, Kila

Holmquist good for the valley

Pam Holmquist has shown herself to be intelligent, honest, hard-working, and tenacious. She is good for Flathead County and I am confident she will continue to be so. Vote for Pam Holmquist.

— Olaf Ervin, Columbia Falls

Reasons to fire Holmquist

For the past 12 years, we’ve all watched Pam:

• Govern by delay, tabling decisions in which she has no idea on how to vote.

• Choose to be absent for hot button votes.

• Appoint controversial individuals, including former campaign staffers to county boards as political payback, causing endless chaos.

• Turn her back on the community of Evergreen and its children by blocking safe sidewalks to school every step of the way.

• Leave her Evergreen property as blight.

• Waste $2 million taxpayer dollars in overages on the old Centurytel building, that could have been used to fund law enforcement.

• Refuse to support our sheriff, watch Flathead County lose 11 deputies, refusing to fund more, putting us all at risk.

• Failed to end county lawsuits, accumulating more suits than ever before.

• Enter office with a mid 60 million dollar budget and balloon it to nearly 115 million (NOT fiscally conservative).

• Raid the jail fund to finance her pet project, the rail park.

Pam Holmquist, as Commissioner, has cost Flathead County millions of dollars. We gave her 12 years to accomplish something for our valley. If the “experts” are correct, we’re now in a recession and things will only get worse moving forward. Do we really expect Pam Holmquist to be the one to lead us through a recession? 12 years of Pam Holmquist in office is quite enough, we simply can’t afford to give her six more years.

Let’s back the blue and restore sanity to the commissioner’s office. Color in the oval and write-in Jack Fallon for commissioner.

— ​Debbie Street, Kalispell

Politically motivated investigation?

President Donald Trump appointed Ryan Zinke secretary of the Interior.

Ryan Zinke was investigated by a lawyer appointed by President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump rired Ryan Zinke based on this investigation. End of story.

— Steve Martinez, Kalispell

Can’t trust Zinke

I cannot trust Ryan Zinke, candidate for U.S. House.

Ryan Zinke is a disgrace to Montana. His offensive campaign money is coming from the fossil fuel industry. He is already showing loyalty to his donors by announcing he will push to eliminate the Environment Protection Department.

His Navy Seal career has been glorified and exaggerated. Poor judgment evaluation prevented his last promotion. His time as secretary of Interior was marked with documented lies, improper record keeping and Hatch Act violations which forced him to resign after only serving two years.

He is faced with several ongoing investigations as a result. Now, violence from Mr. Zinke, “I am going back (to D.C.) with vengeance and I’m going to get ‘em; everyone of them.”

Meet Monica Tranel with true Montana spirit; honest and smart! She values Montana working people, advocating affordable housing, higher wages, and affordable health care. She knows quality childcare is needed and women’s right to choose, whether or not to have children, is personal and needs to be protected. Monica knows climate change is an economic disaster waiting to happen.

It’s the working people who are supporting her campaign; her integrity, truthfulness will prevail.

— JoLynn Yenne, Kalispell

Lawyer talk

The political season is almost to an end, and as I have listened to the TV and radio advertisements , I wonder how to make an informed decision as to the candidates for the various offices that will be on the ballots this November.

One of the candidates, Monica Tranel, claims to be an experienced lawyer. Yet she continues to defame the character of her opponent, Ryan Zinke, by stating that because he has been accused of wrongdoing, he must be guilty and therefore we should not vote for him.

Mr. Zinke has never been charged for any wrongdoing. As Mrs. Tranel states, he has been investigated 18 times, but she fails to state that he has never been charged. As an experienced lawyer, she must certainly understand the difference between being accused and being charged. Then again, she might not understand the difference and is showing that she is not a good lawyer, and is attempting to influence the voters by using “lawyer talk.”

— Dale B. Heldstab, Columbia Falls

Bukacek will stand up for you

When looking at the slate of candidates for the public service commission, one stands head and shoulders above the rest. Dr. Ann Bukacek is that candidate.

Dr. Bukacek is a proven and trustworthy public servant, guided by the values and virtues that made Montana strong. She will bring honesty, courage, candor, and fidelity to the public service commission. She’s not a wild-eyed emotional environmentalist from out of state. Rather, she’s a passionate citizen, a realist, a highly regarded and award-winning physician, who loves her patients and community, and uses proven facts to guide decisions.

Ann has been working with Montana legislators for 30 years, providing expert advice, and guiding the writing of legislation that has benefitted Montanans. She is demonstrably committed to preserving Montana as a great state for its citizens.

Dr. Bukacek is firmly committed to principles and does not waver with the “political winds.” Her steadfast devotion to principles and defending authentic Montana values is above reproach. If you want someone to unabashedly stand up for you and your family, no one can do it better than Ann Bukacek. Stand beside her – she stands beside you!

— Mike McNamara, Kalispell