Letters to the editor Nov. 7

Deceitful statement

As current chairman of the Flathead County Planning Board, I want to address recent article in the Inter Lake on Oct. 28 when a write-in candidate deceitfully stated that Flathead County has a high litigation rate on planning issues. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Consider the following facts:

1). From 2019 through 2022 to date Flathead County has processed a total of 843 land use applications including minor subdivisions, major subdivisions, final plats, zones changes, conditional use permits, lakeshore variances and lakeshore permits.

2). Detractors cherry picked two projects with lawsuits as their evidence as bad planning decisions.

3). Those two lawsuits constitute a total of 0.2% of the land use projects that Flathead County has successfully processed.

4). Put another way, Flathead County has successfully and legally completed 99.8% of its land use decisions.

5). Flathead County has successfully defended many land use lawsuits over the years, including a lawsuit to remove the property owner’s bill of rights from the growth policy.

I would place Flathead County’s litigation record on land use decisions up against any jurisdiction in the United States. We should be proud of our Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Planning Office and our Flathead County Commissioners for having such a low rate of litigation on land use projects.

This proves that Flathead County and the Flathead County Commissioners have done an outstanding job.

— Jeff Larsen, Lakeside

Election warning

I don’t usually write letters to the paper concerning elections, but I feel the upcoming election for the new Congress seat in the western district of Montana is very important to our state and country.

Many residents of the Flathead Valley blame a lot of the issues we face right now on the influx of new residents moving here from the West Coast and in a lot of ways I agree that things have changed and not for the better. We all may have concerns on how these new residents might vote next week but I am also concerned about the longtime residents who may be unhappy with Republican candidate Ryan Zinke.

I personally like Ryan and think he would represent us well in Congress, but unfortunately I know others in the valley who don’t share that feeling. I would like to point out that if you consider yourself a Republican and or conservative and you decide not to vote or you write in Dr. Al, or you vote for the Libertarian and you wake up on Wednesday to find out that the Democrat Monica Tranel has won, don’t look at the new people to place the blame, just look in the mirror.

— Neil Baumann, Columbia Falls

Impressed with Getts

There are so many things to admire about Andrea Getts it is difficult to come up with a short list to fit into 300 words or less: her enthusiasm, her intelligence, her work ethic, her compassion and creativity. But most important is her curiosity and willingness to listen to contrary, and contradictory opinions and positions with which she disagrees but respects and is willing to consider.

There is more of course: her youth, her education, her life experiences in such a short time - 26 years to be exact. But it is in conversation with her about issues — about virtually anything you can bring up — that she exhibits what I consider her greatest strength: her willingness to be curious as opposed to confrontational.

This became obvious walking and knocking doors with her in Columbia Falls. Of course she enjoyed her conversations with friends, schoolmates, neighbors and strangers who said, “Oh I’m voting for you,” still listening to their concerns, noting how she might seek solutions to the pressing problems of affordable housing, health care, and the divisive rhetoric inflicting our public discourse.

But she never shied away from conversations with those posting yard signs for her opponent. If anything, they piqued her interest. Even after 10, 15, 20 minutes without an indication she could flip their vote, she nevertheless listened, occasionally suggesting their concerns were perhaps more national than local.

Meanwhile I would start feeling my blood pressure rising, impatient with what I considered the voter’s lack of understanding of the issues. Andrea, however, always stayed curious, never confrontational.

This it why her voice in the Montana House of Representatives is essential: bringing thoughtful, considerate, and moderate discourse to policy-making that is too often clouded by partisan rhetoric.

If you haven’t yet, vote Getts!

— Roger Hopkins, Columbia Falls

Bukacek endorsement

I have been reading smear articles that are attempting to label Public Service Commissioner candidate Dr. Annie Bukacek as “anti-green energy”. This claim is simply untrue, and I want to write a letter to my fellow Montanans to set the record straight.

If you’ve seen any of her presentations it is obvious Dr. Annie is firmly rooted on the principles of truth and is known for her devotion to following facts from thorough and unbiased research. Furthermore, her decisions are always based on the complete list of pros/cons and she is committed to go to battle to safeguard our access to the power and water we need to live.

On Oct. 13 Dr. Annie landed the endorsement of PSC Commissioner Jennifer Fielder. Fielder herself stated, “I am pleased to endorse Dr. Annie Bukacek to fill the District 5 opening on the Montana Public Service Commission ... Her intellectual abilities and work ethic are off the charts, she has a proven track record as a fearless voice for the people, and her training as a medical doctor has honed the type of analytical skills and study habits needed to digest the volumes of complex regulatory data that comes before the commission each week.”

Let’s not miss our opportunity to get Dr. Annie elected to PSC5!

— Bret Bailey, Lakeside

Four basic issues to consider

Perception: Midterms approaching. Voters are usually motivated by needs, fears, and/or desires. Our House representitives will determine such direction-ascent/improvement or decline (1950s). Really four basic issues that should be addressed in every election.

1st- Brotherhood. Most critical, most dismissed, can lead to trust and respect. International cooperation and communication critical. What has happened to kindness, civility, and honor (truth)? All basic philosophies and faiths focus on this.

2nd- Equality. Same opportunities for all, including education, medical care, justice and basic living pursuits. Xenophobia and misogyny should be assertively addressed.

3rd-Education. Basic knowledge should be reinforced as primary human activity. Advancements in many areas should be of greatest interest as well as learning historically from many of our unfortunate, shameful actions. Profit from history! We have slid behind many nations in the world and seem to lack concerns. Crux — taxation, the key to growth and development of a culture. If so fortunate, one should be proud to help the less advantaged. Giving to education is greatest gift.

4th- Protection and preservation of our planet. Perhaps late, but must address to save lives, livelihoods, economic stability and the beauties around us. Covid reminds us of our vulnerabilities and, hopefully, responsibilities.

We have two candidates (of note) for Montana’s western district House seat. One, thoughtful, compassionate and honorable. The other, clearly a self serving, pusillanimous prevaricator. Easy choice.

— Jack Hornby, Kalispell