Letters to the editor Oct. 11

Who is Jack Fallon?

Pretended to be a Republican in the primary and lost. Now he is a sore loser.

Should have run as a Democrat — but could not win in Flathead County. Now running as what? He doesn’t know what he is doing.

Fallon led the charge on the Kalispell School Board pushing the LGBTQ agenda on our school kids (Policy 3210).

He is running on:

Pipes: not even sure what this means?

Plows: We have the finest road department in the state of Montana. Period. People ask our road superintendent for help all across Montana (Dave Prunty). What an insult to Dave.

Public Safety: Who doesn’t want this? The cost and safety of our residents directly relate to how much we spend and how it will affect property taxes. The commissioners are spending more, 15% more this year. They also said they would look at it again half way through the year.

Pretty weak things to run on as they are all being addressed now. The people behind Fallon are left wing liberals that don’t care about residents of Flathead Valley. I call them RINOs.

Republican Pam Holmquist has worked on budgets, keeps taxes reasonable, doesn’t waste your money and really cares about the people of Flathead County. Please vote for her as county commissioner.

— Phil Mitchell, Whitefish

Dems that deserve your vote

As a conservative, I usually don’t support Democrats for political office; however, I support two Democrats and a write-in in November’s election.

Kyle Waterman, running for Senate District 4, and I served on the Board of Health. Despite our ideological differences, Kyle could be convinced by sound logical arguments. Most important to me is his belief that measured growth, rather than what we have experienced over the last 20 years is best for the Flathead.

For similar reasons, improving infrastructure and curbing unbridled growth, I support write-in candidate Jack Fallon for county commissioner. He lost a close Republican primary to Pam Holmquist who has been a destructive force in the Commissioners Office. Infrastructure improvements in the county must be made and unbridled growth slowed before the Flathead is no longer recognizable as the area I selected as my home 20 years ago. Holmquist and the current Planning Board appointed by her and other past and present commissioners seem oblivious to the degradation of our community their policies have caused. Perhaps Mr. Fallon can restore some sanity to the Flathead growth policy.

Finally, another Democrat, John Repke is running against Annie Bukacek for PSC5. A physician planning to continue her medical practice, Bukacek apparently believes that this $112,000 a year job is a part-time position. John Repke’s background is business and finance. Bukacek followed me on the Flathead County Board of Health where she spread havoc directly opposing very qualified health officer leaders resulting in two successive resignations. Rather than evaluating all available documentation, a necessary attribute for a PSC official, she seeks support for her radical views (one of the few anti-vaccination physicians in the country) regardless of that information’s questionable value.

I therefore support Waterman for Senate 5, Fallon for County Commissioner and Repke for PSC 5.

— David Myerowitz, Columbia Falls

Reasons to vote for Holmquist

Pam Holmquist is honest. During her term as county commissioner, Pam has put to use her financial acumen, protected and implemented property rights and made public safety a priority. She lobbied in Washington D. C. to fund the Kalispell bypass and supported the Evergreen sidewalk project by creating an innovative way to address continued maintenance. Building and repairing roads is a continuing goal. She consistently supports pro-business legislation through testimony and correspondence with our legislators.

Financial ability: She ran a business and was treasurer of organizations which provided experience for managing the county budget ($107 million) which she has done for 11 years with no debt plus an emergency account.

Public Safety: The Sheriff’s Office budget was increased by 15% and plans have been laid to increase the sheriff’s budget as funds permit. She continues to seek additional space for confinement of prisoners. Also, the Sheriff’s Posse has 63 people who donate their time. For example, during the flood on Wagner Lane, the Posse kept watch for four days and nights to help people in the flood zone and the fire department in Somers delivering sandbags to keep water out of basements and crawl spaces.

Property Protection: Taxes, vandalism, floods, fire, and water rights are a few of the property problems in Flathead County. Pam developed a relationship with the unpaid Flathead County committees which do a lot of work in this area. For example, I am on the Planning and Zoning Committee which deals with property rights. She shows up, listens and answers questions. She never plays politics but is dedicated to following the law and preventing people from being taxed out of their homes.

Roads: Keeping roads in shape and safe has been a priority for Pam. Presently there is an excellent staff for summer and winter.

— Verdell Jackson, Kalispell

Holmquist works hard

Pam Holmquist gets things done. She embodies the spirit of that Nike commercial, “Just do it.”

For 12 years she has fought to protect our way of life. From Evergreen sidewalks to the Kalispell bypass, to the new septic tank treatment facility, to valley farmers reclaiming flood land.

I’m a businessman, husband, father and grandfather. Members of my family have lived in the valley for 40 years. I want the valley to retain its character, its beauty, its sense of pride. Pam does too!

Pam is pro law enforcement. She wants you to be safe when you drive to work, run errands, pick your kids up at school. She voted yes to increase the Sheriffs budget by fifteen percent. She supports building a new jail. A friend in law enforcement says it’s desperately needed.

Pam was born and raised in Evergreen. She owned a local business. She knows the problem we face because she faces them too. She can make hard decisions. She voted no on several county building projects, not because she wanted to, but because there were more pressing needs.

Pam fills shoes none of us want to wear. She gets yelled at, sworn at, blamed for the dog that barks all night. Yet she gets up every morning and goes to work with a smile on her face, a bounce in her step.

While we are getting ready for bed, Pam is (probably) in a meeting. She sits on so many committees she needs to wear compression socks. Aging, Fair, Health, River, and Economic Development are only a few. Remember this, she’s not there representing herself, she’s there representing us. These are only a few of the reasons why I support her run for County Commissioner.

— James E. Trevino, Kalispell