Ahead of the Nov. 5 election, the Daily Inter Lake sent questionnaires to state Legislature candidates running in contested races in Northwest Montana. Candidates were instructed to keep their answers to each of the four questions to under 150 words. Answers were lightly editing for brevity, clarity, Associated Press style and grammar.

House District 3

Cathy Mitchell (R)

Age: Not provided

Occupation: Family nurse practictioner

Family: Married with two sons, four dogs and three horses.

Background: Family nurse practicioner at an outpatient clinic that provides health care to patients including Montana’s underserved population, the mentally ill and those with opioid use disorders. Treasurer for the pachyderm. 

What property tax reform policies do you support?

I support Gov. Greg Gianforte’s property tax advisory council’s suggestion regarding a homestead exemption. This would give a lower tax rate to Montana residents who own and live in their primary homes. Out-of-staters, with secondary homes in Montana, would be taxed at a higher rate. According to the advisory council, that should decrease the primary Montana residence’s tax bill by 15% to 20%.

Did the 2023 legislative session do enough to address the state’s housing crunch? Are there other avenues you’re in favor of pursing?

I cannot judge the 2023 legislative session. I was not present to assess what was proposed versus what was passed or didn’t pass. Since the 2023 legislative session, a housing task force was created to address the housing crunch. One suggestion was to reduce regulations on building homes and apartments. Forty percent of the cost of building, according to the housing task force, is government regulations. By reducing regulations and increasing supply, the average rent cost would decrease by 24%. Cities would have master plans for growth. The master planning would go before a public hearing process. When the master plan is approved, builders would not have to go through the process again as long as they adhere to the requirements in the master plan. The task force also recommended providing funding for new subdivisions for work force housing. This would provide affordable housing for employees in our communities.

Public school districts across the state are facing budget shortfalls. What role can the Legislature play in shoring up public education funding?

Public K-12 school funding: 42% local sources in fiscal year 2022, 13% federal sources and 41% from state sources. As legislators: (a.) We should look to other states’, whose education is ranked in the top 10 in the nation, sources of funding for their K-12 education. (b.) Use an appropriations method, Weight Pupil Unit, that follows each student even if they are not in a public school. (c.) Determine why numerous families in Montana are choosing home schooling, Montessori schools, or private schools. (d.) Determine where current funds are spent and if there is room for improvement or cuts. (e.) Hold principles, school boards and teachers accountable. (f.) Seek grants from private foundations and corporations. (g.) Partner with local businesses, nonprofits and community organizations. (h.) Fundraising events or GoFundMe (i.) Encourage parental participation in the education of their children. (j.) Use low-cost educational technology tools and online resources to enhance learning.

How do you view the judicial branch in the state?

There is a reason for having three branches of the state of Montana government. The legislative, judicial and executive branch are meant to act as checks and balances. When one branch exercises overreach, there needs to be mechanisms to pull back on any branch’s power in order to preserve the intended equilibrium. The judicial branch is not an island, nor beyond scrutiny regarding their ruling.

What other policies or issues would you like to address if elected?

I would like to address the mental health crisis in Flathead County. There are far too many patients with mental health issues and not enough providers or facilities. Gov. Greg Gianforte formed a task force to address this issue with a budget of $300 million from a bill passed last legislative session. Suggestions include: building a comprehensive statewide crisis system, investing in clinically appropriate state-run health care settings, expanding the capacity of the adult and children’s behavioral health service delivery systems, expanding the capacity of the mental developmental disabilities service delivery system, and enhancing family and caretaker supports. In my opinion, priority should be hiring more mental health providers. 

I would also like to address the opioid use crisis in the Flathead County. In my practice, I have noted that mental health and opioid use disorders usually co-exist.

Debo Powers (D)

Age: Not provided

Occupation: Retired public school teacher and principal

Family: One daughter and two grandchildren.

Background: Serves on the Flathead County Resource Advisory Committee as well as conservation boards that advocate for public lands. 

What property tax reform policies do you support? 

First, our state constitution requires the Legislature to equalize the property tax burden between various groups. This has not happened in the last two legislative sessions. The result is that while corporate property taxes have fallen, residential property taxes have skyrocketed. The Legislature needs to follow the constitution and remedy this. Second, we need to exempt from taxation a base homestead amount that would lower the residential property taxes for those who live full-time in Montana and pay their state income taxes here. This tax adjustment would not be available to residences that are owned by out-of-state owners. 

Did the 2023 legislative session do enough to address the state’s housing crunch? Are there other avenues you’re in favor of pursuing?

This is a tough problem and there is no silver bullet that will solve it. At the local level, Whitefish has begun enforcing reasonable limitations on short-term rentals, which will hopefully make available more long-term rentals. In addition, the Legislature needs to do more to find solutions to the problem of affordability in housing by supporting an increase in the supply of housing while preserving the quality of established neighborhoods. I am interested in pursuing the following ideas: land trusts which maintain ownership of the lot while the homeowner shares in the appreciation in value when sold; adding deed restrictions which limit the amount that homes can be re-sold to qualified buyers; and state housing credits for those with lower than area medium income. 

Public school districts across the state are facing budget shortfalls. What role can the Legislature play in shoring up public education funding?

Our state constitution states that it is our collective goal “to establish a system of education which will develop the full educational potential of each person.” To fulfill this goal the constitution guarantees every child in Montana the right to a quality public education. This constitutional right needs to be upheld by the Legislature in several ways: First, the school funding formula must be revised to provide more state funds to public education so that our schools do not have to rely upon voter approval of school levies to cover basic expenses necessary to maintain educational quality. Second, beginning teacher salaries (which are the lowest in the entire country) must be raised so that Montana can compete with neighboring states for good teachers. Third, there needs to be a reserve state fund that public schools can apply for when emergencies (such as the Columbia Falls High School roof) happen. 

How do you view the judicial branch in the state? 

The judicial branch is a co-equal branch of government along with the executive and legislative branches. All three of these branches are supposed to provide checks and balances, to provide accountability to the people, so that no branch can assert too much power. The judiciary is designed to uphold our constitutional rights and freedoms, especially when other branches of government try to erode those rights. It is important to have an independent judiciary that upholds the law rather than any ideology. 

What other policies or issues would you like to address if elected?

The Legislature must re-authorize Medicaid expansion. If this does not happen, not only will many thousands of hard-working Montanans and their children lose their affordable health care insurance, but the resulting shortfall in revenues will force the closure of many of our rural hospitals and clinics. There should be no controversy about this issue because 90% of the cost of this program comes from the federal government. Why would we turn down this money that could benefit so many of our fellow citizens and institutions? If Montana turns down this money, it will go to some other state. This program is not a give-away, it is affordable health care coverage for those who need it.