Election mail bag for Nov. 2

Your vote is needed

This Nov. 4 election is very important as it will decide who will govern our municipalities, Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls. Whether upgrades will happen to the school system in Columbia Falls. As well as whether Flathead County will be able to build a much needed newer, safer and more efficient detention facility.  

All registered voters were mailed a ballot and they must be returned to the election department by 8 p.m. on Tuesday Nov. 4 to be counted. It is too late to mail your ballot so be sure to hand deliver it to the election department at 290 B North Main Street in Kalispell (commonly known as the old Centurylink building).

There are voting booths set up at the election department if you would rather get a ballot and fill it out there. You can vote in person on Monday, Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to noon. Or you can vote in person on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.       

Traditionally these off-year elections have low voter turnout even though they have long lasting impacts in our community. Please get out and vote as the minority of citizens should not be deciding the outcomes of these important races and bonds. 

— Pam Holmquist, Flathead County Commissioner

Jail bond too expensive

Regarding the proposed new justice/jail bond issue, I found it quite deceptive that they put the cost to the taxpayers per month, knowing full well that some taxpayers would assume the cost was for the year.  

I feel that there are more affordable options that should be explored before committing to a $105 million bond. Work release programs where nonviolent offenders could check into a minimum security facility and still hold down a job supporting their families while still paying their debt to society. Thus leaving our existing facility for felons and violent offenders. 

Other options could be explored such as looking at the existing Costco building in the Hutton Ranch Plaza. which is soon to be vacant. This facility is a concrete block building with lots of square footage and could be remodeled into a new jail costing far less than $105 million. This building has many of the features already available such as kitchen, parking  ect, which would be needed for a jail.  

Our county officials should be thinking outside the box before asking the taxpayers for such a huge bond issue. Vote No.

— Mike Meehan, Kalispell

Davison goes above and beyond

I most admire Kisa Davison for her extraordinary effort to help me. She had not met me before, as some of our community might know I fundraise for Golden Retriever Rescue of Montana. I was faced with no options for housing after selling my home. 

Being the proud father of four golden retrievers, finding housing is bleak at best. Kisa went above and beyond, going out on a limb to help me find a home. 

This is the Montana I know, whether you know the person or not, you pull up your bootstraps, and help. 

In all she does, Kisa exemplifies honesty, fairness and thoughtfulness. Kisa will use these qualities to create a better balance between growth and what’s good for Kalispell in the future. Kisa Davison is an experienced businesswoman, and a strong leader. Kisa has the wisdom and insight to make the right decisions as mayor of Kalispell. Please vote for Kisa Davison.

— Mark Logsdon, Kalispell

Personal attacks

Historically, campaigns to elect the mayor of Kalispell have been mostly gentlemanly affairs, largely devoid of sleazy innuendo and nasty personal attacks. Sadly, that is no longer the case.

In recent days, the mailboxes of thousands of local voters have been inundated by a slick, truth challenged circular touting the candidacy of Kisa Davison. The flyer was paid for by MT United, a Billings-based Political Action Committee. One must wonder why this far-flung organization is meddling so brazenly in a local race in Kalispell.

While the Kalispell mayoral election is meant to be nonpartisan, the flyer proclaims that Davison “is the only Republican running for Kalispell Mayor.” Neither of the other candidates — City Council members Sid Daoud and Ryan Hunter — have announced party affiliations.

In an egregious personal attack, the flyer asserts that “Leftist Portland transplant Ryan Hunter has brought his war-torn city’s policies with him to Montana” without providing even one example to back up this baseless claim. Embracing fear mongering tactics, the flyer warns that “unless your priority is ANTIFA, don’t give him your vote!” Suggesting that Hunter is in cahoots with a movement many believe is a domestic terrorist group is an outrageous allegation that should be widely condemned.

Regarding Daoud, the flyer asserts that he is a “lyin’ Libertarian” who lied to President Trump while not providing any evidence to back up this silly charge.

Among questions that must be addressed include: Did Davison collaborate with the Billings PAC to produce the flyer? Did she review the final draft of the flyer and authorize its release? Does she stand by the language used in the flyer to besmirch the characters of her two opponents? The local electorate will benefit if these questions are answered in a timely fashion.

— Mark Holston, Kalispell

Financial accountability

It is time that Kalispell wakes up and realizes some facts about just how fiscally responsible the current Kalispell City Council is: As a whole, it is the most fiscally conservative of all city councils in Montana. 

What is even more important to note is that Sid Daoud (current councilor and mayoral candidate) is a stickler for financial accountability; he takes his role concerning the Councils’ finances very seriously. Sid serves his ward and our city well and has the best voting record to prove it. 

Recently, mayoral candidate Kisa Davison stated that her “opponents” want to “increase your taxes” and start a “new government program.” However, “her opponent” Sid Daoud is all about cutting government spending. Has Davison not reviewed the Council’s fiscal reports/records?  

So, while Davison is complaining and fussing about her opponents’ financial responsibilities, we know for a fact that Sid Daoud painstakingly goes through every line item when he is tackling City Council financial matters — to see specifically where he can cut costs, saving the city taxpayers as much money as possible. 

To be clear: Daoud is spending countless hours poring through financial reports so he can save you and me money.

Kisa is sorely mistaken when she assumes Daoud is in favor of “increasing your taxes” or starting a “new government program.” Daoud does not do such things. So, perhaps she is referring to candidate Ryan Hunter, in which case she should have specified she was talking about her “opponent” singular.

The public knows and respects Sid Daoud.  He is in fact so fiscally responsible that when the Council was looking to purchase very expensive new chairs, Councilor Daoud responded that, rather than spend the public’s money, “I will just bring my lawn chair to sit in.”

Vote for Sid Daoud for Kalispell Mayor!

— Julie Baldridge, Kalispell

Housing solutions

I just read a letter from Kalispell mayoral candidate Sid Daoud where he suggested community housing. I cannot imagine who would ever suggest something like this, knowing that you in fact wouldn’t know much about the people living with you and your kids.   This seems borderline irresponsible and definitely in my mind, reckless.  

How about supporting Habitat for Humanity more and providing some incentives for local developers to participate in providing some actually affordable housing? This would enable the underserved to actually build some wealth and have a chance to get ahead one day.  

If we keep people in these environments, the people who would normally flourish and succeed are kept behind. We need real-time solutions for the current time. If you can’t provide them, you shouldn’t be running for public office here. 

This also goes for the commissioners and everybody involved. If I were running for mayor right now, I would be scrambling to try to figure out how to provide some food for these people who have received assistance and had it suddenly cut off while the lawmakers still get paid.  

— Jeremy Phillips, Kalispell

Kalispell’s potential

I live outside the city limits of Kalispell, but am very interested in the future of this area that still has potential. By this I mean progress — not a dirty word, but rather learning from successes and mistakes of others and themselves, taking into account developmental aesthetics, and planning for community stressors and how affects the joy and comforts of living there. 

This includes housing plans, traffic patterns, pollutions levels, the artistic designs of an environment and essentials of living (water, septic, etc). I see atrocities throughout Montana, (all four of the larger cities). Add those to others in Western U.S., (ie. Coeur d’Alene, Casper, Fort Collins/Loveland, St. George and Palm Springs) these are all very poorly planned, stress inducing and frankly tasteless in design. 

Is that our future? 

Hence, for mayor one has a true politician who flings labels and vilified comments left and right. Is that what we want? More of that nonsense? Another who is certainly more appealing but has dollar signs in their eyes and interest in so called advancements. Is that our future, moneymongers?

The other is thoughtful, expansive, considerate of investigating other communities and their processes, and willing to learn from his own mistakes. Is that a new concept? I hope that is not. I hope you can utilize good old fashion diplomacy to foster ideas and civility. 

Vote for Ryan Hunter.

— Jack Hornby, Kalispell