Letters to the editor Oct. 16

Close the parks

As a retired park ranger who worked in Glacier National Park for 36 years, the National Parks Conservation Association is right to urge our national parks to close during government shutdowns.

Parks do not solely rely on law enforcement rangers to detect crime and prevent damage to park resources. It takes a team of folks, from interpreters, maintenance staff, volunteers, biologists, fee collectors and numerous other employees to answer visitor questions, report violations and to educate visitors before they damage fragile resources. With the majority of the park’s team furloughed, it is naive to believe parks will not be damaged when open during a shutdown.

I’ve worked through numerous government shutdowns throughout my 36 years in Glacier. Closing a park is the best way to protect park resources from damage, even though this is painful to visitors.

Our parks are too important to be left unguarded. The reason they remain so special is due to the hard, selfless work of Park Service employees, all of them.

— Brad Blickhan, Coram

Moral character matters

Last week I saw a campaign post from Sid Daoud for Kalispell mayor featuring Daoud standing with supporters holding signs, two of which directly attacked fellow candidate Ryan Hunter. One read “Don’t Portland Kalispell,” a personal jab at where Hunter previously lived nearly 20 years ago. Another said “...Off My Lawn, Ryan Hunter,” echoing a false online smear campaign that Hunter wants to force residents to remove their lawns. I texted Hunter directly, and he categorically denies holding any such view.

Personal attacks and false accusations are beneath the dignity of mayoral politics. What troubles me more is that Sid Daoud literally stands with people spreading these types of smears. It took me less than two minutes to debunk that lawn claim. Couldn’t Mr. Daoud have done the same? If he didn’t know the claim was false, that’s a problem. If he did and allowed it anyway, that’s worse. Either way, it reflects poorly on his leadership.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Daoud also supported Kalispell’s political inquisition against the Flathead Warming Center, which similarly featured unethical personal attacks and accusations grounded in mistruths and hearsay. The city ultimately restored the center’s conditional use permit, issued a public apology and paid for the fallout. That episode cost the city both credibility and money.

In my view, a candidate who supports personal and political attacks based on falsehoods is not qualified for leadership. These tactics damage reputations, divide communities, and expose cities to legal and financial risk.

Although I probably agree more politically with Sid Daoud than Ryan Hunter, I proudly support Hunter for mayor. He is smart, thoughtful and principled. He does his homework and engages in honest policy discussions. Moral character matters in elected office, and Ryan Hunter has it in abundance while others do not.

— Brant Horn, Whitefish

Clear sign of leadership

Kalispell has a very important election coming up in November. Although this is a non-partisan race, it is clear that there is a Democrat, Libertarian and unknown on the ballot. Both the Democrat and Libertarian have voting records for anyone to form an opinion on where they stand as an elected official.

I met the unknown Kisa Davison about a year ago.   She was upset with a decision I had made as a commissioner, and she shared her frustration with me about the decision. I explained my position and why I voted the way I did and asked her to take another look at it.

Instead of chastising me in the community, on social media or in the newspaper, she actually took the time to research my decision more thoroughly and told me later that she understood why I voted the way I did. A clear sign of leadership is when someone takes the time to gather all the information and research an issue before they make a decision.

Kisa has that leadership ability. That is why I support Kisa Davison for Kalispell mayor.

— Pam Holmquist, Flathead County Commissioner

Vested in Kalispell

Kalispell has a choice to make for the next mayor. My recommendation is that they will make the conservative choice of Kisa Davison. I believe she has the experience of signing both sides of a paycheck, owning several businesses with her husband Travis, one being a home builder producing several homes for Flathead families. She and her husband paid nearly $50,000 in Flathead County property taxes last year with all but one of those properties located in the city, giving her a vested interest in keeping Kalispell government small and efficient while still providing the necessary services that are needed to flourish as a city. 

She has served on the Kalispell Chamber and been a voice for local businesses. I believe she has the knowledge and ability to carry on the successful work of Mayor Mark Johnson who has also endorsed her. 

I also believe she will be able to work with the leadership of Flathead County to come up with solutions that will benefit all of us. 

Kalispell has a choice, a business leader with real world experience or career politicians who are looking to enhance their resume.

I would also like voters to consider the bond for a new detention center. Become educated on the need, take a tour of the jail if you don’t believe we need it. I will personally arrange a tour, and if you want, accompany you on it. Stop the revolving door of justice in the Flathead. 

And above all else, turn out and vote. Your future is at stake.

 — Brad Abell, Flathead County Commissioner