Letters to the editor Jan. 5

Zinke’s record

Back in May I took a trip from my home south of Big Sky up to Kalispell to visit Flathead Lake. I stopped on the way at Rep. Ryan Zinke’s Missoula and Kalispell offices, hoping to ask some questions. Both his Missoula and Kalispell offices appeared to be unstaffed and empty.

Later that month I attended a town hall in Bozeman to which Mr. Zinke had been invited, intending to ask questions. He did not show up. And in October, one of Mr. Zinke’s staff members was supposed to be at a mobile town hall in Dillon, and he did not arrive until 15 minutes before the session ended. Does this sound like a representative who cares about his constituents?

Mr. Zinke’s voting record shows that he consistently votes in accordance the Trump administration, and its policies have resulted in higher healthcare and grocery costs for Montanans. Zinke is complicit in this. We, the people of Montana’s first congressional district, deserve a representative who will listen to us and fight for our interests.

Russell Cleveland was born and raised in western Montana and is invested in our community and its people. Russell plans to fight in Congress to lower health care costs and the price of basic necessities. He understands the needs of the people of Montana and will fight for us in the House of Representatives. I fervently believe that Russell Cleveland is the best option for Montana’s first congressional district and am proud to support his campaign.

— John Dunwoody, Gallatin Gateway

Cold and uninviting

The new VA clinic by the high school looks and feels like a big, ugly black box. It is not warm, human, inviting or concerned about anything. 

Only the Veterans Administration could come up with this one.

— Ed Dramer, Kalispell