Letters to the editor May 29

Special interest money

This newspaper ran answers to questionnaires sent out to people running for the state Legislature. House District 3 Republican candidate Derek Peachey answered his. However like the brochures he sends out, he doesn’t provide much useful biographical information. More on that in a moment.

He stated that “I’m not backed by party insiders or special interests.”

Well, a campaign disclosure filed by a political action committee calling itself conservatives4mt tells a different story. Filed with the Montana office of the Commissioner Of Political Practices, it already shows a “candidate allocation” of $5,509.64 to Mr. Peachey over the past few weeks.

It also reports in just last month, receipts of $600,221.60 that came from just three out of state political action committees. No fundraisers, just $600,000 from three PACs. That’s the definition of special interest money.

The Western States Regional Council of Carpenters Improvement Committee in Los Angeles (a union that endorsed Kamala Harris) contributed $100,000. Democratic Union dollars being spread to Republicans here.

Now some facts about Derek’s past.

He has spent most of his adult life in California working for high tech companies, like Nokia, a leader in the artificial intelligence field, becoming quite wealthy. His brochures say that “he is rooted in the traditions that define Montana.” I wonder how years of working for high tech AI firms that have offices in California and India could teach him about Montana values.

Moving to Montana a few years ago, he bought a mansion in the gated community of Iron Horse. The market value of his house is listed at $2,454,456. His property taxes are over $13,000 a year.

Does he really need to take money from a California union that endorsed Kamala Harris? It appears he’s trying to buy Montana values with out of state democratic special interest money.

Maybe AI wrote that line about him not being backed by “special interests.”

— Joe Novak, Polebridge

Hohman shows expertise

When I heard Cheryl Hohman was running for clerk and recorder I reached out to her immediately to offer a letter of support. My endorsement is based on a personal experience where Cheryl’s professionalism turned a bureaucratic nightmare into a success story for my family and showed her true caliber as a public servant.

A major computer glitch recently left me and approximately 1,500 other property owners in a state of distress when our homes were inadvertently listed under the wrong names on our property taxes. While the situation was incredibly stressful and office staff were unsure how to proceed, Cheryl stepped in with immediate resolve. She navigated the complexities of the system with ease, coordinating across multiple county departments to identify the root of the error. Her approach was both meticulous and relentless; she refused to give up until the issue was fully rectified.

As you can imagine, discovering such a significant error regarding my home was an incredibly stressful experience and took much time to fix. Cheryl spent a significant amount of time investigating the glitch, personally contacting various offices, and clearing every hurdle in our path. Her knowledge of the intricacies of the Clerk and Recorder’s office is undeniable. Beyond her expertise, it was her unwavering dedication to a community member that stood out most.

Without a doubt if it had not been for Cheryl’s intervention, this issue would still be unresolved today. During the entire ordeal, she remained calm, reassuring, focused, unthwarted and completely undeterred by the numerous walls we encountered.

Cheryl’s professionalism and commitment to resolving this difficult situation were invaluable to my family. Having witnessed her professional capabilities firsthand during a high stakes administrative crisis, I am confident she is the most qualified candidate for this vital role.

Cheryl Hohman is a tremendous asset to Flathead County and will represent us well as clerk and recorder, and I am deeply grateful for her help.

— Tamara Sundberg, Columbia Falls

Right to vote

Vote! Inform yourself. Gather all the information ammunition you need to make that wise decision.

Just get out and vote. Vote your conscience. Vote your feelings. It belongs to you. It is your vote, not anyone else’s.

As long as we are allowed the freedom to vote our choices, the act belongs to us. I don’t care who or what you vote for, just do it, and do it now.

The right to vote is a privilege; use yours well.

— Skeeter Johnston, Whitefish

Heino’s leadership in display

I’ve served three years as a reserve deputy under Sheriff Brian Heino, and before that I spent nine years on the Kila School Board. Both jobs taught me the same thing: the public servants who move a community forward stick with the work and learn every corner of the ground they cover.

That’s why I’m voting for Brian in the Republican primary for Flathead County sheriff, and asking my neighbors to do the same.

Let me give Evie Cahalen her due. She once served in law enforcement and has spent the years since running a local business. That’s real work and she has real supporters.

But the question on this ballot isn’t who’d make a pleasant neighbor. It’s who is ready to lead a complex public safety agency on day one. On that, the comparison isn’t close.

Cahalen left law enforcement in 2008. Brian has 23 years with the Sheriff’s Office, seven as your elected sheriff. He’s worked nearly every job there — patrol, investigations, narcotics, SWAT, search and rescue, administration — and the role itself covers three statutory jobs: sheriff, coroner and director of emergency services. You can’t grow back into that after 18 years away.

I’ve watched Brian do it. Under his leadership, the K9 unit has grown into a real asset, the school resource officer program has expanded further into our schools and the volunteer programs, including the reserve unit I serve in, have gotten stronger and better trained. I’ve seen it up close.

I’m also frustrated by the politics inside the Republican Central Committee that have turned this race into something it shouldn’t be. Voters deserve a contest decided on qualifications. Compare the records. Then vote.

— Conrad Rauscher, Kila