In response

It is a very sad fact that politics frequently gets ugly. Voters deserve much better. In fact, they, like me, are sick and tired of it, and their votes are beginning to reflect that view. When Mr. Calaway unfairly hurled his lies, deceit, innuendo, and just plain uninformed rhetoric in my husband's direction, I was especially offended. At the same time, I felt sorry for this man who is obviously so ill equipped to deal with the truth let alone complex issues.

Let's set the record straight and look at the vindictive nonsense of Tim Calaway. Don's service as a Military Fellow on the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in 1986 was an honor bestowed upon him by the USAF, and the CFR's offer of permanent membership to him was based on his superb performance during his one-year residency as he participated with national leaders in seeking workable solutions to global problems. He has always described it as a rare opportunity for a small-town Montana boy to expand his intellectual horizons through the opportunity to learn from other participants, such as Henry Kissinger, Alan Greenspan, Brent Scowcroft, Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, plus other great Americans. So Tim, my husband owes no apologies here. I will be forever proud of his association with the CFR, and so is he.

As for Mr. Calaway's question on voter registration, let me set the record straight here too. During his 30-year military career, my husband moved 27 times. After each move he ensured he was registered to vote in either his home state (Montana) or wherever he was stationed at the time.

Also, please note that there is no procedure by which one un-registers to vote. The notion that while in the military service his status as a Montanan was somehow bleeding away is a slap in the face to all members of the armed forces. Most recently, he registered in Bigfork in 2003 and voted here in 2004 and 2006. In fact, he has voted here and nowhere else since moving back home to Montana in 2003. Prior to filing for Senate District 5, he did re-register just to make sure all was in order. (Note: county computers were down on that day and they were unable to confirm for him that he was in fact registered, so he made absolutely sure that he was.)

In dozens of public speaking opportunities and in numerous articles in our local papers Don has stated his positions on the issues facing this state. In each and every one he has expressed views consistent with Republican values as articulated in our party platform and the Montana Republican Legislative Caucus "Handshake for Montana."

My sister-in-law is not a resident of Bigfork, though she and her husband do own property here. It is for sale.

Don is a very loyal and committed Republican. He worked tirelessly in an unsuccessful effort to get Republican Bob Brown elected as our governor in 2004. That being said, Don chooses to vote for candidates on their merits and supports the best person for that job—a right, not a duty of a good American. I vote for Don every day and he votes for me. We are very, very confident that Senate District 5 voters will vote for Don on June 6th.

Don has never made a personal attack on an opponent, but he has publicly called into question Verdell Jackson's voting record as a legislator. As Mr. Jackson unwisely decided to run on his past performance, the bills he sponsored and his voting record are crucial elements of information that voters have a right to know. His record is one which features an attempt to emasculate our system of public education (HB 415), voting against small business interests (HB 667), refusing any compromise on issues protecting the character of this gorgeous valley, and voting on SB468 to close water rights for the Clark Fork River Basin (and that includes the Flathead River). He claims he was "hoodwinked" into supporting the current pension levels provided for teachers and other state employees. Voters have a right to be informed on these issues.

And lastly Mr. Calaway, I realize the hurt you must feel as a result of the May 2 Bigfork Land Use Committee elections, which overwhelmingly (73 percent) validated support for private property rights yet rejected the notion that unconstrained growth is good for this valley. Look around! Nonetheless, next January, you will be a constituent, and I know my husband will answer your phone calls and represent your views as willingly as he would for any other citizen. He is an honorable man and he will do the right thing.

Shame on you for implying anything different!

Janet D. Loranger is a resident of Bigfork and the wife of Don E. Loranger,

Republican candidate for Senate District 5