Senate candidate focuses on education, social issues

By RICHARD HANNERS / Whitefish Pilot

With incumbent Sen. Dan Weinberg, D-Whitefish, opting not to run for Senate District 2 this year, two Democrats and two Republicans have filed for the race.

The senate district includes the towns of Whitefish and Columbia Falls and a swath of rural land extending up the North Fork and through the Canyon all the way to Marias Pass.

Montana native Brittany MacLean will face Gil Jordan, of Coram, in the June Democratic primary election.

Born in Missoula, Mac-Lean's family moved to White-fish when she was in second grade. After graduating from high school here in 1988, she completed a degree in liberal arts and women's studies in Missoula. She went on to get her master's in nonprofit management and urban policy at the New School for Social Research in New York City.

MacLean's family roots extend back to the 1880s, when her ancestors settled in Frenchtown. One relative served as sheriff in Missoula County.

Her father recently retired from BNSF Railway. Her mother, Delores Holland, founded Mother's Good Food Store with Bonnie Closson. It later relocated and is now Third Street Market.

After college, MacLean headed north to Alaska, where she co-founded a community family and health center in Juneau. Her four children were born in Alaska.

MacLean's husband, Kenny Kasselder, was a well-known mountaineer in the Flathead. He died in a climbing accident on Mount Hood in November 2004.

Glad to be back home in Whitefish, MacLean said she decided to run because of her love for Montana. Until now, she thought her involvement in politics would be at the grassroots level, but she decided to throw her hat in the ring and get more directly involved.

"I'm excited about what Montana and Montanans can do," she said. "I believe we could be a role model for other states."

She said recent growth is a sign of how special Montana is.

"But we have lots of work to do," she said. "We need to be forward thinking and independent minded, as Montanans have always been."

On the issues, MacLean is concerned about education, health care and the economy.

"We've done a great job with education, but we're not finished," she said. "Teachers need to be paid well, and class sizes need to be brought down. We need to continue to enhance education."

Health care is a complicated issue, MacLean said, but it should not be run just as a business.

"We need to provide solid care for all Montanans and not let anyone fall through the cracks," she said.

People who fall through the cracks end up costing the system later on. She stresses preventative approaches, especially at the pre-school level.

MacLean said she's excited about how well the Montana economy is doing, but she sees a need to protect workers. She is considering carrying a bill to Helena to provide workers with paid sick leave.

"We need to be creative, to create new jobs based on clean, affordable, sustainable energy and sound building practices," she said. "A whole host of new jobs could be created that way."

MacLean said she works closely with a national organization called Business and Professional Women. Here in the Flathead, a local chapter meets every fourth Wednesday at the Outlaw in Kalispell.

"It's a nonpartisan group and it's growing all the time," she said.

MacLean sees a social trend toward melding work and life. This could involve working out of a home, telecommuting, job sharing and implementing flexible work hours.

"You could be a parent and have a successful career. You could care for ailing relatives and have a successful career," she said. "Many businesses are now offering family-friendly policies."

She also places a high priority on protecting the environment, as guaranteed in the Montana Constitution. She calls for policies that back that up, adding that while growth is inevitable, it can be done well.

"I don't believe in big government," she said. "I believe in smart government."