Short-sighted politics bad for county's future

For more than a decade, the balance of power in Flathead County has been tilted toward a short-sighted view of growth that has ignored the common-sense vision of the majority of our residents and the thousands of hours they have put into planning our shared future. At stake are the very things that make the Flathead a special place to live, work and raise a family.

Since 2000, Flathead County is the second-fastest growing county in the state with the three fastest-growing cities, and during this rapid growth, we have been delivered a short-sighted, special interest-driven hodgepodge of development that has placed the burden of this growth on our hard-working families instead of on those who reap the biggest profits.

Shortsighted policies from the commissioners have been driven by special interests and short-term speculators that view the Flathead as a treasure trove to be plundered at will. We simply cannot continue to allow for unplanned growth and expect to keep the Flathead special.

My opponent, Jim Dupont, is tied right in to these short-sighted politics. Look at who is supporting him by going online at http://politicalpractices.mt.gov/default.mcpx and clicking on "Campaign Report Search." You'll find a long list of deep-pocketed special interests that value short-term profit over the long-term values we all share in the Flathead.

My opponent has revealed his shortsighted agenda in the commissioner race by his noticeable absence at all important meetings that focus on long-range planning issues. His public statements in the May 25 edition of the Daily Inter Lake further clarify his misunderstanding of the issues and his shortsighted vision. He stated, "If you're asthmatic, why are you living on a dirt road?" and if a pig farm goes in next door, "Buy a mask."

Like most Montanans, I enjoy bacon with my eggs, and my public comments clearly support local farmers and ranchers. On the other hand, my opponent callously dismisses people's real concerns, exposing his disturbing lack of respect for existing residents who are unfairly impacted by unplanned growth. His statements also illustrate a lack of vision and an inability to provide solution-based leadership that has plagued county government for nearly a generation.

Finally, it should be a red flag to voters that my opponent's campaign has taken the position that it is not the role of government to plan for growth or to seek solutions that respect the hard work that has gone into creating a long-term shared future of all county residents.

The reality is that growth issues are neither Democratic nor Republican. They affect all of us, require in-depth input from a wide range of stakeholders, and demand careful, involved consideration from a commissioner who is present.

My opponent clearly supports the shortsighted politics that has brought us degraded water quality, reduced access to public lands, growth that burdens our hard-working families and a diminished quality of life. We simply cannot afford six more years of leadership driven by special interests and the idea that we don't need to plan for our future.

I'm asking you to stand up Nov. 4 and vote for the future you want in the Flathead, a future that recognizes the connection between our economic success and the unique characteristics that make the Flathead special. Our future and our children's future are far too precious to leave to chance.

Visit my Web site www.SteveQunell.com for more information about my support for the hard-working families of Flathead County.

Steve Qunell, of Whitefish, is the Democratic candidate for Flathead County commissioner for the north valley.