No ties to Jim Dupon

According to a recent letter-to-the-editor by a Gary Hall supporter, Jim Dupont is "backed by the American Dream Coalition" and "this group is a close ally to Mr. Dupont." I assume the lady who wrote the letter was referring to the organization I chair, American Dream Montana (ADM).

I would like to set the record straight. ADM is a property rights organization that takes no positions on individual candidates and political races. ADM was formed to educate the public and public-policy makers on important planning and property rights issues.

Unfortunately, during the past several years right up to the present, the continuous and continuing diminishment of our individual property rights by the policies of this county government and its out-of-control planning bureaucracy has kept us busier than we would like to be.

And, as they say, with the county's new "Critical Areas Ordinance" coming up, you ain't seen nothing yet.

While ADM does not and will not endorse candidates, I will admit, however, that on a personal level I tend to give high marks to any candidate running for public office who places "repeated emphasis on property rights," something the letter-writer objected to about Jim Dupont.

Given Gary Hall's past and present dismal record on property rights in Flathead County, as a Hall support I can understand her objection to Dupont's emphasis on protecting those rights.Hall certainly has nothing to run on in that regard.

Russell Crowder

Marion