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Beringer will be fiscally prudent

Recently our county commissioners outsourced a plan to develop a base cost estimate for building a new Flathead County jail. The estimates are $73 million for an onsite jail and $54 million for an offsite jail. That is a significant amount of money.

Over the past 18 months we have listened as one of our sheriff candidates has set forth ideas for programs that can, at no or little cost, help serve the community and law enforcement through partnerships that will help reduce recidivism and the need for a larger jail. This candidate has further taken the position that a thorough needs assessment should be performed prior to initiating the construction of a new or expanded jail.

He recognizes the financial burden building and operating a new jail will have on taxpayers in Flathead County through initial building costs and ongoing operating expenses. He believes the public deserves to review the final report from the needs assessment for jail expansion and be allowed to have a voice as to whether personal and property taxes should be levied to pay for the facility and its ongoing operating costs.

The candidate who is taking a pragmatic approach to building a new jail is Calvin Beringer. While the three other candidates have repeatedly stated in public forums conducted over the past several months they are ready to start building a new facility according to the commissioners’ outsourced plan, Calvin has consistently stated his view that a needs assessment must be conducted before moving forward on any jail solution. He is taking a careful, prudent view of the expense this lays at the taxpayer’s feet.

Let’s elect the candidate who will take a pragmatic, thoughtful and detailed approach to the jail situation. Now is not the time for a “Fire, Ready, Aim” method. —David Clough, Bigfork

White will protect our civil liberties

The Flathead sheriff’s race is most critical to protection of our God-given right to self-defense and against unlawful seizure of property. If gun grabbers from D.C. and Helena (Gov. Bullock and his minions) descend upon us, the sheriff is in a position to be our governmental defense.

We need a sheriff who believes in empowerment of the people, not of the burgeoning police state that locally includes lucrative contracts with crony capitalists to build a larger jail (the current one overrun with nonviolent crimes including unpaid moving violations and child support).

Gary Marbut, president of Montana Shooting Sports Association, is a legend in his own time. The association is the most successful pro-gun organization in the nation, writing and promoting 68 pro-gun bills that passed in Montana. That includes common-sense concealed-weapon carry laws and self-defense laws.

Wake-up call: Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association has been the No. 1 anti-gun rights activist group in Helena. Their testimonies against pro-gun bills are generally that gun rights will lead to Montanans killing each other in the streets. Law enforcement officers are groomed to view citizens as enemy combatants, and many have absorbed and lived that false premise.

Reality check: We the people, not government agents, are capable of keeping ourselves safe. Our guns keep Montana shootings in check, and of the over 35,000 concealed-carry permittees in Montana, not one has committed a felony. Gary Marbut’s Montana Shooting Sports Association scores make easy the choice for sheriff. Jordan White scored 100 percent or A+. Calvin Beringer and Keith Stahlberg scored F’s — 44 percent and 31 percent. Brian Heino scored a C+ (79 percent). Jordan White is the only sheriff candidate who has demonstrated he recognizes the proper limited role of government in our lives. It is crucial for our civil rights that we elect Jordan White as sheriff. —Annie Bukacek, Bigfork

Vote Brodehl for commissioner

I’ve seen Randy Brodehl in action, and I can tell you that it’s impressive! As a staff person for the Montana Legislature, I worked close with Randy as he served as a leader on the state’s budget committee. This is complicated stuff with a lot of moving pieces, personalities, and priorities involved in the budget for such a large and varied state. Not only does Randy really know what he’s doing, but also his heart is in the right place while he’s doing it.

I agreed to help Randy with his campaign for county commissioner because I saw him work so hard while serving in the Legislature. For one of Montana’s fastest growing areas, now is a pivotal time to plan for the future of the Flathead. But we need someone in the commissioners’ office who will do this thoughtfully, and make sure that every penny from the taxpayers is accounted for.

It is clear that there needs to be a change in the commissioners’ office. If the sitting commissioner was cutting it, I don’t believe that there would be three passionate and talented people running to unseat him.

Because of my experience working with Randy, I believe that he is the Flathead’s best choice for county commissioner. Please join me in voting for Randy Brodehl on June 5. —Lindsey Singer, Whitefish

Dr. Al Olszewski for U.S. Senate

Al Olszewski is a physician of 30 years, Air Force veteran, state legislator and Montana’s alternative to politics as usual.

He was Montana born and raised. He understands why the health-care system is failing us, and wants to get it fixed.

He will give his vote exclusively to the people of Montana because he won’t take money from the high-dollar financial backers. He wants to go to Washington to make things better for the people. Let’s get out and give him our vote on June 5. —Marianne Dyon, Whitefish

Brodehl for commissioner

The state of our county is ... disturbing. We have multiple Republicans running for county commissioner this year, one of which (Jay Scott) has a track-able record of complete inability to manage anything. County audits of the fairgrounds, of which he was manager until 2010, showed myriad problems including, but not limited to, missing money and major security issues. After he got let go, he then proceeded to sue the county and say that he suffered from “physical shock and mental anguish” because his contract was not renewed.

Oh yeah, then there is Gary Krueger who publically brags about being responsible for spending somewhere around $400,000 of the county’s money to move a green box site a mile up the road so passing tourists wouldn’t have to look at — in his words — “dumpster divers’ butt cracks.”

I think we can do better than this in Flathead County. Randy Brodehl is the only candidate with a proven track record in government, and also on the private side of things, as he owns his own cabinet shop. I know who I’m voting for. —Elliot Adams, Kalispell

A look at the candidates for commissioner

Ronalee Skees — She said she didn’t know whether she would support a jail or not, but said if we build one, we have to fill it. She said this is not the spirit of our community. She also has a mission statement for the Flathead Valley.

Jay Scott — When the Flathead County Fair Board didn’t renew his contract; he sued them for both “physical shock” and “mental anguish.” When asked how to fund a jail, his response, “I have no idea.” During one of the jail discussions he talked about putting in a YMCA here in Kalispell. Here was his quote, “I was at the mall and you know there’s these kids around there ... and they have multi-colored hair and tattoos. Next thing you know it, they are in jail.” Wow!

Gary Krueger — Current county commissioner. One of his big accomplishments was moving the green box site on Montana 82 (cost of $375,000.) He played out this imaginary story of a tourist and his young family driving down the road. “They look out the window,” he says, “and imagine this ugly green box site. And there is probably a dumpster diver, probably with his butt crack showing.” Why are we spending county dollars to move a box site? Gary is in favor of the water compact.

Randy Brodehl has promised no new taxes. He has a voting record of limited government from serving in the Legislature. He is against the water compact and doesn’t seek to personally gain from serving in the government. On the Facebook page: “Brodehl for County Commissioner,” there are forums with all four candidates. —Joanna Adams, Kalispell