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We were appalled when our property taxes took a 34% leap last year, especially because the governor and the Legislature could have prevented it, but did nothing other than to return a token portion of our prior payments in the form of a rebate. It was good political theater, but pretty pathetic. Property taxes are a significant burden, and their regressive nature is a serious concern. While we understand the vital role these taxes play in funding essential services like schools and local government, the continued upward pressure on them is...
Montana has weighed in with the national, state and local elections. The most important election results reflect concerns vocalized, right here, by our Montana residents. In the upcoming session, I’m looking forward to supporting the Governor’s “Path to Security and Prosperity,” promoting economic development and more good-paying jobs. Overall, we are prioritizing strengthened family success and prosperity. One of my key priorities in Senate District 38 is to support promoting student outcomes through educational options and funding transpa...
Montana’s CI-128 constitutional amendment unfortunately passed enshrining “the right to abortion.” Consider the God-given right of life for the preborn whose lives are determined by the grave choices of others, misled mothers-to-be and misinformed voters. Elections have consequences. Jesus will judge us on the choices we made. Should we do evil so good may come of it? See Romans 3:8; 6:1. Legality does not equal morality. In the 1400-1500s, the Aztecs in Mexico were idol worshippers cutting out hearts, sacrificing humans to their gods. Not t...
The election is over, and preparations have begun for the 69th Montana Legislative session. Last week those serving in 2025 met in Helena to greet old friends and meet many new ones. Legislative staff prepared orientations and trainings. Each party elected leadership, and the important tasks of committee assignments, parking spots, seating and finalizing housing were completed. The Governor’s Budget for the 2025 session was released. As we prepare for the session, both of us look forward to working with all of you in the Seeley-Swan and s...
If Alan Muskett’s boat doesn’t measure up, I have a 48’ trawler in Guatemala for sale. Fire sale price, way warmer and cheaper cruising than the east coast....
With all the ads and flyers flooding TV, the internet and our mail, it’s almost insulting that the candidates and PACs think any of it will influence our informed choices. Just because a candidate is a Montana fourth, fifth, sixth generation, doesn’t mean much. Have you ever seen them actively involved with local issues or government? Or did they only take an interest in issues that personally affected them, or were personally invited to attend by one of their public official “friends.” If any of the incumbents gloat about all the federal...
Calling all conservatives to register and vote early avoiding possible Election Day problems that may inhibit voting. Some elections were determined by just a few hundred votes, so your vote definitely counts. We are morally obligated to vote as not voting can promote evil. Even if we despise our party system, distrust politicians and have better values than the candidates, we are morally obligated to vote for whoever best advances the good. No one is perfect, but we must persevere, however slowly, overcoming evil by advancing the good for the...
Jon Tester tries to project the image of a local Montanan fighting against the bureaucrats in Washington D.C. It is interesting that during Tester’s last election cycle, he did not carry the county in which he lives. Seemingly, those are the people that know him best. At this time, the Democrats hold a razor thin majority in the Senate. Out-of-state donors have contributed tens of millions to Tester’s re-election. Tester’s vote has been key to enabling the Biden-Harris administration to pass woke legislation and policies relating to borde...
We are writing to endorse Connie Keogh for House District 92. She brings years of personal and professional experience to this race including leadership skills, teaching experience and the “can do” attitude honed from years of hard work on the south-central Montana ranch where she grew up. Keogh has been our representative in HD 91 the past three legislative sessions. Due to redistricting, she is now running to represent HD 92. We were extremely pleased with Keogh’s representation when she served HD 91. We found her to be an extremely dedic...
As a retired Missoula Municipal Court Judge, I write to ask for your support of District Court Judge Dan Wilson, candidate for the Montana Supreme Court. I have known Judge Wilson for many years, and he embodies the qualities we need on the Supreme Court. His background demonstrates a solid foundation to serve the state in that role. He has served as a prosecutor, and defense attorney, a civil attorney, a Justice of the Peace and, for the last eight years, a District Court Judge. He has provided training and mentoring to lower court judges. He...
Montana leads all 50 states in the total federal aid it receives as a percent of its total state revenue, 31.8%. Stated another way you could consider us a “welfare” state. Also, the largest employer group in Montana is government, local, state and federal combined. So when a candidate says he or she is going to cut federal spending and shrink government, we must understand we may be the most adversely affected. Montana has a large amount of federal forest service, BLM and national park land. Our state and federal park areas are combined nearly...
In 2020 Montanans elected a super-majority of Republicans to govern our Last Best Place. Republicans currently control every branch of government. The consequences of that election cost ordinary Montanans dearly. Homeowners saw huge property tax increases. Housing costs increased and that burden is passed on to renters. Our utility rates were also raised by 28% by a Republican dominated Public Service Commission. Montanans are understandably upset about being priced out of our homes. Who is getting blamed for this catastrophic mess? Montana...
We are truly at a crossroads in our great state. Do we maintain our traditional values of freedom and let live or do we sell our state to out of state billionaires? I for one am truly tired of newcomers coming and deciding what is best for Montana. I am a newcomer as I moved here in 1994, but I have embraced the values of our treasured state. I am very concerned about Tim Sheehy and his special interest groups. He just doesn’t feel like a good fit for Montana. Although I do not always agree with Sen. Jon Tester, Tester has done us right e...
In my 35 years as an attorney, I litigated cases in courts from Libby to Billings and in Municipal courts to the U.S. Supreme Court. I have had many complaints about many judges, but one judge of whom I never had any complaint is Jerry Lynch. I appeared many times before Judge Lynch when he was the U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge in Missoula. Although he often didn’t agree with me, I always believed he ruled according to the law and not because of personal bias or political beliefs. I have never before written a letter supporting a j...
Erin Farris-Olsen is a doer. Erin respects the law, and her approach as a candidate to be the next Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court will be to use her legal expertise to support all Montanans. As your elected official, Erin won’t play politics. That’s why I’m not goin’ with Bowen (Greenwood), who uses the office to promote his personal political agenda. We can do better! Not only does Erin know how to get things done, she also believes in a better Montana. On election day, remember to cast your vote for integrity and honor, and check the box...
When someone tells you who they are, believe them. Tim Sheehy joked about one of his experiences as, “a great way to bond with all the Indians while they’re drunk at 8 a.m.” or throwing beer cans at cultural events. He then repeated his racist remarks to other audiences for their entertainment. He tells us who he is. There is no doubt his racist statements reflect his values. Mr. Sheehy’s racist belief, declared and repeated, inflicts devastation on Indigenous people. His hurtful words are felt by us all. They are particularly damaging as they...
Thank you for the very insightful and illuminating article in the Sept. 5, 2024 Pathfinder regarding the challenges our local pharmacist, Karen Dove, and the Seeley Swan Pharmacy face from both outside sources and local considerations. For starters we should all recognize how lucky our small community is to have its own full service pharmacy. As the article points out, Dove’s facility is the only pharmacy serving all the areas between Big Fork, Lincoln and Missoula. It should also be noted that small independent pharmacies such as ours are unfo...
Two years ago, a Utah ski corporation and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced a plan to highly develop the rustic Holland Lake Lodge on public land in Condon in the rural Swan Valley. The ski corporation, POWDR, and USFS touched off a blistering public debate about the future not only of the small town and relatively wild valley, but a discussion about the future of Montana and the high-dollar outside influences changing the Big Sky State’s property, social and natural values. Skip ahead two years, and the situation has only become more c...
In recent weeks we’ve noticed that political yard signs for some candidates have come up missing. We have seen Democrats’ signs removed, yet most of the Republican signs are still standing. Upon further investigation, some were mangled and thrown into the brush, others were stolen off of private property by trespassers. Some people don’t like seeing political signs put up but they do play a role in helping voters know who is running for office. The signs lend a sense of seriousness to the campaign. If a candidate is willing to spend money for s...
I would like to echo C. Burt Caldwell’s endorsement of Sen. Jon Tester in his July 25 letter to the editor in the Pathfinder. Sen. Tester has consistently demonstrated he is working for all Montanans. That contrasts sharply with Sen. Steve Daines who is highly partisan and is in fact a leader of the Republican National Committee. His first loyalty seems to be with his party. Our congressional representatives, Rep. Ryan Zinke and Rep. Matt Rosendale are junior senators who don’t seem to be accomplishing much at all, despite the fact they are...
We are issuing this joint statement because it has come to our attention that political signs educating House District 92 voters of our candidacies have been removed or defaced. These unfortunate acts affect both our efforts and, though small in number, they extend across the whole district from the Rattlesnake neighborhood to Condon. Though we differ on specific legislative priorities and policies and describe different visions for the role of state government, we want to speak loudly and clearly on one issue that we agree upon wholeheartedly....
Do you own a home and wonder what it’s worth? You can easily look up your address on Zillow and see the estimated value is rapidly rising, translating to more property taxes. Too many Montana families cannot keep up with an annual $249 million property tax increase imposed by Republican Governor Gianforte and his party in the Legislature. Yet, after months of analysis by the Governor’s property tax task force, they recommended a complicated process that will raise our taxes again. Why didn’t they didn’t consider the new taxes they already...
On Sunday, Aug. 4, my husband and I were in a serious accident on Highway 83 north of Seeley Lake. We were towing a fifth wheel and a boat, both which will probably be totaled. Needless to say, we were unbelievably fortunate to not have been injured. We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank everyone who helped us, especially the Swan Valley emergency response team, Missoula highway patrol and Missoula County sheriff. We especially want to thank Bob and Ben at Clearwater Towing, who were exceptional at clearing up the huge...
Saturday Aug. 3 found 147 triathletes preparing to hit the water at River Point Campground. This year’s race had a bit of a twist for the bikers, no Boy Scout Bridge. After a little creative work we came up with a route. Down Boy Scout to Highway 83, down 83 to Riverview Drive, across the Dogtown bridge, turnaround at Snowmass Drive, back across the Dogtown bridge, down our driveway, through the fence, through multiple private yards, across Cabin Lane, down Back Cabin Road to Lars Kramen, to Boy Scout Road and back to the campground. WHEW! I h...
Condon residents unhappy with Missoula County government should consider the real fact Lake County would probably reject their offer to join that county. It would be a far reach for Lake County to offer the required fire, road and other emergency services.It has plenty of problems of its own. I know I now reside in both Missoula and Lake Counties. Because the Tribal government does not pay its full share for government services it enjoys and it recently took the Kerr Dam out of the Lake County tax base, the county government is strapped. A far...
