Sorted by date Results 1133 - 1157 of 1183
I fell in love with Montana during a pack trip in the Bob Marshall wilderness when I was eight years old. Twenty years later, I’m still finding new streams, lookouts, forests and ridgelines that amaze me every time I head out. One of the best parts about living and working on the land (as I do during the summers) in Missoula County is that you don’t have to go too far out your front door to access this beauty. In the face of expected development and a changing climate, though, we need to elect a county commissioner devoted to conservation and...
MISSOULA - Stacy’s latest political trick to do an op-ed on Missoula County’s new parental leave policy with her campaign photo and only her signature is a perfect example of a politician not a statesperson. This is just one more reason to vote for Dave Strohmaier, a qualified leader of integrity. She had only been in the appointed position for a short time when I realized how county staff and our partner agency representatives were looking at me with the same questions in their eyes- “What is it that she doesn’t like about my work? Does my...
Last year after Missoula County Commissioner Bill Carey announced he was retiring mid-term, the Missoula Democratic Central Committee held a forum which resulted in three people being nominated for presentation to the Board of Commissioners. The two voting Commissioners agreed to APPOINT Stacy Rye on the first ballot. Now, after working with Stacy for seven-plus months, one Commissioner has endorsed Dave Strohmaier and the other has NOT endorsed Stacy. To me that means Stacy does not play well with others and that she has created what will be...
MISSOULA – Hopefully you read the big card from Stacy Rye who is running as a democrat to retain her seat as Missoula County Commissioner. Stacy has been endorsed by the mayor, all the council members, Carol Williams and many county leaders. Why, you ask? It is because she feels the people want and need more transparency from the commissioners such as minutes taken and meetings recorded. Before they make a decision, which affects all of the people of the county, they will have a voice, and decisions will not be made behind closed doors with n...
Dave Strohmaier has my vote in our June 7 Missoula County Commissioner primary. Two years ago I encouraged Dave to run for House District 92 in northeast Missoula City and County. What a great job he did, traveling the county, experiencing the landscape, knocking on doors, meeting people and learning about issues. Because Northeast Missoula County is part of my Senate District, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about the hardworking people who are making great strides to preserve, protect and enhance the area. I’ve watched Commissioner Jea...
I met Stacy Rye five years ago and I have been grateful ever since. She is a strong friend and an even stronger leader. I supported her when she put in her name for the appointment of Missoula County Commissioner because I knew she would work harder than anyone else at the job. She is extremely passionate about local government and making Missoula a better place to work and live. While I could repeat other letters about openness and transparency, helping families and partnering with local governments, all things Stacy ardently believes, my...
I am responding to recent allegations by my Public Service Commission (PSC) primary opponent and her supporters about recent automated phone calls that I left in voter’s answering machines. The state statute they quote is not as clear-cut as they would like to think. In all likelihood it is unconstitutional. The same law in South Carolina was found to be a violation of free speech. It is regularly used by candidates on both sides to get their message out. I stand behind my decision to drop a 15-second, pre-recorded voice mail that was delivered...
Dave Strohmaier is the best candidate for Missoula County Commissioner. We have known Dave for the last 15 years when he kindly helped our son Kevin Furey with his candidacy for the Montana house. Dave is a hard working, committed candidate with a wealth of experience. Since we live in Bonner, we are thrilled with the planned extension of the Kim Williams Trail and the new state park. With that expansion also comes risks. Dave is committed to helping establish a system to protect users of the trails and the environment. Dave is a strong...
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Water Compact is much more than just a piece of legislation—it is a negotiated agreement that ensures the future of agriculture in our state. Without the Compact the Tribes would have to define their water rights through litigation in the Montana Water Court—a costly, time consuming and uncertain process that would have dire impacts for Montana taxpayers, landowners and water users across our state. The Tribes would have the earliest priority date of any water users. Failure to ratify the Com...
I live in a rural area of Missoula County where sometimes it’s de rigeur to complain about the policies, directions and goings on “in town.” But I love Missoula and I fiercely love Missoula County. Our issues do not have black and white solutions, nor even gray ones. Our solutions must be more kaleidoscope in nature, structured but brilliant and varied. Missoula County is diverse, complicated and our County Commissioners maintain the necessary tension that makes this place so livable. Dave Strohmaier is endorsed by Montana Conservation Voter...
I met both 2016 commissioner candidates long before they were candidates and I have chosen to support Dave Strohmaier for the following reasons. Teamwork to Dave means working together with the other Commissioners to resolve disagreements and make the best decisions for Missoula County. It means developing good working relations with staff members and department heads, motivating staff and department heads to put forth their ideas without fear, developing a consensus or acceptable compromise and moving forward with the group’s decision as d...
All employers in Montana should be informed of a new rule, thanks to “a Big Brother move” by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This proposal would significantly change which employees are eligible to be salaried and which must be hourly workers. The current situation allows for management and administrative employees earning over $23,660 to be classified as “exempt,” salaried workers. The new DOL rule would change that threshold to $50,440. Many workers who are currently salaried would be re-classified as hourly workers, bringing a major p...
MISSOULA - Finally someone got it right in Missoula and had guts enough to have it in the Pathfinder and hopefully in the Missoulian! Thank you Tyler Gernant, who is the clerk and treasurer of Missoula County. You beat me to it and your letter is much more informational. I wish to add to your letter. Stacy Rye has been a commissioner for seven months and has done a great job. This includes standing up to Jean Curtiss, which the others should, instead of being led by the nose and punished if one dares as we see in the case of Stacy Rye in my...
MISSOULA - We’re voting for Dave Strohmaier, Democratic Candidate for County Commissioner. Dave is a thoughtful leader with decades of experience administering programs and managing staff. He listens and acts with respect and with a collaborative spirit. Dave is a sportsman and conservationist who values good stewardship for Missoula County and understands the imperative to reduce the county’s carbon footprint. He received the sole endorsement of the Montana Conservation Voters for County Commissioner. Dave understands that planning is ess...
Missoula County is a great place to live and raise a family, but to keep it that way we need leadership with a clear vision for the future, rooted in stewardship for this place, which is why I'm running to become your next Missoula County Commissioner. As a former wildland firefighter, I know a thing or two about hard work and leadership, even amidst sharp differences of opinion-attributes that are desperately needed in county government and throughout our community. I'm running for my two child...
Addrien Marx is running for HD92. We support her. It was with some sadness that we read of Addrien leaving the business [Rovero’s] that she and Larry started some 20 years ago. We watched the business begin with hope and saw it flourish through the years due to the attention of its owners and the wonderful staff that she employed. Addrien has contributed much of her personal time and resources to make Seeley Lake a better place to live and enjoy. Addrien understands that Montana needs a thriving economy while protecting our natural resources a...
MISSOULA - As the Clerk and Treasurer for Missoula County, I have had a front seat to the governing style of Missoula County Commissioner Stacy Rye. In her short time on the County Commission, Stacy has been a fierce advocate for open and transparent government. This hasn’t earned her any friends but it should earn her your vote. Without meaningful public access to county government, public decisions are made in a vacuum. Ultimately, the citizens of Missoula County are the ones that are hurt. To be clear, I don’t believe that anything nef...
I support the candidacy of Larry Dunham for Representative for House District 92. He has been a member of the Swan Valley Community Council and The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee and active participant in community activities. He researches all sides of issues and topics in order to be as well informed as he can be. He is a good listener and willing to hear your thoughts. I encourage you to support and vote for Larry Dunham for House District 92 Representative....
There are lots of great reasons to live in the Swan Valley but occasionally we find some issues that make it difficult to connect to the “outside” world, especially when it comes to political decisions that have large impact’s on our life style, often dictated by people that live several miles from the Swan. With only around 500 voters, we do not have the political clout to stand up for our rights as citizens and voters in our area. This election gives us some hope as we have a local citizen that has filed for House District 92 and will give...
Since the formation of this great nation, it has welcomed all to participate in the fruits of the most successful capitalistic nation the world has ever known. There are immigrants here from virtually every part of the earth. The people of the Middle East Nations must not be precluded from availing themselves to the wonderful benefits of becoming members of this nation any more than your or my ancestors were. Part of residing in any country around the world as a guest, resident or citizen is to agree to learn and abide by that country’s l...
I thought about how people leave a legacy after I read Heather Layman’s article in her Cowgirl Ramblings column entitled “Leaving a Legacy.” It was thrilling to read her words about the inductees in the Cowboy Hall of Fame. She said, “.... the commonality was all of these people were and are tough as a new bride’s biscuits.” Layman went on to describe how tough they were tending livestock in the worst of weather, cut trails, built barns, rode rough horses in even tougher country all so they could provide for their families, community a...
SWAN VALLEY - For two days this past week, my granddaughter and I have had to stop and let elk cross Kraft Creek Road on the way to her bus stop on Highway 83. Over the years we have seen bears, coyotes, wolves, deer and, of course, the elk. We have also seen a multitude of waterfowl. This is the best entertainment nature has to offer and we, like the majority of residents, want to keep this from disappearing. Believe it or not, there is a minority of people in this valley who are ashamed of the very things that draw people to this valley: the...
POTOMAC - I received two phone calls Sunday about negative remarks about Paws Up Animal Shelter of Potomac on a local Facebook group. I would like to inform those who wrote those remarks. Facebook should not be used to damage people who have saved and rescued over two hundred dogs and many cats. I would personally be glad to meet you and explain the problems. I will again explain to you what has been explained to you. I can explain it for you but I can’t understand it for you. You wanted a puppy and went to Paws Up. You were advised that the pu...
SWAN VALLEY - We have an opportunity before us to be heard or to be ignored. I am writing this letter to those of us who want to be heard by Missoula County regarding the maintenance and protection of the Swan Valley. As many of you know, a draft of a neighborhood plan has been completed by the planning committee of the Swan Valley Community Council. It is a document consisting of values based on an envisioning process (a community survey technique) carried out in 2012 by the Swan Valley-Condon Comprehensive Plan-Growth Committee. It is my...
Most Montanans have their favorite outdoor places. It might be a trout stream, a view from a mountaintop or a mountain bike loop. Wherever your favorite places are, chances are they are on Montana’s public lands. Management of our public lands is a hot topic. Some radicals want to control public lands unlawfully using guns. The American Land Council led by their new CEO, Montana state Sen. Jennifer Fielder, wants to take control of our public lands through legislation. Both efforts ignore the fact that the majority of Montanans treasure p...
