I’m not sure I’ve ever read a more disingenuous or out of touch endorsement for a political office than the Missoulian’s recent endorsement of Jennifer Fielder for Public Service Commissioner.
They contend she has a “unique capacity to unite a fractured commission.” Anyone that has followed her political life knows that her capacity to unite is because she would be another Republican on the commission. Isn’t that really what Lee Newspapers wants? Another vote to styme the change on the commission that we Montanans desperately need and desire.
The Missoulian, with no factual basis, says “her ‘fellow’ Republicans will respect her as a fiercely independent thinker.” Nothing could be further from the truth. She would be a voice that allows for the continuation of the ongoing abuse of their office to foster backward thinking rather than what is in the best interest of her constituents.
The Missoulian notes that Fielder has no expertise in utility regulation, a highly technical and demanding enterprise. They then basically give no credit to the fact that Monica Tranel is highly qualified both technically and in the law. More importantly, Tranel has shown that she will force the commission to follow the law and the science, and will take them to court when they abuse their power. That is someone who is independent.
On the other hand, Fiedler’s independent thinking is exemplified, as noted in Missoulian’s endorsement, by her desire to turn all federal lands over to the state which has no practical or financial ability to manage such a huge block of land. Her common sense is exemplified by her association with bringing Clyde Bundy to speak in Sanders County, a guy that believes you can simply take and hold by threat of arms, lands belonging to the American public. I worry that one should be fearful of Fiedler’s independent thinking when she is on such a powerful commission that greatly influences our wellbeing and our pocketbooks.
Having known and followed Gwen Florio for many years and having her interview me on several occasions when I was working on climate change cases in Montana courts and in Federal court, I can only imagine and wonder if this flimsy, lack of editorial integrity endorsement, may have turned her stomach enough, that as city editor, she was compelled to resign.
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