Candidate debate reveals property taxes, rural resilience as bipartisan hot buttons

Nearly 60 community members piled into Seeley Lake's Sullivan Community Hall last Tuesday evening to hear what the people vying to represent them in Helena had to say.

Sponsored by the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, the candidate debate, moderated by editor Keely Larson, starred seven hopeful state representatives and senators, plus written statements shared aloud by Larson from one absent candidate.

Audience members, about a third of whom wore bright red "Ted Morgan" t-shirts in support of House District 92's Republican candidate, listened attentively, if at times disruptively or, in the case of the gentleman who made flatulent mouth noises in response to Democratic candidates' input, disrespectfully. While moderator Larson had to remind attendees to cut the cross-talk and silence their phones, those on the ballot debated one another with civility, demonstrating a spirit of pride in debates' foundational role in our democracy.

Because communities of the Seeley-Swan, including Seeley Lake, were drawn out of HD 92 during the last redistricting cycle and made part of HD 76, Montana House of Representatives contenders at the debate included Rep. John Fitzpatrick, an incumbent Republican from Anaconda re-running to represent residents of Seeley Lake and Ovando, as well as Philipsburg and Deer Lodge; and his HD 76 opponent Elena Gagliano, a Philipsburg Libertarian.

Also present were Rep. Connie Keogh, a Missoula Democrat and incumbent currently serving those now residing in HD 92, which includes Condon, Greenough, East Missoula and East Rattlesnake; and her HD 92 opponent Ted Morgan, a Condon Republican currently serving as treasurer of the Swan Valley Community Council. Keogh currently represents HD 91.

On the Senate side, citizens heard from Sen. Becky Beard, an Elliston Republican representing SD 38, which includes Seeley Lake and Ovando, in addition to Deer Lodge, Boulder and Philipsburg; and Beard's SD 38 challenger Jeffrey Benson, a Boulder-based Democrat.

Finally, the debate featured Charles Headley, an Arlee Republican vying for a Senate seat representing SD 46, in a race for which no incumbent is running. Headley's SD 46 opponent Jacinda Morgieau, an Arlee Democrat, was unable to attend in person.

The boundaries of SD 46 were also redrawn in the most recent redistricting cycle; that district now runs from Ronan to Dixon and south to Arlee, and includes portions of the Rattlesnake area of Missoula and East Missoula before heading east to Seeley and north to Condon.

For about 90 minutes, Larson invited each candidate to weigh in, round-robin-style, on a range of topics relevant to residents of the Seeley-Swan Valley and other "collar communities" on the outskirts of Missoula County. Depending on the question, candidates had one to three minutes to expound on regional hot buttons ranging from rising taxes to broken bridges, and from under-funded rural schools to western Montana's rising costs of living.

During the debate's final 20 minutes, Larson drew from a bucket of handwritten, audience-submitted questions that touched on a range from candidates' reasons for running to their stances on second amendment rights.

All proclaimed to be proudly pro-gun, although Benson expressed reservations about guns in schools, and Morgan blasted his opponent, Keogh, for her endorsement from Moms Against Gun Violence. In 2020, Keogh's campaign was awarded the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction. Her campaign website doesn't currently list a Moms Against Gun Violence endorsement.

Asked about unique challenges facing the Seeley-Swan Valley, candidates pointed to factors including a lack of affordable housing; insufficient infrastructure to support growth; declining air quality; lack of labor; the devastation of the anticipated closure of Pyramid Mountain Lumber in Seeley Lake; understaffed, underfunded and underinsured volunteer firefighting and EMS forces; and the increasing perception, held among many, that property taxes don't seem aligned with income levels.

Both incumbent state representatives present, Rep. Fitzpatrick and Sen. Beard emphasized that in order for Seeley Lake to spur economic development and allow young families to flourish, its sewer situation - or, more specifically, the lack thereof - must be addressed. "Not only does such an unusual septic situation complicate new building immensely," Fitzpatrick said, "but it puts prospective Seeley Lake developments at the mercy of strenuous permitting and other wastewater management hurdles."

"Until a [public sewer system] is built, this community is going to struggle with housing; it's gonna struggle with the ability to recruit teachers to work in their schools, you're gonna struggle trying to bring new businesses into this area," said Beard, who added that with its estimated $15 million price tag, funding the project would entail a "heavy lift," as the state of Montana does not have as much money going into this session as it has in the past.

Republican and Democratic candidates expressed disdain at Gov. Greg Gianforte's management of state money and tendency to grant tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. All vowed that if elected, they will vote transparently and encourage and respond to constituent input. Regarding funding, Benson promised to better leverage various grant programs for rural communities of Montana, and Morgan proposed tapping into federal funding for largely Forest Service-managed communities in unincorporated areas, which describes most of the Seeley-Swan area.

Before parting, most candidates remarked on the importance of working together, as the bulk of the challenges discussed throughout the evening plague western Montana citizens across the political spectrum. As Gagliano reminded all present in Sullivan Community Hall, "United we stand, divided we fall."

Keogh added that "whoever wins or loses, it's gonna be okay." She reasoned, "You have community councils, you have community foundations and get together; you're sharing ideas and exploring opportunities."

The general election takes place Nov. 5. Absentee ballots will be mailed out Oct. 11. Residents can register to vote or update their voter registration at the Missoula County election office anytime prior to 8 p.m. on Election Day.