This is the first time in our many years of public service that we have weighed in together on a local issue. We think it's a big deal or we wouldn't be doing it.

The people's right to elect their County Superintendent of School should not be taken from them. It is fundamental to our system of "government by the consent of the governed" that the people hold the power to elect or not elect the officials who govern them.

We were, therefore, astounded to learn from recent news reports of the Flathead County Commissioners' sudden decision to schedule a hearing for Jan. 4 to eliminate the elected office of County Superintendent of Schools.

We know our three Flathead County Commissioners and know they are on the lookout to save taxpayers dollars. But the budget of the office of school superintendent in our county amounts to about 3/10 of 1 percent of total county expenditures.

And, if the duties performed by the elected superintendent are contracted out to an unelected bureaucrat answerable to the County Treasurer, then mighty little will actually be saved.

What is going on here? If this is a move toward a county manager form of government, then that concept should be discussed on its own merits up front and in broad daylight. Certainly, under any circumstances, a decision to revoke the people's right to elect a public official should not be entered into precipitously.

We strongly agree with Commissioner Jim Dupont that the proposal to eliminate the elected office of Flathead County Superintendent of Schools 'seems totally inappropriate and rushed."

If you too agree with Jim Dupont, please contact commissioners Dale Lauman and Joe Brenneman at 758-5501, or e-mail them at [email protected] and [email protected] and tell them so.

Former State Senators Bob Brown and Bob DePratu live in Whitefish.