Leadership, stewardship and business development were themes that resonated with Flathead County commissioner candidates at the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s forum on Tuesday.

Each of the four commissioner candidates was given a three-minute time slot to explain his or her top issues.

It’s an unusual year for voters in that they will elect two commissioners on Nov. 6.

In District 1, Republican Cal Scott, who was appointed commissioner after Commissioner Jim Dupont died unexpectedly in March, is being challenged by Democrat Gil Jordan for the remaining two years of Dupont’s term.

In District 3, Republican Gary Krueger is running against Democrat Clara Mears-LaChappelle for the seat currently held by retiring Commissioner Dale Lauman.

All county voters will vote in both commissioner races.

Scott said he can bring the kind of leadership needed for the commissioner job, adding that he intends to take a positive, proactive approach to county government. He sees the economy and job creation as “basic challenges” for the county and wants to address any undue restrictions “that take away our ability to do our jobs.”

Scott called for healthy municipal partnerships but also stressed that residents of Whitefish’s two-mile planning “doughnut,” who are the focus of a lawsuit over county versus city control, should have the ability to vote for who represents them.

Jordan said voters need to pay attention to the issues of trust and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars as they head to the polls in November.

The executive director of the Museum at Center School in Kalispell, Jordan said he has the skills to oversee the county’s $75 million budget and 522 employees. During his eight years at the museum, he has grown the membership from 400 to 800 members and eliminated the nonprofit’s debt within six months on the job.

“When you talk about jobs and business, the business community doesn’t operate in a vacuum,” Jordan said, sharing a favorite adage: “Everyone does better when everyone does better.”

Mears-LaChapelle said it doesn’t matter whether you’re a third-, fourth- or fifth-generation Montanan to serve as commissioner. Rather, she said, “It’s what you can do for your community.”

Her quest is to preserve the unique nature of the Flathead Valley — “tourists come here for that uniqueness,” she said.

Mears-LaChapelle said her business experience — she owned a business for 20 years — and experience in being an emergency medical technician and training EMTs give her a broad understanding of community needs.

Krueger said he envisions “a Flathead Valley where our children can come back to,” and to do that business permitting processes need to be streamlined so businesses can develop and create jobs. The county can have a hand in creating an effective business climate, he said.

“I think we can have both jobs and a beautiful environment,” Krueger said.

Finding niche markets for the Flathead’s natural resources is one of the goals he would set.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.