The House District 4 race in Flathead County has an odd twist: Neither candidate lives within the district.

Democrat Ed Lieser, who has live in Whitefish since 1990, has a home on Lion Mountain, just a “stone’s throw” from the House District 4 boundary. His opponent in the Nov. 6 general election, Republican Timothy Baldwin, lives in Kalispell.

State law does not require legislative candidates to live within the district they seek to represent. House District 4 currently is represented by Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, who is running for state auditor.

House District 4 includes the city of Whitefish up to Glenwood Road on its north side. It’s bordered to the south by the Kalispell Elementary School District line and includes a portion of the Whitefish Stage Road and Montana 40 area west of Half Moon Road.

The two candidates acknowledge their differences.

Lieser, a forestry consultant who’s retired from a 30-year career with the U.S. Forest Service, sees himself as a forester who is passionate about the responsible management and conservation of natural resources.

Baldwin, an attorney, considers himself a statesman with a keen knowledge of the Constitution, and says he would “focus on individual responsibility.”

Here’s how the challengers stand on key issues:

Lieser said it’s time for Montana to consider a property tax “circuit breaker” to increase tax equity. By targeting property tax relief to those most in need — such as elderly longtime residents who have seen their homes escalate in value — a circuit breaker approach promotes tax equity, Lieser maintained, while preserving property tax as a source of local revenue.

Lieser also believes a reappraisal of property values needs to be done sooner than the normal six-year cycle. Although an independent study found the 2009 statewide reappraisal accurately reflected property values, he said resort communities such as Whitefish have seen taxes increase exorbitantly while the market values of their homes have decreased.

Baldwin said at least 90 percent of the House District 4 residents he’s talked to while campaigning door-to-door have said, “We need to do something to make property taxes fairer.” He agrees with that assessment and the Republican platform that calls for all taxes to be low, broad-based and easily understood.

“A moderate tax system is always best because it allows people to create wealth,” Baldwin said.

Regarding tax reform, Baldwin said a flat tax would have merit because it’s “more fair and predictable.”

He added that tourism and natural-resource development are areas that could generate more money for the state.

Lieser, too, said there may be other revenue streams out there, and pointed to the current 18-month “tax-free holiday” for new oil wells as one area that could supply more revenue if that time frame were reduced.

Lieser doesn’t feel revisions made to the business equipment tax by the 2011 Legislature were structured in a way that benefits the state’s smallest businesses but rather favor larger corporations.

With Montana looking at a state surplus of an estimated $457 million — about $268 million more than the Legislature had projected — Baldwin said the state must fulfill its obligations, such as state pensions or loans carrying interest. Beyond that legislators should looks at the necessities — infrastructure, education, law enforcement and the judicial system, he said.

“From there it’s a matter of preference,” Baldwin said. “We don’t gamble with taxpayers’ money.”

Lieser said it’s good to have a rainy-day fund, but saving the entire state surplus may not be the best route to take, either. He’d like to see more investment in the state’s education system.

Both candidates say they’re not opposed to using a portion of the surplus to address the unbalanced state pension fund.

Neither Baldwin nor Lieser feel Montana should opt out of the Medicaid expansion offered by the federal Affordable Care Act.

“If we can afford [the expansion] and it gets us to a better position it would be a reasonable decision,” Baldwin said, adding that improving the state’s economy ultimately must be the goal, “otherwise more and more people have to use Medicaid.”

Lieser said it “seems prudent for Montana to take advantage” of the Medicaid expansion allowed by the federal health-care act.

“It’s the compassionate thing to do, and ultimately I think it will” make health insurance premiums more cost-effective.

In line with Lieser’s focus on responsible management of natural resources, he sees the need for an aquatic invasive species inspection system for Montana and would push for such regulation. Without it, “we jeopardize losing the quality of our lakes,” he said. He also would support tighter state regulations on septic systems, primarily around lakes, rivers and streams.

Adequate funding for education and improving graduation rates is also a key issue for Lieser. He said he’s committed to working with people “from both sides of the aisle” to develop solutions for Whitefish and Montana.

Baldwin said he became infatuated with studying the origin of Western civilization after he finished law school, and as a result “began to see the complexity of political thought.

“Politics is driven too much by personal ideology and not much objectivity,” Baldwin said.

As a young family man, Baldwin said he felt a responsibility to try to help Montana.

“I’ve spent my adult life learning how to combine principles and facts to come up with the best solution ...we know laws must follow the Constitution. I know the Constitution. From there it’s a matter of policy,” Baldwin said. “I’m open to listening to whatever someone wants to see happen.”

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