Our political system today is disheartening. We don’t trust politicians, or their motivations for seeking public office. We don’t trust the system or the hidden forces that affect it – and it’s no wonder that we don’t. You only have to look as far as the details of this Commissioner race for examples of why we have lost faith in the system.

To the detriment of Flathead County’s voters, Phil Mitchell has denied the public access to his unfiltered ideas in a debate setting, and suggested that the information provided to voters about our views be carefully controlled. He chose an exchange of letters detailing our stances on issues, yet he has failed to follow through and respond to questions I posed to him in my October 1st letter. And of utmost concern for all people of Flathead County, he has told us that he is actually a “we” - and he won’t elaborate on who the “we” is.

Phil Mitchell has revealed his contempt for one of our three cities, raising major concerns for how he will treat the other two if elected. He has proudly boasted about advocating for citizens outside his jurisdiction while he was an elected Whitefish City Councilman. He has demonstrated that, although the county is ready to move beyond the doughnut drama, he is not. He has avoided detailing how he will represent people who have neither property nor business. He has toyed with the idea that our seniors should endure privatization of the Agency on Aging under the guise of fiscal conservatism, without regard to the true financial and social impact that reality would have on our seniors and tax payers.

It was not an easy decision for me to risk the stigma of politics and seek the office of Commissioner. Yet I do it because I think it is so important to be actively involved our government. If we want to have a say in how we are governed, we need honest, smart, motivated, talented, intuitive people to run for public office – all of which are qualities that I bring to the table. Flathead County deserves real representation, not a token elected official who works for a select team of “we.”

This November you have a choice to make between two Commissioner candidates who will affect the future of Flathead County for generations to come. This is the time to consider what you want to see happen in our local government and what you are personally willing to do to make it happen. If the time for you to make a difference is not now, when will it be? If the person to do honest work for the county is not me, then who will it be?

Many thanks to David Reese, editor of the Bigfork Eagle and the students from the government class at Bigfork High School for sponsoring a spirited candidate forum on October 6th. It was my great pleasure to participate along side my opponent and answer questions specific to the concerns of residents of Bigfork.

I was especially moved by the experience of the forum. Bringing together residents, students, and candidates including a legislator, together with the press for a discussion of issues and views is what we should all be looking for in the election process. As a candidate, I relished the opportunity to hear questions from the audience and the students. It really drove home what is important to those people who participated.

I hope the voters of Flathead County will give me the opportunity to serve as your next Commissioner. I will work to bring that same spirit of communication and discovery to our county government. 

Stacey Schnebel,

Democratic candidate for Flathead County commissioner