Tim Harmon, the maintenance supervisor for the Flathead County Fairgrounds, is challenging incumbent District 2 County Commissioner Pam Holmquist on the Republican ticket.

Harmon, 54, has worked at the fairgrounds for 14 1/2 years and said he’s always been interested in politics and the political process.

“I decided now is the time to do it,” he said. “I believe I could provide leadership and form consensus.”

One of the reasons he chose to run for commissioner is the commissioners’ decision to back away from an agreement to sponsor a federal grant to fix an unstable, slide-prone slope near Village Greens. It took a District Court ruling to force the county to serve as the sponsoring government agency for the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.

“I’m a firm believer government should be there to help its citizens,” Harmon said.

He said the county jail overcrowding is an issue he would tackle as a commissioner.

“I find it perplexing why government lets things go until they reach critical mass,” he commented. “It’s now at a crisis point, and it’s hard to punish criminals if you have no way to punish them. It’s no deterrent if they [law-breakers] know the jail is full.”

Harmon said long-term funding for the consolidated 911 dispatch center is another issue that needs to be solved.

“Again, it’s perplexing how you bring about an entity without long-term funding for maintenance,” he commented.

Harmon said he’d like to see the commissioners hold public hearings after work hours when more working people could attend.

He touted his job experience with the county.

“All the time I’ve worked at the fairgrounds I’ve never been late for work. I’m proud of the fact I’m a good county employee,” he said.