The upcoming election in Senate District 3, which extends from Whitefish to northwest Kalispell and the West Valley, pits Republican Rep. Keith Regier against Democrat Melissa Hartman.

In separate interviews last week, the two candidates offered divergent views on a range of policy issues likely to emerge in the coming legislative session.

Hartman is a Whitefish resident and social worker who owns a private practice that provides mental health counseling. While a newcomer to electoral politics, she gained an academic background in public policy followed by public sector work experience at the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. before she moved to Montana in 2008.

She said her decision to seek the seat being vacated by current Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell, was based on a long-held sense of civic responsibility.

“I think I still carry some of my youthful idealism, that good governance can make a difference in people’s lives,” she said, adding afterward, “I’m not an ideologue, and I think some people are fed up with ideology instead of getting things done.”

Hartman took issue with several of her opponent’s positions last session, including opposition to Medicaid expansion, the final infrastructure bill and support for private school tax credits.

Regier, a four-term representative in House District 4 and current House Majority Leader from Kalispell, believes his experience and commitment to conservative values will still resonate in a district that includes more urban voters than his current constituency.

“Compromise is kind of in the eye of the beholder. I view it as having principles and staying true to those principles,” Regier said.

While Democrats pushed last session for the inclusion of several building-related projects that fell outside the focus on roads, bridges and water infrastructure, Hartman said she favors more compromise and would be inclined to vote for a bill that includes only essential infrastructure projects.

“It’s not ideal, but if that’s what it takes to get it passed, ... better to get some of what we need than not get any of what we need,” she said.

The Legislature adjourned last year after failing to pass an infrastructure appropriations bill, the last attempt at which died in the House. Regier helped lead House Republicans’ opposition to the bill, which he criticized for relying on bonds for funding and including projects like a state museum in Helena that he says were unnecessary prerogatives of the Governor’s office.

“I don’t have any opposition to a museum, but I think it should be funded by corporate or private funds,” he said. “To me, a museum is not infrastructure.”

If elected to the Senate, Regier said he would like to work on an infrastructure bill that appropriates money directly to cities, counties and school districts to determine the best use of the funds. He favors short-term infrastructure bills spread evenly throughout the state.

As a social worker invested in finding alternative solutions for juvenile delinquents, Hartman said she would work with her colleagues in the Senate to push for criminal justice reform. She cited jail and prison overcrowding as a costly failure of the state to properly rehabilitate convicts and believes that revising state sentencing guidelines and improving access to addiction treatment and mental health services would save money in the long run.

She also hopes to work on legislation to address the state’s highest-in-the-nation suicide rate.

“While you might need to increase funding, the cost of not addressing these issues is going to be far greater,” Hartman said.

On several recurring legislative issues, the two candidates split along party lines. Regier considers increasing the states minimum wage an additional burden on small businesses, while Hartman said a modest increase with exemptions for youth and small businesses could grow income-tax revenue for the state.

Regier also said he would like to see federal land held by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management transferred to the state, while Hartman is opposed to the land transfer proposals.

While Gov. Steve Bullock fought last year for a budget that would leave at least $300 million in the ending fund balance, many Republicans argued that surplus amounted to an excessive retention of tax dollars that would be better served in the state economy.

Hartman sided with that target “rainy day fund,” while Regier said he believes $100 million to $150 million is a sufficient financial cushion.

Both candidates characterized themselves as Second Amendment supporters, but to varying degrees.

“I think our gun laws are working as they stand, so I don’t think there’s a need to make changes,” Hartman said, referring to state regulations.

Regier echoed that view, but said he wants to eliminate the ability for Montana’s municipalities to establish ordinances regulating concealed carrying within city limits.

Both contenders for the Senate seat also referred to rising property values in areas like Whitefish Lake as justification for property tax reform.

Hartman suggested deferments and freezing rates as possible solutions. Regier said he’d like to propose tying property valuation more to the value of improvements than to the land itself.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS will be mailed Oct. 14 and must be returned by Election Day on Nov. 8.

Information about voter registration, absentee ballot applications and a sample ballot are available on the Flathead County Election Department website at flathead.mt.gov/election.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.