Independent James H. Swanson knows it’s a long-shot he’ll beat Republican incumbent Mark Noland in the race for House District 10. Still, Swanson said he didn’t want to see Noland go unopposed in the general election.

“I didn’t want him to run unopposed,” Swanson said. “I don’t know Mark, and I don’t hold nothing against him, but I don’t think these guys should just get a seat like that.”

Swanson said he ran as an Independent because no party really reflects his values.

“I just hate the way our politics are done. Everybody’s out grabbing and getting, looking for money and everything they have to say is bad about their opponent,” Swanson said. “Not in the Montana election, but in the national election they’ve spent over $5 billion and not one poor person has got a bite to eat out of the deal. It just sickens me that money is worth nothing to these people, but then, they are all rich.”

Swanson said he likes the fact that Montana is required to run its state government without a deficit.

“What I would like see changed is that I think marijuana should be legalized,” Swanson said. “I think any tax revenue should be used for our roads and our schools and our bridges and anything left over should be used to help the poor people and the old people with health care.”

Swanson she he would also like to see the state legalize hemp as a cash crop.

“Our state needs an influx of cash because of the lost coal and petroleum revenue,” Swanson said.

Swanson said he values federally held public lands, but that he thinks local people should have more say in what happens to them. Instead of spending so much money on fighting fires, Swanson said the forests should be managed better, without red tape and litigation bogging down the logging process.

Swanson also believes the minimum wage should gradually be raised. As a business owner, he doesn’t think a $15 per hour wage proposed by some would be burdensome.

“If you aren’t making enough to where you can pay your workers a living wage, really all you are doing is taking up space or you are keeping too much profit for yourself,” Swanson said.

Swanson said overall, he values state rights.

“I believe that Montana state law takes precedent over federal law,” Swanson said. “If they want to do business in Montana, they should have to comply with what Montana wants, not come in here and tell us what we’re going to do.”

NOLAND, 57, says he wants to work for the people of Montana to help improve its business climate. He has children and grandchildren he would like to see live and work nearby, but says there aren’t enough well paying jobs in the state.

“One of the things Montana does really well is export one of our best commodities: our children,” Noland said. “I want to import them, bring them back, get them home.”

Noland’s talked to business leaders who say the high worker’s compensation program and other high costs of doing business keep people from bringing companies to Montana.

Noland said the Legislature last session worked several job bills that would have been good for business, but that they were ultimately vetoed by Gov. Steve Bullock.

He said the transfer of federal lands to state control is also an important issue. Noland believes wildfires can be better managed by state agencies than by the federal government.

“There’s a lot of things we can do better in the state of Montana,” Noland said.

Noland said he believes the land should remain public.

“No one has ever said that we want to sell our lands,” Noland said. “No one is interested in selling any public lands, none. It’s not even on the table ... I would like to see the state have more say and more control.”

On the minimum wage, he says the private sector should set wages.

“They are entry-level wages for a reason,” Noland said. “That is not supposed to be their main bread and butter.”

“When we have socialism where we mandate things to everybody, tell me one country that has succeeded? I can’t give you one,” Noland said.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.