Letters to the editor June 1

We need Jacobsen in Congress

Election Integrity scored a big win for primary elections last week in district court, thanks to Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen. Photo ID will be required at polling places, since a district court judge overruled a legal objection. 

A companion election bill remains in play. The second bill, which would end late registration on Election Day, is headed for a district court jury trial after the primary election. 

As sponsor of both bills, I salute Jacobsen for her “promises made promises kept” attitude. That’s why JoAn and I were first in line to endorse her for Congress. 

That is why Donald Trump endorsed her for secretary of state. In both elections, she got more votes than any other candidate on the ballot. Christi is a proven winner. 

As you may have noticed, nobody can say she spent months in good old boy backroom dealing in Washington, D.C., chasing endorsements and big money support.  

I know Christi well. I like her action on the state land board. She casts votes in favor of her constituents. She streamlined the Secretary of State office for more efficiency and less expense. 

Working with the Secretary of State office, I successfully carried more good election process and integrity legislation than any other legislator in the past 16 years, maybe ever. 

Christi Jacobsen has a great record of public service in Montana. We need her competitive energy in Congress.

— Sen. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka

Heino’s leadership

We have had interactions with Sheriff’s Office deputies over the years and they were always positive. They are professional and well trained under Brian Heino’s leadership. He knows this valley and they are there when you need them. He certainly has our vote.

­— John Tellow, Kalispell

Flint threatens Trump agenda

Attorney General Austin Knudsen deliberately lost the Held v. Montana climate lawsuit in 2023. He stipulated that the plaintiffs were correct and offered no defense.

Held v. Montana is a copy of Barhaugh v. Montana 2011, which I helped defeat in the Montana Supreme Court. My expert climate team could have easily defeated Held v. Montana, but the Republican-controlled state of Montana blocked me to ensure that Knudsen lost Held v. Montana.

Knudsen endorses Aaron Flint in this Republican conspiracy that threatens President Trump’s climate agenda. Wise Republicans will vote for Dr. Al Olszewski.

— Ed Berry, Bigfork

Warden cool under attack

A few weeks ago, a letter to the editor was published about Finley Warden’s meeting with the Lake County commissioners that was so inaccurate I felt compelled to share my perspective. I attended the meeting and witnessed firsthand not only Mr. Warden’s ability to remain calm under attack, but also his ability to answer loaded questions clearly and articulately.

Contrary to what was written, this was not a regular commissioner meeting. It was a public meeting organized specifically for the commissioners to formally meet Mr. Warden as a candidate for House District 13. The room was clearly hostile, with most attendees appearing to be known Democrats supporting his opponent. Even so, Finley remained composed, professional, and respectful throughout.

On property taxes, Finley made clear that he supports real reform, not simply shifting the burden around and deciding who pays more or less. He was also smart enough not to fall for gotcha questions designed to create political theater instead of productive discussion.

What impressed me most was not just what Finley said, but how he handled himself when the room was stacked against him. Leadership is revealed under pressure, and Finley demonstrated professionalism, conviction, and maturity well beyond his years.

Lake County does not need a politician who says one thing and does another. We need someone willing to stand firm, stay composed and fight for the values of this community even when facing hostility. Finley Warden proved he is that person.

— Micah Robertson, Ronan

Do your own research

You’ve heard it said, “Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.” That is true of cooked books, out-of-context Bible verses and half-truths in campaign flyers. 

It is also true of a recent letter to the editor from Mr. Joe Novak. The letter, little more than character assassination, asserts that Derek Peachey is supported by special interest groups — maybe even Kamala Harris Democrats.

Sadly for Mr. Novak, a news report had just been released the day before his letter. It shows Peachey receiving contributions of $12,713, while his opponent, Cathy Mitchell, received $11,812. Neither seemed like remarkable amounts. Since Novak’s contentions and the report didn’t compute, I decided to do my own research.

Mr. Novak is correct as he details select portions of his Commissioner of Political Practices “research.” He correctly shows that Conservatives4MT allocated money to Peachy; similarly, he is correct that Conservatives4MT had received $100,000 from the Western States Regional Carpenter’s PAC, an outfit which Novak contends supported Kamala Harris. From those details, one is then expected to make the leap from a small hummock to the distant shore: “Derek Peachey accepted funds from Kamala Harris supporters!”

Let’s examine the logic. Though Peachey and 40-plus other Republican candidates were given allocations from Conservatives4MT, an indirect allocation by a PAC is not tantamount to accepting a donation. Political action committees can support or denigrate whomever they choose, many times without a candidate’s knowledge or approval. 

The real question then becomes: “Who did contribute to Peachey’s campaign?” Commissioner of Political Practices data reveals the truth and exposes Novak’s misrepresentations: Peachey’s contributions, in their entirety, come from individuals — the write-a-check-over-the-hood-of-a-pickup type of individual. There is not a single PAC contribution, and certainly not any from any out-of-state committees. And even if taking a committee contribution were shady, it’s Peachey’s opponent who has accepted $2,500 in committee donations.

In a court of law you are instructed to disregard the entirety of a witnesses’ testimony if they are shown to have lied about one thing. That wisdom holds for the remainder of Novak’s letter and his depiction of Derek Peachey lolling in a mansion on AI-generated wealth.

Do your research, folks. Commissioner of Political Practices records don’t lie; they are there for all to see.

— Kathleen Burt, Kalispell

Character counts

My purpose in writing this letter is not to tell you for whom to vote. My point is to look beyond party  labels when you make your choice. 

I suggest you look closely and carefully at each candidate’s character. What are those traits that define anyone’s character? They are honesty, empathy, resilience, consideration, humility and conscientiousness. Making judgments about a candidate’s character takes effort by you. No candidate is perfect, but the closer the better.  

Remember, your choice should reflect the level of character you’d hope others would find in you. Remember to vote. You do want your voice heard don’t you?

— Bob Hendricks, Missoula