I am a fourth generation Montanan. My great-grandfather arrived in Montana before statehood and homesteaded in Belgrade with his wife, six daughters and one son. My extended family is in every corner of the state, and it is my intention to see that Montana is preserved for true Montanans honoring privacy and opportunity to live their lives. 

Mineral County is in a bad spot. My experience as a small businessman is needed in local leadership. I know success and failure. My Montana-born wife, Lynn, knows risk too. But we continue to get up and go again. We grieve for the hopelessness and despair here. 

Seniors struggle. Our kids have very few options or reasons to stay. Our best leave. Mineral County needs fresh eyes and new ideas to survive. We can no longer put another coat of paint on the rot and rust. We can do better.

If you had to choose between prioritizing tourism or rebuilding a working-resource economy like timber or milling, which would you emphasize and why?

I believe tourism is the most underutilized economic resource in the county. It will have an immediate economic return for the investment in time and resources.

We have world class summer and winter recreation opportunities along with historic interests that are not marketed well to the thousands of tourists and outdoors enthusiasts who pass by daily year-round. The establishment of rentals, ground transportation, camping/lodging facilities and inexpensive customer improvements needs to be done. Soft tourism is a growing industry and can easily be better promoted.

Do you support expanding timber harvest to reduce wildfire risk and create jobs? If so, how would you push for it?

For sure. I am a proponent of the new technology mass timber industry. I presented an opportunity to the commissioners on Feb. 26 to send a representative(s) to International Mass Timber Symposium in Portland at the end of March. A state delegation of government officials, contractors, mill operators, retailers, etc. will attend. Their goal is to attract new mills and high-tech building methods to Montand, especially in resource-rich counties. I do not know at this time if anyone from here will attend.

How do we make sure recreation dollars actually stay in the local community instead of just passing through?

I believe my first answer in this survey has explained my approach. I come from a business background and local business keeps money here. If we don't embrace the tourism opportunities, then out of state corporate interests will continue to buy restaurants, travel centers and Montana properties for the Entertainment of their clients at our expense.

Would you support workforce training partnerships with community colleges or trade programs? What should those focus on?

Absolutely! The AI revolution is coming and white-collar jobs will be the first casualties. My hope is that the education system will re-tool for that reality. I was a contractor and IBEW union member for many years and I will say this, the millionaires of the future will be wearing a tool belt and a hard hat.

If the county faced a major budget shortfall, what would be your priorities to cut-or protect?

We have a $700,000 shortfall now. I have looked at the 200+ page county budget. The number line-item budget considerations is mind boggling for a county of 5,000.

The five biggest employers in Mineral County are government entities. We simply need to recognize that bringing businesses, tourism and promoting cottag industries will broaden the tax and job base is the only way to build and sustain our economy. Period.

What is something the current county commission is doing wrong?

Not to be disrespectful, but where are their successes? Every rubric or measurement of a safe and vital community is worse now than it was 2, 5, 15 even 18 years ago. The hopelessness of too many is written on their faces. Then there are those that like it just the way it is and do not want any change. Change Is like a train. It is coming. Stand against it and get run over. Sit in the station and get left behind. The citizens can decide that in June. We should all get on board.