Letters to the editor March 30

Recruiting new leadership

By engaging a professional recruiting firm to assist in the search to replace Flathead Valley Community College’s retiring President Jane Karas, the board is wisely following best practices. Our recent search at Greater Valley Health Center was conducted under similar circumstances, with a retiring CEO. Engaging a reputable firm provided valuable assistance and led to the selection of a highly qualified candidate — Adam Naumann. 

Our board defined our desired process. We interviewed community stakeholders, partners and employees, and identified the attributes, skills and experience that we believe will be critical to our future success and plans. We hired the recruiting firm to handle the time-consuming tasks of posting the job locally and nationally, reviewing hundreds of submissions and forwarding the top candidates to the board for an interview.

As we reached the final candidates, the firm verified references, conducted background checks, coordinated on-site follow-up interviews and assisted with negotiations. These are all tasks that benefit from experienced professional attention. In short, they provided valuable assistance, but the board directed and managed the process from start to finish.

Both Mary Sterhan, our recently retired CEO, and President Karas leave big shoes to fill. We are delighted to have Mr. Naumann join us. I am confident that the FVCC board will similarly follow a thoughtful process and select a new leader who understands local needs, builds on the terrific foundation so many have helped build, and positions the institution for continued success!

— Bob Lopp, Board chair Greater Valley Health Center

Campaign finance

Citizens United was the worst of the many horrible decisions the Supreme Court has ever made. We desperately need to get big money out of politics. One person, one vote. Period.

— Stacey Thomas, Bigfork

Mailer expense

Dear Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen,  

I received the  postcard with your questionable concerns about illegal voting. I question your assertions and their implications. 

In Montana only three people have been prosecuted  for voting as non-citizens. There are 725,180 registered voters in Montana, those three people represent 0.000413690394%. 

Given that we have to watch our finances, live within our means and budget, I will make the assumption that your office has to do the same, and like us, justify the figures. You have an additional financial component -- an audit. 

Therefore I am curious as to the financial aspect of this statewide mailer campaign. How did it affect your budget? Please supply the following figures: Card stock cost, total cost of design, layout, editing etc of the postcard, and mailing cost.

In the text of your card you made statements aimed at leading people to believe that Montana is fraught with illegal voting. Please give us the source of your accusation of widespread voter fraud and activity, and verify the source  or sources with citations. Or do these contentious statements come from your political ideology, connection with and support of Trump, a convicted felon found guilty on all 34 of the indicted counts against him. 

Please do not confuse political ideology with actual, verifiable and substantive facts. We deserve clarification about your statewide campaign concerning a problem that really does not exist. Was the expense worth it? Show us the proof.

— George Metropoulos McCauley, Helena