Ahead of Montana’s June 2 primary election, the Daily Inter Lake sent questionnaires to state Legislature candidates running in contested races in Northwest Montana.

Following is House District 1 Democratic candidate Roberta McCanse's response. Candidate Dakota Adams did not respond.

HOUSE DISTRICT 1 

Name: Roberta McCanse 

Age: I am a woman of a certain age. 

Residence: Libby  

Current Occupation: Retired nursing professor 

Professional & Community Background: Not answered 

What is the best approach to balance state budget needs with concerns about increasing tax rates? 

Balancing the state budget first requires that humane priorities be balanced. Disparities now exist that advantage corporate profit rather than the public good. Given that most corporations need employees that are consistently present, healthy and able to work without personal distractions, money must be drawn from raising corporate taxes and using those funds to help provide affordable child care and public transportation. Health care, including Medicaid, must be supported to levels that ensure access to those who are employed and those for whom employment is not reasonable. 

What is your vision for how the state should manage public lands, wildlife and natural resources?  

Public lands belong to all of us. Each of us should have a say regarding how they are managed. There are forested areas that need to be logged to prevent disastrous fires and provide reasonable income for logging companies. This must be done carefully and secured by conservative science so that wildlife and our overall environment is protected. Given that logging now is increasingly mechanized, we cannot count on logging to provide the numbers of jobs that once existed. Attention should be given to the realities of natural progression that balances our precious resources. For example, the wolf population tends to remain the same regardless of attempts to exterminate them. When resources are fewer, wolves have fewer pups. When threats increase, they have more pups. Coyotes, on the other hand, continue to produce ever increasing numbers of offspring. Controlling their numbers makes more sense than trying to destroy wolves.   

Why are you the best Democratic candidate to represent your district? 

I am the best candidate to represent my district because I have many years of experience and the wisdom that age can provide. I have been up close and personal with the health care system for almost 40 years. I am a veteran of change, and I know that change happens more slowly than we would wish. But change is definitely needed both politically and socially. I will work for change with the reasoned care that decades of life experience provide.