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 Senate District 1 candidate Steve Gunderson's response. Candidates Neil Duram and Vincent Backen did not respond.

SENATE DISTRICT 1

Name: Steve Gunderson  

Age: 68 years young  

Residence: Libby  

Current Occupation: Termed-out Montana House representative  

Professional & Community Background: Citizen advocate for returning our statewide and local natural resource extraction economy, past business owner and job creator, past four-term fully engaged legislator  

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

We need to use a Department of Government Efficiency approach to look at current and proposed programs to find waste and overspending. Our Legislative Audit Division needs to oversight spending efficiencies to find dollars we can save. We need to review programs with a much more jaundiced eye in the appropriations committees to tighten spending.  

We need real tax reform. The tax shift that occurred in the last session is not acceptable! We need to return to a reality of what property values, that were bloated by the pandemic, should really be. We need to safeguard our populations that have spent a lifetime paying for property ownership and then paying taxes to “rent” that property from the state.  

We can generate taxes in Lincoln County by a return to a natural resource extraction economy. Lincoln County was once prosperous, but once natural resource development was stopped, we lost that prosperity.  

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

The federal government controls most (2.2 million acres) of Senate District 1. The federal government is our worst neighbor as they pay no taxes. Lincoln County just received (a late) Payment in Lieu of Taxes and Secure Rural Schools payment. These payments were designed to be paid regularly to compensate for the lack of tax revenue.  

The feds are not the best stewards of our lands and God-given natural resource treasures. Our state is a much better steward of our local resources than a government agency 2,000+ miles away. The Good Neighbor Authority and the new Shared Stewardship Agreement between Montana and the U.S. Forest Service prove that Montana understands how to manage Montana resources. Grizzly bear management is shared by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and should be turned completely over to the state. The state has proven many times that it’s the best steward of our natural resources.  

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

My past voting records reflect that I am most aligned with the voters of Senate District 1. I believe I am, and have been, the most experienced, knowledgeable, battletested and engaged member of the Lincoln County Caucus. I have aligned with house representatives both current and prospective and have already outlined a unified strategy to advance Lincoln County as we jointly advance Montana.  

I have attained many legislative leadership positions and have brought and helped pass many beneficial bills for the district and the state throughout my legislative career. Even sitting out one session to align with the open Senate District 1 seat, I spent many days lobbying in the background to protect Libby asbestos victims and citizens across the state from reducing or removing corporate liability along with many other great Montana-centric bills. I continually worked for bail reform and other issues and continue that work in the interim.