Letters to the editor Sept. 3

Wilson stands alone

As Montanans prepare to vote in the state Supreme Court race, the choice between Flathead District Court Judges Dan Wilson and Amy Eddy comes down to fairness and the proper role of a judge.

I’m not a lawyer or a politician, just a citizen with a high school diploma, but I know how the system should work. Trial lawyers will likely write in to discredit this, which wouldn’t surprise me. Eddy frequently rules in their favor, so they naturally want to protect the status quo. But nonpartisan Montanans don’t want a court catering to special interests or politicians in robes.

Eddy’s approach weighs perceived public duties and social outcomes in cases. Former Judge Kitty Curtis recently wrote a letter of support for Eddy, mentioning a long list of current and former judicial social activists, including an unprecedented endorsement from the two most radical sitting Supreme Court justices. Curtis wrote: “The conclusion to be drawn from this wave of judicial endorsements is that the people who know best which Supreme Court candidate deserves your vote are of one mind.” To working Montanans, courtroom insiders teaming up to tell us how to vote (are we stupid?) looks like an old boys’ club protecting its own, not consensus.

In contrast, Wilson is a strictly objective jurist who votes by the book, much like Justice Jim Rice. While some assume Wilson will align with Chief Justice Cory Swanson, Wilson stands alone. Swanson wrote an opinion letter on Trump’s foreign policy to appease partisan supporters; Wilson and Rice would never engage in such political gamesmanship because it shows partisan bias.

Rice set the gold standard when he recused himself from McLaughlin v. Department of Administration. Targeted by a legislative subpoena, he stepped aside to challenge it independently in district court rather than judge a case involving himself. Though he didn’t vote on the Supreme Court’s final decision, Rice made clear the Legislature overstepped its bounds. No other justice agreed with his position or followed his lead, but Rice proved that process integrity matters more than power. In my seven decades living in Montana, I haven’t seen another jurist share that standard — except Wilson.

Montanans need steady, objective jurisprudence that applies the law equally. Wilson will deliver that standard, and Montana sorely needs another justice in the mold of Rice.

— Brad Wright, Kalispell

Compassion and mercy

We write to encourage our community to support the Great Fish Challenge, the Ray of Hope House, the Abbie Shelter, the Samaritan House, the Flathead Warming Center, the Salvation Army and our community food banks.

Many of our fellow Montanans have lost family relationships, health or wealth. They become unhoused, living outside, night after night, often hungry and wearing the same clothes. Their physical and mental health deteriorates. They need our compassion and mercy.

In addition, please ask Gov. Greg Gianforte and our state legislators to support low-income housing and mental health clinics and our Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs.

— Jack and Anita Lavin, Scott Thompson, and Kyle Waterman

‘Third space’

With the Great Fish Community Challenge underway, our valley has a unique opportunity to invest in the local nonprofits that make Northwest Montana such a vibrant, supportive place to live. 

When people think of organizations like North Valley Music School or the dozens of other hard-working nonprofits in the challenge, it’s easy to focus solely on the immediate service provided. But it is never just about a music lesson, a food drive, or a shelter bed. It is about building a richer, more connected, and collaborative community.  

Sociologists talk about the need for a “third space” — an essential community hub outside of home and work where people of all ages, income levels and abilities feel safe, valued and inspired. Our local nonprofits serve as these vital third spaces across the Flathead Valley. 

At North Valley Music School alone, donor support provides over $66,000 in scholarships to 76 local students who otherwise couldn’t afford lessons, while opening doors to 789 community members this past year.

From funding essential operational costs — like insurance, software and facility care — to offering free public programming and youth financial aid, community support makes these essential programs possible. Every dollar given during the Great Fish Challenge doesn’t just fund daily operations; it funds self-esteem for local youth, connection for seniors, inclusion for those seeking community, and a stronger civic foundation for us all.  

It takes a village to sustain a thriving community. Whether you give to North Valley Music School or any of the wonderful local organizations participating in this year’s Great Fish Community Challenge through the Whitefish Community Foundation, your gift strengthens the fabric of our home.  

— Deidre Corson, executive director of North Valley Music School in Whitefish