.What do you consider the three key issues to be addressed in the next
term?

1. School funding needs to be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

2. The high risk insurance fund is running out of money.

3. We need to secure our own energy and invest in more green energy.

2. For challengers: How have your prepared to run for this office? For
incumbents: Whry at have been your contributions to your office during
your last term.

I subscribed to the West Shore News, I have talked to a lot of different people about their needs and desires for the future, I watched the legislature in action one day in 2007 then enjoyed a very nice and informative tour of the Capitol building from my legislator and past and present opponent in this race, Rep. Mark Blasdell. I joined Toastmasters to work on my communication skills, and I have consulted various groups to learn what they believe needs to be done in Helena.

I have also attended the following events

FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Advisory) meeting March 2008

Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit summer 2008

Kalispell Area Chamber of Commerce: Trade Roots - Expansion through Trade to New Markets (August 2008)

2007 Kalispell Job Fair

Montana Tourism board luncheon 2006

Teacher’s Union pension forum (2006)

Flathead Electric legislative forum 2006

Renewable Energy forum at Flathead Electric 2008

Flathead Electric annual meeting 2008

I gathered signatures to get I-155 (an expansion of the children’s health insurance program) on the ballot

Suicide Prevention forum 2008

Montana Healthcare Association briefing 2006, on schedule for 2008 also

Blue Cross Blue Shield briefing 2006, and 2008

Senator Baucus” Faith Impact Summit 2007 (I attended groups on hunger and on disaster and emergency response)

Montanan’s for Multiple Use forum 2006

Smart growth forum 2006

FWP legislative briefing 2006

Lakeside Parks Advisory Committee meeting last May

Stream side setback meeting 2008

Family Forestry Expo 2007

Lone Pine clean up 2007

Trout Unlimited presentation on climate change 2007

Trout Unlimited presentation (Bonnie Ellis) on the health of Flathead Lake 2008

Flathead Lakers 50th anniversary and report on the health of the lake 2008

Cline mine meeting 2008

Crown of the Continent Forum 2007

Verdell Jackson’s water Rights Forum

Steve Running’s lecture on global warming and water

2007 Step it Up (climate change day)

3. How will you encourage smart growth in the area around Flathead Lake?

Ask everyone to vote for Steve Qunell, and to start requiring all new development in the area to be ready to hook into municipal water and sewer.

4. Where do you stand on the issue of property rights and should those

rights be protected through growth policy, neighborhood plans and zoning?

I think that most issues are better handled locally and that growth policy, neighborhood plans and zoning are agreements between peoples as to how they wish to live and grow together.

5. What are your views on water rights, in light of current negotiations?

I do agree with Senator Jackson that this is too important to get wrong so I would like to hear what the other viewpoints on this issue are before making any decisions there.

6. In the wake of an April accident on the East Shore, truck traffic
along highway 35 has been a big concern for residents along both sides
of the lake. What is your proposed solution to this issue?

Prohibiting the transportation of hazardous materials on the East side until we find a better solution.

7. Constituents see Flathead Lake as among the greatest assets shared

by Flathead residents. Is the Lake a priority to you and how would you.

1. Work to protect water quality in the lake?
2. Work to promote better lake access for all residents?

Prohibit the transportation of hazardous materials on the East side, adopt streamside setbacks, working with the county to phase in municipal sewer systems and to keep in touch with the biologists and land planners.

8. What are your views on energy policy and how would you balance

the need to both protect and utilize Montana’s natural resources?

The situation is what it is and it won’t change overnight. The first thing that needs to happen is for all Montanan’s to become aware of the reality that we are already pumping as much as we have the equipment to do. The United States simply does not have the equipment to pump and move more than we do. Period. More permits or loosening of environmental or safety restrictions will not change that basic fact.

Now that we have that understood, let us begin to invest green in the search for more solutions. We are all partners in this, you. me, the government, Montana’s energy producers, the University system and individual entrepreneurs. Nothing good will ever happen without cooperation.

9.What, if any, mass transportation projects do you favor?

That’s so cute, I wish that we were at that level of progressive discussion but we are not there yet.

10. What do you feel the state’s contribution to primary and secondary
education should be and what would you do to change current policies to
accommodate that view?

We need to fund it or to change the law to reflect the fact that we don’t place a very high value on education or our children’s future. Actions speak louder than words.

11. High cost of living precludes many younger and lower-income people
from living in Flathead and Lake Counties. What would you propose to
make home ownership in this area more viable for people who live and
work here?

I think that voting for I-155 could help people use more of their own money for housing, but that the state is not in a position to do more than that at this time.

12. Are there some solutions to the need to continually utilize property

taxes as a source of funding, and is there a way to provide relief to

homeowners who are overburdened by property taxes?

We can change the tax law that allows big business to do millions of dollars worth of business in Montana to pay as little as $50.00 income taxes, and we can start using a portion of the state bed tax to help maintain vital infrastructure.

13. In *House District 10*, there are a number of unincorporated communities.
Would you support a proposal-like the one being floated by Flathead
County Commissioner Joe Brenneman-to create a middle ground of
government such as a township to give places like Bigfork more local
control over decisions?

Absolutely! Why should a few people without a stake in the game be allowed to force
whole neighborhoods to live in circumstances they have no say in?

14. If elected, what would be your highest priority when you arrive in
Helena?

First thing I would do is move to change the seating arrangement as a reminder that we all work for the people of Montana, not to beat each other down with petty partisan agendas.