Candidates’ forum gives an interesting glimpse at the candidates

The candidates at the first forum of this political season included (from left) C.B McNeil, John Brueggerman, Ron Marquart, forum moderator Jim Blow, John Fleming, Bill Barron and Jeanne Windham. (B.L. Azure photo)

RONAN — The brand new Ronan High School auditorium got politically broken in Thursday evening when candidates for area political races took the stage in a forum hosted by the Valley Journal. It was the first of four candidates’ forums being hosted by the Valley Journal. The second forum takes place this evening (Thursday, Oct. 2) at the Polson High School auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.

The Ronan forum featured the candidates for House District 12 and for the Lake County Board of Commissioners. Democrat John Fleming and Republican Ron Marquart are vying for the HD 12 seat. Republican Bill Barron and Democrat Jeanne Windham are contesting in the commissioner’s race.

Also on hand but not involved in the forum were Judge C.B. McNeil, candidate for District Court judge; John Brueggeman, Republican candidate for Senate District 6; and Democrat Pat Estenson and Republican Janna Taylor, candidates for House District 11.

Fleming is a teacher in the St. Ignatius school system where he has worked for 35 years. The Vietnam War veteran said his priorities are quality education and "fiscal responsibility" which is "the basic duty of state government."

Fleming said his background and experience as an educator has equipped him with the skills needed to represent Lake County at the Montana Legislature. He is a proponent of affordable health care, good paying jobs, resource development, quality education, and hunting and fishing rights.

Marquart, a construction contractor for 35 years, said the main reason he is seeking office is to stem the erosion of private property rights and the escalation of property taxes. "We’re being taxed, taxed, taxed," he said.

• On the issue of funding education:
Fleming said schools and education are one of his priorities but funding comes from a pool of limited resources. "We have to allocate the money the best we can and realize the money is an investment in the future," Fleming said. "We need to find a new method to fund schools other than the so-much-per-student (funding formula)."

Marquart said he home-schools his children; consequently he knows little about the funding of public schools other than it costs significantly more to educate students in public schools than it does to home school. "I don’t know where the money goes," he said.

• On the issue of money for state government:
Marquart said government must operate with the money allocated to it. "If government is not getting enough money than they should lay off people," he said.

Fleming said during inflationary times government funding formula should factor it in to keep abreast of rising costs. He added that the state currently has a $400 million surplus so there seems to be no immediate need to increase taxes to keep up with inflationary adjustments.

• On the issue of tax increases or not in the upcoming session:
Marquart said he was opposed to keeping the $400 million or any surplus. "I am opposed to keeping the surplus. We just can’t keep passing costs to the citizens," he said, adding that property taxes can be an unfair burden on people with limited or fixed incomes.

Fleming said he doesn’t support raising taxes via a sales tax and property taxes should go down. He does support vigorous collection of taxes from "out of state people who don’t pay their fair share." One option for that is the "local option tax" that allows communities to pass a local ordinance to levy certain fees for the use of municipal infrastructure, etc.

• On the issue of fuel costs:
Marquart said the state should look at the development of its energy resources. "We need to do something (about the high cost of fuel)," he said. "We have the resources, plenty of resources. We need to [develop] them."

Fleming said Montana could address fuel costs by development of alternative energy resources. Any such development should be responsible and clean with the bottom line of job creation. "This is a great way for Montanans to make good wages," Fleming said.

• On the issue of the state funding quality education:
"The legislature has never defined what a quality education is to me so I don’t know," Marquart said. "Until the legislature defines what a quality education is it’s kind of a moot point."

Fleming said local school districts must ask local taxpayers for funds to make up for cuts made by the legislature. "We’re trying to play catch-up and property taxes are going up because the legislature has, over time, not adequately funded schools," Fleming said. "Quality education requires money."

• On the issue of Montana’s recent loss of the brucellosis-free state designation:
Marquart said he didn’t know of any impacts.

Fleming said his knowledge was limited but said the loss does have a negative impact on the state’s economy.

• On the issue of job creation:
Fleming said the current national energy crunch with yo-yoing supplies and prices may be an economic blessing for Montana. The development of natural and alternative energy resources could create educational and employment opportunities in the field.

"Energy production can be a tremendous boon for our state," Fleming said. "The development of alternative energy resources has tremendous potential for workers in the state. We can develop energy resources and keep our way of life."

Marquart said energy resource development could create jobs in the state. He said the abandoned military bases in Montana provide a portion of the infrastructure needed for a crude oil refinery or other energy development ventures.

• On the issue of the state helping business:
Fleming said one in five jobs in the state are agriculture-based. "It is really critical that we support and promote Montana agriculture products," he said. The continued development of the state’s tourism sector is another key component of the state’s economy.

Marquart said there are too many regulations on businesses in the state. "Tourism and agriculture are fine but neither of them pay well," he said. "We need real jobs and not flipping hamburgers."

• On the issue of extending the water compact negotiations among the state, CSKT and the federal government:
"I understand the potential to solve it is there," Fleming said. "I say we need to extend it."

"I have to agree," Marquart said, adding that any agreement must be equitable to all people.

• On the issue of gaming on the Flathead Reservation:
"I don’t gamble but gaming is something the people in Montana want ," Fleming said. However he feels it has potential negative impacts. During the on, off, on again, off again cycle of gaming on the Flathead Reservation, Fleming said he noticed changes in some students’ appearance and demeanor. "When I first came to the (St. Ignatius) school. I noticed some kids were not being taken care of. I saw that again when gaming was brought back."

"I don’t understand why non-tribal members can’t buy a lottery ticket," Marquart said, adding that the tussle between the state and the CSKT is about having "big time gambling" on the reservation.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.