Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Opinion & Editorial

by Vicky Bohlig & Alec Sutherland, Ravalli Local Government Study Commissioners '04-'06

It is more than ironic, it is absurd, that some of the candidates for the expanded Commission now are the very people who adamantly and publicly belittled the Local Government Study Commission's recommendations, condemned the whole process itself, marginalized the two years of work of the non-partisan and legally elected Study Commission, falsely accused its members of partisanship (Nov. 3 '06 Ravalli Republic ad signed by Dave Hurtt, Bill Hester and Bob Thomas) and were parties to a recent lawsuit against the County (signed by Plaintiffs Gary Zebrowski and Dave Hurtt). Perhaps a cue for such disrespectful behavior against the Study Commission was one example set by Commissioner Chilcott, heard referring to the LGSC as the "Local Government Assassination Commission" at a public budget hearing before he, Alan Thompson and Betty Lund denied the Study Commission's request for the adequate funds needed to distribute the LGSC Final Report as widely in Ravalli County as possible. Yet these guys want the people to believe they now can do the job and are willing public servants of change? How naive do they think the voters are?

Who indeed are the wasters of community resources? Contrary to Fred Thomas' weak backpedaling denial, the Gang of 10 did indeed attempt to redefine/revoke the 30-year-old certified Commission form of government in order to invalidate the election of 5 commissioners for 4 years. Read the Injunction. We are not making this up. They used a so-called expert on Local Government, Ken Weaver, for their key witness. They wanted to keep the status quo. They hoped Judge Larson would buy into this testimony along with Zebrowski's misrepresentations that the Study Commission never disclosed at meetings all 5 Commission seats would be open (details in next paragraph).

If the Gang of 10 had succeeded, Ravalli County would be back to square one. Many thanks to Ravalli County Attorney Corn and his staff who grandly defended the LGSC. It really was a great victory for Ravalli County that confirmed our Constitutional right to change our government. This ruling should be celebrated in spite of the biased and incorrect coverage by the Ravalli Republic and the Missoulian, that both failed to adequately inform their readers. The LGSC respectfully disagrees with and is unhappy that Judge Larson modified its Transition Plan. The LGSC believes it had the authority to do what it did but perhaps with more time to study the defense paperwork Larson might see the wisdom in having all sitting Commissioners re-run in order to fairly give each district an equal shot at the "stagger." Perhaps he will set another special election for the "stagger" of Chilcott and Thompson. Judge Larson has reserved the right to deal with this issue soon and more good news is that Lyons must re-run in June, challenged by independent candidates.

Ravalli County is amidst the final throes of the "good ole boy" system. Gary Zebrowski and Commissioners Thompson and Lyons were all at the Local Government Study Commission's Tentative Report meeting on June 29, 2006. The whole public meeting was recorded. In this meeting, the possibility for all Commissioners to have to re-run was openly discussed. Yet all three men have denied they knew anything about it and their cohorts falsely accused the Study Commissioners of withholding this information. In this meeting the LGSC told the public the Codes instructed us to put this information in the Transition Plan which would be found in the Final Report. "We expect that Transition Plan will be gone over with a fine tooth comb," to quote Alec Sutherland that night. Gary Zebrowski, Howard Lyons and Alan Thompson denied they knew about this when they were all sitting right there! Zebrowski testified for the Plaintiffs at court on January 31st that he never was told about all 5 having the possibility of a re-run. Perhaps Gary should hear the tape to refresh his memory?

Chilcott, Thompson and Lund were all aware of the re-run issue by mid-2006. If they were so offended by this option, why did they not publicly express their concerns and dissatisfaction? Instead, the Commissioners, not really wanting a 5-member Commission at all, chose to feed the newspapers with "the-County-has-no-money-and-can't-possibly-fund-two-more-commissioners" approach. Money or lack thereof is normally a sure way in Ravalli County to kill an election issue. The Commissioners were counting on that. They were sure the "no money" attack would turn the voters away from approving the Five Commissioner option. Convinced the lack of funding strategy would end their worries, they consequently failed to offer any public concern or comment on the transition re-run. It appeared to be a non-issue until all heck broke loose after the election. The denials came in spite of the fact their ex-officio representative on the Study Commission, Glenda Wiles, appointed specifically to keep them in the loop, told them about re-run many, many times. And Glenda Wiles testified on oath to Judge Larson about the Commissioners' knowledge of these facts at the court hearing January 31, 2007. Her courage, consistency and honesty are so appreciated.

The Commissioners' collective memory lapse and denial have been exposed. We feel they caved to political pressure. It is not a secret that the instigators of this "I didn't Know" campaign after the November election were staunch detractors of ANY and ALL of the Study Commission's recommendations from the beginning. They came out saying so in several ads and even were so bold as to mistakenly claim the non-partisan-elected Study Commission was involved in some clandestine stealth conspiracy! PLEEEEZE!

Rather than chastising their top elected officials for dropping the ball, Thomas, Hurtt, Zebrowski and the other seven Plaintiffs named in the suit chose to jeopardize the '06 Government-change election for their own political whims. The Commissioners, rather than confessing that they knew, thereby squashing the Gang's strategy in its tracks, chose to wimp out. Was it for their own political protection and job-saving gain? They allowed the Gang of 10 to disrupt three months of County work. The Commissioners' offices have been buzzing with meetings, calls and visits. Did this take Commissioners away from County business? The Commissioners, although named along with the Local Government Study Commission as defendants in the suit, seemed to act in a manner that gave the appearance of collusion with the Plaintiffs. One wonders if this is so? At what cost to the County in the long run?

How refreshingly honest it would have been if the three Commissioners had admitted to their knowledge of the re-run process to diffuse the "No-one-knew" claim. They could have saved the County a lot of money by embracing the election outcome and the Study Commission's orderly Transition Plan. The Study Commission showed cooperation when they compromised with the Commissioners in mid-November for the mapping of the new districts in order to save time and money. We needed to get on with the special elections in a timely manner. Why didn't the Commissioners act in the same manner of cooperation? Where was their leadership? Surely, this was a test of integrity and character that Commissioners Lyons, Chilcott and Thompson failed.

Commissioner responds to letter

Dear Editor,

As an elected official one needs to develop a thick skin and realize many people won't like much of what you do while in office. Innuendo, allegations and rumors are something one has to put up with constantly and although discouraging, they are a fact of life. Every once in awhile a letter is written that has to be answered because it is so far from the truth. Such a letter appeared in our local newspapers from Marc Vadheim. He begins his letter by saying that since I have been elected I have exhibited arrogant, pompous and priggish attitudes toward my constituents, I may disagree with him, but he is entitled to his opinion. However, he continues and says I had a hissy fit before the Republican Central Committee where I said, quote, "You didn't elect me. My church did." (Mormon), unquote.

There is a different standard that elected officials are held to and cannot disparage anyone, whereas the unelected can basically say anything about the elected without proof. I bring this up because I want the reader to know that what I am about to say has been weighed very carefully. Mr. Vadheim is a liar. I have never thrown any kind of fit before the Central Committee and I have NEVER said what he says I said. I am not that stupid to say something so absurd. I suppose he can be forgiven for not knowing what he is talking about, but I cannot allow blatant lies.

He goes on to say I have only refused one subdivision besides Aspen Springs in my tenure of office, in this he is also wrong. There have been many subdivisions that have been not approved in my eight years in this seat and many mitigated with conditions that the developers did not like. More than one developer has found the conditions imposed were more strenuous than they were prepared for and have not developed the land. One consultant who did not like that we refused his subdivision asked who had gotten to us to make us not approve his development.

Mr. Vadheim also raises issues with both Mr. Chilcott and Mr. Lyons which I will let them respond to if they so wish. I do know his comments about Mr. Chilcott are taken out of context and I have always been taught that a part truth is a whole lie.

Decisions that I have had to make are often very difficult, but we must follow the law and approve or not according to the laws that rule. Allegations are often made about my relationship with realtors and consultants. Frankly I have no relationship with either and more than one realtor and consultant have stopped speaking to me because of decisions I have had to make. Both sides in many of these disputes accuse me of being in the other's pocket. Not true in either respect. The one guiding principle in my life is: Are you honest in your dealing with your fellow man? To that question I reply, yes.

In the coming weeks and years there will be more such tripe which I will have to deal with and for anyone who tells outright lies I will respond. I have spent too many years building a reputation of fair play and honesty to let someone get away with lies.

In the coming weeks I intend to write about planning and what we have accomplished and hope to accomplish in the ensuing years. Until then.

Alan Thompson
Ravalli County Commissioner

Support for Kathleen Driscoll

Dear Editor,

Responding to the twice printed Ravalli Republic letter from Maggie Manning, I believe she was confused as to the direction of the letter she referenced. As a real estate agent, Mrs. Manning is part of a network that has tremendous access to information that the average person does not. Because of her environment of information, she may assume that everyone has equal access. I also believe she missed the point of Kathleen Driscoll's letter. As a Realtor and candidate for County Commissioner, Mrs. Driscoll penned concern over favoritism to her industry from within the Commissioners' offices. There is no distortion of facts: during the last three years as Commissioner, Betty Lund had more than 100 subdivisions come before her. Of those, Mrs. Lund voted to deny zero of them. (From the Planning Department and Commissioners' offices.) This does not make Mrs. Lund bad or good. It is merely her public voting record prior to retirement. It was brought up to illustrate continued concern of favoritism within the offices of County Commissioners. Why?

Howard Lyons is the husband of Layna Lyons, Executive Officer of the Bitterroot Valley Board of Realtors. Some of the information I believe Mrs. Manning refers to is information that she and other Realtors pay thousands of dollars yearly to that Board for. As a well funded special interest group, it has been my experience that local Realtors have enjoyed direct and rapid access to the Commissioners. Is this information and access freely available to the public in the same manor it is to the Realtors? That is a judgment that every person is entitled to make for themselves. Please don't characterize the public as "stupid," as your letter inferred, Mrs. Manning.

Kathleen Driscoll is clear on the issues that concern her bid for County Commissioner. Visit her web site at www.kathleendriscoll.com. As her campaign chairman, I confirm there is no "hidden agenda." Since her early work on the Growth Policy (which the Real Estate Board threw lots of money away trying to oppose) Kathleen has advocated for the good of all citizens, not just special interests. She has stated many times, to avoid any hint of conflict of interest upon election to office, that she will suspend her real estate license. Let's hold her to that promise and elect her! She is honest, hard working and committed to be fair to all citizens and to a productive future for Ravalli County. She is the best choice for District 4.

Tori Nobles
Hamilton

Housing developments cost taxpayers

Dear Editor,

True or false: development generates more tax revenues. A resounding FALSE! For decades, the Republican dominated offices of Bitterroot Valley's county commissioners have sold us a bogus bill of goods - the deception that development improves the county's infrastructure because all those new houses mean more tax dollars.

In the early-eighties, my neighborhood united to question the suitability of a proposed subdivision. What we discovered a quarter-century ago continues to be the gold standard today. A development costs nearly fifty percent more for the required county services ­ such as police protection, education, roads, stop lights, sidewalks, etc. ­ than it generates in taxes. So, for every dollar produced by a new subdivision (let's call it Wapiti Forever Estates - named after what it supplanted), the county has to pony up an additional half dollar. Republican County Commissioners bought into and supported that notion 25 years ago. They continue to do so today.

The current crop of Republican commissioners expect us to subsidize development and real estate speculation. While our commissioners have shown themselves incapable of change, we can change our commissioners. It's way past time to elect progressive commissioners who will make development pay its fair share.

Bruce Weide
Hamilton

Thanks for 'cooking with flair'

Dear Editor,

On February 6, staffers of the Montana Congressional Delegation visited Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. A luncheon was conducted with the staffers, refuge staff, and members of the Friends of Lee Metcalf NWR Board. The luncheon was prepared and served by students of the "Cooking With Flair" class at Stevensville High School. These students did an exceptional job in representing their school and the community of Stevensville. The "Cooking With Flair" class is instructed by Mrs. Sue Wasser and her students who participated are Rebecca Kulonis, Cameron Brewer, Coreena Hurst, CJ Boberg, and Mary Fernandez. Members of the Lee Metcalf NWR staff and the Board of the Friends of Lee Metcalf NWR would like to give all of you a two thumbs up for your part in exceptionally representing Lee Metcalf NWR, Stevensville High School, and the Community of Stevensville. Congratulations on a job well done!

Steve Whitson, Manager
Lee Metcalf NWR

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