Brenneman ready to get on with business
Hungry Horse News
Let's get on to business.
That's the attitude Democrat Joe Brenneman is taking after winning the county commissioner race by 131 votes.
Brenneman got 18,656 votes to Republican Denise Cofer's 18,519 votes for the District 2 seat held by Howard Gipe. Gipe, a Republican, will wrap up his third term next month, holding the county commissioner seat for 18 years.
The county canvassed the vote on Monday and made it official Monday night.
Cofer did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment on the election. She has five days to ask for a recount and would have to post a bond of $2,200 to cover the costs of the count, according to the county election department.
Brenneman ran a campaign based on a promise to listen to people rather than tell them what he thought. It proved to work in the polls, where a raft of Republicans crossed parties to vote for Brenneman.
"I thought if we could make it close, we were successful," Brenneman said Monday.
Brenneman said campaign manager Dick Kuhl was also instrumental.
"I give him a lot of credit," Brenneman said.
Kuhl kept the campaign on course, even when Brenneman was attacked by critics who claimed he had "connections" with a host of liberal groups- groups Brenneman said he'd never even heard of, nevertheless joined.
"We decided to stay positive and not get involved in slinging mud," Kuhl said. "That resonated, too."
Brenneman said his top priority was to spend some time with Gipe, learning the proverbial ropes. He'll also begin some training sessions in December.
From there, it will be planning-the broad, big picture type.
"We need a county growth policy," Brenneman said.
He said he's already been asked to meet with the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce.
Brenneman said that group has asked him to expound on some of his ideas. What he's more interested in, he said, is listening to some of theirs.
Brenneman, a dairy farmer, said he'll also be looking to hire more help to run the dairy side of his operation, as the commission seat, done well, is a full time job in itself.
"I think I can provide the management (of the dairy) and have people do the work," he said.
Brenneman said he's already got a good crew of hired help on the farm.
County commissioners will make $53,865 in 2005.
Brenneman was one of four Democrats to gain a seat in the county.
The others were Dan Weinberg, who won a state Senate race against Republican Donna Maddux, 4,461 to 4,379.
Tim Dowell defeated Craig Witte in House District 8 2,095 to 1,929, and Mike Jopek won in House District 4, beating Bill Beck, 2,598 to 2,150.
Here's a look at the other Columbia Falls area races, with the final numbers:
€ House District 3, incumbent Republican Rep. Dee Brown defeated Linda Jacquette, 2,543 to 1,490.
€ House District 5, incumbent Republican Rep. George Everett defeated challenger Sam Nichol, 3,391 to 1,572.
€ Senate District 3, incumbent Republican Sen. Jerry O'Neil defeated Democrat Vince Woodhouse, 7,030 to 3,020.
€ House District 6, incumbent Republican Rep. Verdell Jackson defeated Democrat Shannon Hanson, 3,264 to 1,778.