Hanson is lone Democrat in SD3 race

Democrat Shannon Hanson has filed to run for Senate District 3.

Hanson is unchallenged in the June primary, but will face the winner of the Republican race in the fall. Incumbent Bruce Tutvedt is being challenged by Rollan Roberts II in the primary. Republican Jayson Peters withdrew from the race last week.

While Hanson, 48, takes his candidacy seriously, he notes that he filed for the race to ensure there would be a challenger in the general election.

“I don’t think there should be a race that is unchallenged,” he said. “People often put too much stock in political parties. I’m running because I feel the Democratic party best watches out for those under served.”

Hanson, who is also running for re-election to the Whitefish School Board, said his background on the board would have an impact on his goals if elected to SD 3.

Hanson said education should be given a higher priority and funding levels should be higher for schools.

“There is far too little focus on education,” Hanson said. “The Legislature puts its priorities in all other areas and then they take care of schools.”

Hanson used an example of fighting wildfires to protect homes. He said the money is spent to complete the job often without a total cost until after the fact.

“Why can’t school spending be somewhat like this,” he said. “Under funding now, we can’t do anything to get money later in the year if we need it. When school boards set their budget they don’t even know for sure how much money they’ll get from the state.”

Concerning school curriculum, Hanson said he is for local control on decisions that can help students.

Hanson said he would like some “sanity” added to the state’s medical marijuana law.

“I’m an advocate of medical and other uses of marijuana,” he said. “It’s stupid to not use anything that can help patients for the good.”

However, medical marijuana use has been “rife with abuse,” he noted, and the law needs to be cleaned up.

Hanson has lived in Whitefish since 1983 and is the owner of the Computer Doctor. He also teaches social media classes at Flathead Valley Community College.

As a small business owner, Hanson said it’s not changes in tax liability that will impact the growth of his business.

“I need more customers to hire someone,” he said. “I have to have work for them to do.”

Hanson is an advocate for increasing technology business in Flathead County and thus brining job growth.

“Transportation is an issue for manufacturing here,” he said. “This is a great area for technology. We need to give incentives for technology to come here. I know several people whose businesses are elsewhere, but work here because of technology.”

Hanson pointed to larger empty buildings in the county that could be transformed in office spaces for multiple technology companies.

On the state property tax appraisals, Hanson said the system has problems.

“It needs to be fixed,” he said.

Hanson notes some folks who have owned their homes for decades and are now being pushed out because of increased taxes.

“I don’t think taxes should be based on when the property was purchased, but we need a solution,” he said. “We need to shift more of the burden to other sources and not property taxes.”