Senate candidate lays out the issues

Not long ago, we buried Joe Mazurek, a former Montana attorney general, legislator and statesman. As former Secretary of State and Montana legislator Bob Brown wrote in an eloquent editorial in the Hungry Horse News, “Joe was the furthest thing from a phony or glad handler. His courage was in his integrity. It simply wasn’t his nature to take the low road. He was a straight arrow and the whole legislature knew it, and that is what gave him great influence in working out compromises and getting solutions the legislative process require.”

Upon meeting people at their front doors, countless numbers of constituents within Senate District 2 are saying, “Less politics, less gridlock, less power, work together from both sides of the aisle and solve the problems facing our citizens.” It is my contention that compromise is often a necessary tool and can be a noble and productive act.

There are serious issues facing the state and district encompassing the north Flathead. We have substantial unfunded liabilities in our state pension system for teachers and public employees. This will require immediate action to fix the pensions in order to be actuarially sound.

We have opportunities in expanded energy production that will assist our general fund, offer additional good-paying jobs but at the same time will require careful oversight. Our residential property taxes are burdensome to those unable to match increases caused by appraisals. Out flat enrollment figures in Columbia Falls and Whitefish have resulted in painful cuts.

There is an vacant aluminum plant with potential clean-up, law enforcement needs in the Canyon communities and water quality issues in both Whitefish Lake and the Whitefish River. And, with the ultimate future of the Affordable Health Care Act in limbo, the legislature may contemplate expanded Medicaid to cover uninsured residents. The legislature will consider options in dealing with a general budget surplus, certainly a luxury in today’s economic malaise.

At Joe’s funeral in the Cathedral of Helena, The Reverent Daniel Shea implored attendees to do as Joe would do: “Smooth out obstacles and impediments and work together to make the state, communities and families better.”

I think Shea’s words, and Joe Mazurek’s legacy, offer a wise course for leadership within Montana. The issues facing our state and senate district are daunting. A legislative session is an opportunity for citizen legislators to collaborate amongst their peers, lots of smart people in a room, with the potential to do very good things.

If elected, I am committed to working with fellow legislators, placing the needs of Senate District 2 residents over partisan politics. To do less would be unacceptable. You’ve told me so through your sentiments, district wide. I get the message.

Dave Fern, of Whitefish, is the Democratic candidate for Senate District 2.