Meet HD5 candidate Doug Adams

It’s no secret Doug Adams isn’t from Montana. His southern drawl is a dead giveaway every time.

“It’s not like I can deceive anybody — the first time I talk, people know,” Adams jokes. “People ask where I’m from, and I say ‘south Whitefish.’”

Adams, 51, moved from Atlanta to Montana in 2000 and started a landscaping company. While he’ll never be a native, Adams says he has adopted Whitefish as his hometown and hopes to serve its citizens as a representative in the state legislature.

“I worked hard to get here and I’m here because I want to be,” Adams said. “I love Whitefish.”

Adams will face off with John Michael Myers in the June 3 Republican primary for Whitefish’s House District 5. Incumbent Democrat Ed Lieser is running unopposed.

As a former Whitefish City Councilor, Adams appreciates community involvement at the local level of government.

“If people show up and voice their opinion, that shows they care about their community,” Adams said.

Adams believes local government should hold more power, and the federal and state government less. He says elected officials at the local level are often held more accountable.

“You see people in the grocery store and they ask why you voted the way you did,” Adams said. “You have to look them in the eye and justify it. You’re accountable to the people, so you are more vigilant with your dollars at a local level.”

He uses the city of Whitefish as an example of a successful local government.

“Look at Whitefish and how they managed through the economic downturn,” he said. “The budget shrunk as it needed to and there was no question about its solvency. You can’t say that about our federal government. If we tried to emulate more of Whitefish, we’d do well.”

“The way I think I would work in state government would be to give less money to the federal government, to push back against some of the unfunded mandates and try to give authority back to county and local governments.”

Adams says the public school system is inefficient with its dollars. He says private schools are often able to accomplish more with less money per student.

“I don’t personally think the schools are underfunded,” he said. “Rather than just complaining that we need more money, let’s find a way to get things done.”

He said private-public partnerships have served Whitefish well and noted the new high school project.

Adams says government needs to stay out of the way when it comes to creating new jobs and stimulating the economy.

“There is nothing in the Constitution that says it’s the government’s responsibility to create jobs,” he said. “Creating jobs simply means taxing you more in order to spend money to get people jobs. That’s nothing more than wealth redistribution. That’s worthless.”

“If you allow the free market to work, jobs and growth in the economy will happen on its own. As a legislator, I need to do absolutely nothing for jobs and the economy.”

He’s also against the Affordable Care Act and expanding entitlement programs that he calls “an utter and complete failure.”

“All of these entitlement programs are good-hearted, and they started with good intentions,” Adams said. “But they’re utterly abused to the tune of many billions of dollars. The only way to fix it is to start shrinking them.”

“If I can get rid of these programs and lower your taxes, I think I’m doing my job.”

Adams says that even though he is a conservative, if elected, he would listen to all constituents.

“Whitefish is an enclave with a more balanced viewpoint,” he said. “I have worked with people in Whitefish and continue to do so. Not only do I get along with more liberal people, but we work well together.”