Letter to the Editor: No to big government

It’s campaign season and we’ve found an HD-13 candidate who is a true fiscal conservative. This candidate actually studies and understands the issues rather than taking orders from a shadowy PAC. And, this candidate shares our unease over governments creeping intrusion in our lives.

The candidate is “Fajita” Bob Brown. He’s an ethical, hard working business man running his own construction business. He has lived and worked in Sanders County for close to 20 years. He is a soft-spoken, attractive, charismatic individual with a charming wife who will represent us well in Helena.

“Fajita” Bob understands the needs of small businesses because his family is supported by his small business. He understands the need for better access and management of our public lands and forests. He endorses Senator Jennifer Fielder’s efforts to restore natural resource extraction opportunities because wood is a primary product of his trade and dead timber stands are a fire threat to our homes. And, he fully understands the challenges associated with return of “federal” land to state-management.

Why are these issues important to Sanders County? Our unemployment rate now stands at 14.6 percent. We are an embarrassment to Montana whose state’s unemployment rate is 5.1 percent. For more than a decade, our County Commissioners have tried to “grow” the economy through huge infusions of taxpayer-funded grants in the “Community Development” organization. It hasn’t worked and it is a big government solution that frequently squanders vital tax dollars on “fluff,” on feasibility studies, and on futile attempts to lure industries here at the expense of industries that already choose to be here.

“Fajita” Bob understands the Conservative culture of Montana. I believe he, Senator Fielder, and Sheriff Rummel will work well together as they share common visions and goals. That vision is not big government, but less government.

N. Masten,

Heron