Ravalli County voters have important ballots to cast by 8 pm on November 4th and I am worried. Two years ago many people in this county voted according to what large red signs up and down the valley implored – “Vote Republican.” I was surprised. Signs such as these implied a non-thinking, non-reading approach to voting. Was this tactic literally telling citizens to act as lemmings instead of being well informed voters? Were voters then not to vote for the best candidate according to her or his qualifications but to robotically mark each ballot the same according to the political party? I didn’t grow up that way. I was raised to vote for the candidate that would best help the citizens.
Two years ago the voters in this county had a wonderfully qualified candidate in John Ormiston for County Commissioner. He was supported by Democrats and Independents and many thoughtful Republicans as well. He did not win. Now just imagine that John had won. Where would this county be today? We would not have the Treasurer catastrophe. We wouldn’t have the many lawsuits that taxpayers have to pay for now, or the denial of health care for the poor families in the county. And our county wouldn’t have been laughed about on national news! Think about those examples and many more. The County Commissioners voting for the last two years on many issues would have been 3-2: 3-2 NO to hiring Valerie Stamey in the first place, 3-2 YES to accepting the Federal money the taxpayers were due with the Title X money. My mind spins with the thought of how much better off our county and its citizens would be right now if only people had thought about the candidate instead of blindly following the GOP dictates of “Don’t think, just vote ‘R’.”
Let’s not make the same mistake again. I would like people to consider voting for Clint Burson for County Commissioner. I feel that Clint will represent ALL of Ravalli County citizens, not just a small group of citizens. Clint is well versed on how our county got to this place and how to get it back on track. Read about what he says on the issues. We’ve got a chance now to right some egregious wrongs. Let’s stop this harm to our county from going any farther! Make up your own mind!
Becky Peters
Hamilton