By Leslie Blackburn, Florence
Thirty-five years ago, Montana benefited from the employment and job opportunities that were based in the use of our natural resources. Large contributions of tax revenue came from those jobs and from the resource, to the local school districts, local counties and the state.
Here in the Bitterroot valley we gradually lost thousands of jobs over those 35 years, the result of shifting policies by the federal government on the management, goals and priorities of land use and management of our public lands. Stewardship is what we call that. We are charged to be good stewards. That is our responsibility and our ability to participate in the process was slowly taken away.
A local candidate is claiming in a recent ad, that she has the, “expertise, leadership and experience, to help solve the problems of failed resource management.” She also states that she recently retired after 35 years of working for the US Forest Service in leadership positions on the national forests that surround the Bitterroot Valley. She was the implementor of the very policies that forever changed our job base in Ravalli County.
And now she wants to be a State Representative and continue her 35 years of federal policy management in the Bitterroot Valley as well as the entire state… uh, really??
Margret Gorski, I don’t think we can afford any more years of what you’ve led us to in this valley. Fortunately, we have a great option, as your opponent represents the concerns and the voice of hope of this valley. She understands balance, stewardship responsibilities, and she will lead us in job growth and economic opportunity ideas. She is a great example of values and integrity. For me and my friends, we’ll be voting for Sharon Greef for HD-88.