By Ed Greef, former Representative for HD-88, Florence
This is an open letter to the voters in the north end of the Bitterroot Valley, specifically SD-44 and HD-88. It is time to vote and we need to be extra cautious of two candidates on our ballots. One running for HD-88, and one for SD-44. They are trying to ‘bamboozle’ us into thinking they are qualified to represent this end of the valley. There are two basic credentials to being a good legislator, connectivity and credibility. They are not one of us. They don’t know us and we don’t know them. The SD-44 candidates, Ballance and Manzella, are both prior State Representatives. Ballance represented HD-87 for the past eight years. HD-87 makes up one half of SD-44. Manzella represented HD-85 which is the Darby area. Ballance is connected to SD-44, she has been serving us for the past eight years. We see her in our district, she is visible, approachable and one of us. Meanwhile, Manzella has no connection to us. She is an outsider that doesn’t have a clue who we are and yet has the audacity to say she is the best one to represent us?
McLean has a similar problem… he isn’t one of us either. He has no connectivity and little candidate credibility as he doesn’t seem to know which office he’s running for… he just wants to run for something. His signs say he’s running for the Montana Senate and yet he’s on the primary ballot as running for HD-88.
There are five candidates running for office in our end of the valley. Three for HD-88 and two for SD-44. Three have connectivity here: Jim Crews, Sharon Greef and Nancy Ballance. Crews and Greef are running for HD-88, they are established, known and active in our community. They have connectivity… they are one of us. McLean is the third candidate for HD-88. We don’t know him and he doesn’t know us. He lives in Hamilton.
No amount of bamboozling and no amount of whitewash can change the stripes of Manzella. She lives in the south end of the valley and has served the Darby district for six years in HD-85. She has not established herself as a proven leader. In reality, quite the opposite. A past legislator recently wrote a comment that describes Manzella and others style saying, “Be wary of the opponent who spends their whole time throwing the politically rhetorical grenades over the fence. They are usually the ones that hide behind the fence, never offer solutions, and personally have nothing to offer, other than an ability to criticize the decisions of others.” We are seeing every day, Manzella delights in ridiculing others. In six years representing a district that desperately needed legislative help in economic development, small business and ag opportunity, better internet speed, basic infrastructure and much, much more, Manzella failed to help them. In three sessions she was only able to pass and get signed into law two bills – that’s all – and they had little benefit for her district. Proven leaders rise to the occasion, they motivate others to work on the challenges with them, finding solutions and improvements.
In summary, the work didn’t get done for HD-85. Her flamboyant style, radical political rhetoric and ridiculing the decisions of others became her record. Now she is coming to the north end of the valley, telling us she is the candidate that has the ability to best follow Senator Thomas in SD-44. I know, seems incredible, doesn’t it? It’s called bamboozle… she’s not one of us, and her legislative record shows it. What? We’re supposed to ignore your record?
Her opponent, Nancy Ballance, brings to the table an outstanding record of recognition and accomplishments from her eight years in HD-87. Six of them were as the committee chair of the House Appropriations committee. She is a proven leader that has the respect of her peers. In fact, she was recently endorsed by every legislator, past and current (except Manzella) that has served in the legislature from Ravalli County in the past 25 years. Let that soak in a moment. Ballance has credibility, especially so in Ravalli County.
Voters of SD-44 and HD-88, don’t be bamboozled by the outsiders. No amount of whitewash can make them look like proven leaders. Vote for connectivity, for proven leadership and record. We have excellent legislators on the ballot… return them to Helena.