By Corrine Gantt, Hamilton
The Ravalli Republic reported on August 25 that Election Administrator Regina Plettenberg, citing the lack of poll workers and school districts’ unwillingness to allow polling places in their facilities, asked the County Commissioners to endorse her plan to hold a mail in ballot election with the ability to vote personally before the election in her county office.
The local Republican leadership has expressed their concerns about mail in ballots, but there seems to be a consensus that they trust her judgment.
And yet, Terry Nelson, Chair of the Republican Central Committee, felt it necessary to state in a letter to the Commissioners – “The evil genius of the governor’s order to ‘allow’ counties to make up their own minds about the mail only ballots is that he knows conservative counties like Ravalli will choose traditional elections while liberal counties like Missoula will do mail only… This creates a completely unfair election warped toward the Democrats.” Seriously?
This is a telling glimpse into just how paranoid the leader of the Ravalli County Republicans has become. Instead of appreciating the opportunity the governor has given counties in Montana to exercise local control, Mr. Nelson is convinced his actions are “warping” election results in his favor.
Instead of considering the safety of our election workers, many of whom are in the high-risk group, he managed, in a few short words, to make it all about him.
Governor Bullock is not an evil genius. He’s a realist who is trying to protect Americans while allowing local control.