by Mike Kauffman, Florence
Hello neighbors, I have lived and worked in Ravalli County for 19 years. Like most folks here, I want our county commissioner to be someone who can hit the ground running. That’s why I’m voting for Stephen Kowal.
As someone who has spent a 40 year career in finance, I’ve learned one simple truth: you never put someone in a big leadership role if they haven’t already managed people and budgets. Ravalli County has a 2026 budget of $44.6M and more than 200 employees. County commissioner isn’t a ‘learn on the fly’ position. This is an executive position with risks that are real — costly mistakes, slow decisions, frustrated departments, and poor stewardship of our tax dollars can hurt every family, rancher, and business in our beautiful valley.
Stephen has proven leadership experience. For over 25 years, he has successfully managed teams of people and controlled budgets in demanding environments. He knows how to cut waste, stretch limited resources, get departments and volunteer boards working together, use innovative thinking and deliver real results without burdening taxpayers. He will apply business experience and financial expertise where it is needed, including auditing financial records if necessary to find out where our tax dollars are going.
Until moving here five years ago, his opponent was a lifelong California public employee. While that dedication is admirable, public service alone has not prepared him for the scale and complexity of managing an entire county’s operations and taxpayer resources.
Another factor in my support for Stephen Kowal is his consistent messaging on growth and protecting our natural resources. Growth and natural resources are critical issues facing Ravalli County and will become more so in the next few years.
Stephen’s platform is THOUGHTFUL GROWTH, RESPONSIBLE SPENDING AND RESILIENT JOBS.
These aren’t just slogans. These are key issues facing Ravalli County in the coming years, and Stephen has done a tremendous amount of research and listening to residents in an effort to address these problems.
We have about 20,000 people voting in this primary, and the Republican primary determines who will be our next new commissioner. Mail-in ballots went out Friday, May 8. As a reminder, ALL of Ravalli County votes for EVERY county commissioner, regardless which district is up for election.
If you want steady, experienced and innovative leadership that protects our valley’s future, I hope you’ll join me in supporting Stephen Kowal for Ravalli County Commissioner.
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