By Russ Lawrence, Hamilton
I am writing in support of Lyndsay Stover for Ravalli County Commissioner.
Our current board of commissioners has abdicated all leadership on real county issues. While Ravalli County leads Montana in construction in fire-prone areas, they failed to enact the even the simplest requirements, such as fire-resistant building materials and landscaping. While unregulated developers bulldoze un-permitted roads, they put a county road policy on “snooze.” The public still has no voice in commercial and industrial development, while we remain one of the few counties in Montana without a county-wide Growth Policy.
What have commissioner Chilcott and his cohorts done instead? They wasted the last year telling Sen. Daines how to do his job; Rep. Gianforte how to do his job; Gov. Bullock how to do his job; Attorney General Fox how to do his job; the US Forest Service how to log; they pretended to be fire experts for a congressional “hearing,” which involved a lot of talking but no listening. They even spent $17,000 of taxpayer money on a “study” of how things might be different now, if only things had been different 30 years ago!
In short, they have been doing everything except their own job, which is to focus fiercely and exclusively on the safety, health, and general welfare of Ravalli County residents – all of them, not just the ones with whom they agree.
We need a change from the misdirected ambition, yawning lack of initiative, and disrespect that plagues the present commission. Lyndsay Stover has pledged to listen, to provide leadership, and to take action on issues over which the commission has real authority. She does her homework, and she listens to expert input as well as citizens’ voices.
Please join me in voting for Lyndsay Stover for County Commissioner on Nov. 6!