Margaret Gorski, Democrat, Stevensville
Reason for Running for Office
I have worked my entire life stewarding our nation’s natural resources and fighting for the public’s right to access them. I originally decided to run because of the increasing drum beat calling for the transfer of our national forests to the State. If that has any chance of happening, someone like me, with forestry and fire management experience, needs to be at the table. But, I know there are many other important issues. I hear concerns about access to affordable health care, that there is inadequate affordable housing and it is increasingly difficult to pay for higher education. Folks are worried about wildfire smoke and the threat to homes built next to the national forest. Where are the good paying jobs? Will we have enough clean water in the future for agriculture and for fish, wildlife, recreation, tourism and our quality of life as our climate changes?
These are all difficult questions that require open debate and action by our elected officials. They won’t solve themselves using ideologically driven slogans like “I’m for justice and liberty” and “lower taxes and smaller government”.
I am not naïve enough to think I will change the world, but I assure you that I will not sit on the sidelines and let others speak for me. I will be speaking up for you, the Bitterroot and Montana.
Property Rights versus Public Access
Not that long ago, the public could use private property to hunt and fish with a handshake and promise to close the gate, but that has recently changed. With more and more long-time ranches being purchased and managed by out of state corporate owners, many roads and trails that were once commonly used to access public land are increasingly being blocked off. In Montana, there are 1.5 million acres of public land currently blocked off with no public access. The demand to push through private land to hunt and fish will only increase as more people move here. Lack of access will also be a damper on growing our outdoor industry.
I do believe that a property owner has a right to do almost anything with their property and that they shouldn’t be forced to provide access across their property without just compensation. However, the public also has a right to access our commonly owned Federal lands. In many cases, legal access has already been negotiated to the satisfaction of private owners and the government, but many areas remain out of reach to the general public. Unfortunately, some areas with historical legal access to federal lands are being challenged in the courts. I think this trend of closing off public access should stop. The State and the Federal government should work together in identifying the high priority areas that need legal access and seek funding to acquire legal easements that are win-win solutions for private lands owners and American citizens.
Management of Public Lands
The question of how our backyard national forest should be managed is the subject of heated discussion. I frequently hear that our public lands are “mismanaged” and that they would be better managed by the State. This is reinforced by the 2018 Montana GOP Party Platform that says that the party will continue to “support returning federal managed public lands to the states”.
When I hear the statement that they are “mismanaged”, I assume the expectation is that our national forests should be managed primarily to create jobs for timber workers and generate revenue to supplement the county budget. I interpret this to mean that if the forest returned to the 70’s and 80’s harvest levels, we would have more jobs and that wildfires wouldn’t be so bad.
Based on my knowledge about forest and fire management and how much it costs, it would be foolish to transfer our national forests to the state. Instead, there needs to be a more serious commitment by the county, state and the Forest Service to develop an integrated, cross boundary strategy to reduce the fire risk to the 15,000 homes that are built in the woods next to the national forest. We could have a much more robust restoration program that focuses on thinning trees and reducing fuels on both sides of the line. Regardless of how fuels are reduced, we must still to do our part to make our homes more fire resistant. The county could help neighborhoods get fire insurance more easily by instituting “firewise” building codes and the maintenance of “defensible space”. Some zoning and transportation planning in the high fire hazard areas would be beneficial as well.
If I am elected, one of my priorities would be to seek more funding for restoration forestry for DNRC and to support the use of collaborative groups to make management decisions. I would expect The Bitterroot National Forest to have greater participation in the governor’s “Forests in Focus” program and expand the use of the Good Neighbor Policy.
Polarization of the Electorate
While knocking doors, I have heard many people complain about how bad the political dialogue has gotten and that they are concerned about how far our politics have retreated into uncompromising corners. In my view, the proliferation of the “Vote Republican” signs throughout the valley only serves to drive us further into our tribal corners. What does it mean anyway? Why should voters be told how to think and how to vote? How does that help to understand issues and what solutions might work? Labels, rhetoric, and slogans don’t communicate, they agitate. We seem to have devolved into thinking that the goal is win for the party, not to solve problems.
If we truly want to stop moving farther and farther into opposite corners, we need to elect officials who believe that governing is about listening to all sides, finding common ground and reaching solutions that work for everyone.
Gun Violence versus Gun Rights
Earlier in my career, I was trained as a law enforcement ranger in the National Park Service which included weapons training. I carried a service revolver and had arrest authority. I own and carry a gun. My husband and I own multiple rifles, shotguns, and handguns.
Guns are a big part of our Montana way of life. Just about everyone owns several guns. For me, guns and second amendment rights should not be a major issue here in Montana. No one is coming to take our guns away; we wouldn’t let them. There are bigger and more pressing issues out there that we need to deal with.
Unfortunately, gun violence is a nationwide urban problem. More and more mass shootings with military style assault weapons will more than likely lead to some kind of gun control being passed at the national level. We Montanans need to have a rational conversation of how to enhance our safety and the safety of our children before it’s forced on us from the national level.
Is it possible to talk about enhancing school security or a mentally ill person’s access to guns, or registration for assault weapons, or background checks without having the Second Amendment whipped out like a club to beat down any politician foolish enough to bring it up? I don’t think so, or at least not until after we have our first mass shooting in Montana. Let’s pray it doesn’t come to that.
Health Care and/or Medicaid Expansion
I support extending the HELP Act. When it was passed originally in 2015, the state underestimated that around 45,000 people qualified for Medicaid expansion. As of August of this year, 96,656 Montanans have signed up! That includes 4,183 Ravalli County residents. That’s 10% of our county!
The biggest reason I have heard consistently about both I-185 and extending the HELP Act is the cost to the state. I-185, a citizens’ initiative, has offered a solution which is a $2.00 tax on cigarettes. Depending on who you believe, it is estimated to raise 1/2, if not all, of the funding needed. If it doesn’t pass, the legislature will be faced with coming up with their solution to fund it or not extend it.
I just can’t imagine our legislature would cut 10% of our state citizens off at the knees. However, I have not heard anyone offer up a potential alternative health care solution if they decide not to renew the HELP Act.
If cost is the reason it should not be renewed, then a complete analysis (including the Federal reimbursement rates for both Medicaid and Medicaid expansion) should be done. If people have health insurance, the assumption is they will be healthier and receive less costly emergency room care. Preliminary studies have shown this to be the case.
Another criticism I hear about Medicaid is that it’s being used by people who should be working and should be able to buy their own health insurance. This argument doesn’t hold up since I understand that most of the recipients are the elderly, children, and the working poor.
So how are we going to pay for it? We can weed out some inefficiencies and duplications and abuse, but the bottom line is it will require looking hard at the state budget. Do we need to evaluate Montana’s tax code to ensure a more equitable tax structure to provide needed funding for this and other programs? Are we collecting adequate revenue to pay for this initiative without raising taxes on ordinary Montana citizens?
Why I am the Best Choice for the Position
My opponent says that being the wife of the incumbent and being a Bills Coordinator in Helena for two years is sufficient experience to qualify her to be a legislator. I have 30 years’ experience negotiating solutions to problems. I have actually provided staff expertise in drafting bills, writing rules, and finding funding and resources to implement them. I have experience working with all three levels of government.
People who know me will tell you I am a person of action, expect results and won’t take “no” for an answer. I have no time for uncompromising ideology, hollow rhetoric and deliberate distraction. I want to hear all sides of an issue and am willing to compromise to find workable solutions that satisfy as many interests as possible. I have used these skills throughout my career and as a volunteer and leader in a number of local and national non-profits.
I WILL PUT IDEAS AHEAD OF IDEOLOGY: I won’t just parrot the party line, limiting my options by signing some ideologically driven party pledge.
I WILL PUT ACTION OVER DISTRACTION: You won’t hear me playing the blame game and looking for scapegoats. I won’t divert your attention from the real problem by creating another.
I WILL PUT RESULTS OVER RHETORIC: I will use the best ideas from all sides to find common ground.
I am not a follower and I am not a wall flower. What you see is what you get. If you want someone to fight for you, and the future of the Bitterroot Valley and Montana, I am your choice.
Sharon Greef, Republican, Florence
Reason for Running for Office
I’ve been considering running for the past two years. My involvement with the House while joining Ed as he served, allowed me to see this position from the inside. I realized that I have a lot I can offer. I have the experience of being on the House staff for the past two terms in positions that gave me a priceless education experience that will serve me well. Instead of the huge learning curve of a first time legislator, I will be able to walk in the first day and know the workings of the House. I have established great relationships with representatives on both sides of the aisle, with leadership and with lobbyists. My past business background, working as both an auditor and sales representative have required good people skills. Being an effective legislator requires those same skills. I have the desire, the abilities and the temperament to do this job. This is a job of service. We are a citizen legislature. I want to be your representative and serve you.
Property Righs versus Public Access
Property rights are protected by our Constitution, not public opinion. Access through private property is and always will be a challenge for both the land owner and the public. But… we need to protect our access to public lands, to wilderness and not allow that to be taken away.
Management of Public Lands
The management of our public lands is so vitally important that we need to definitely have more input from the local level and not allow the Feds to have total control. A strong collaboration between the FWP, BLM, USFS and the state DNRC is crucial. Failed federal policy is what has eliminated thousands of good paying jobs in Ravalli County over the past 35 years. Imagine the natural resource balance we could have today in the Bitterroot Valley if the land and resource management policy was made at the state level.
Polarization of the Electorate
I am as sick of the polarization of the political parties as you are. It renders good legislation nearly impossible. It brings up the next generation of young people hearing nothing but ‘I’m right, you’re wrong’. It spews hate that has now become the norm. It is fueled by those that don’t care about where we came from, those that brought us through conflict and wars and then delivered us to freedom. Without God as our moral compass, we are quickly losing our values. Trust, character, integrity are being lost! Those that can shout the loudest, win and if you are not on their side, it’s OK to cause you harm. It must stop. Civility needs to return to our culture. Our children need us to be their leaders.
Gun Violence versus Gun Rights
Our gun rights are guaranteed by the Constitution. I will defend them at all cost. The thinking that if we restrict guns, we will end the horror of mass shootings is crazy. Restricting guns will NEVER take guns out of the hands of those with evil plans. We definitely can do more to protect our schools and many schools, including those in our valley, are already enacting plans to do this. Limited entrance to schools, full time, armed school resource officers, requiring identification to enter… all will help. The Constitution is under attack by many in the current culture. It is not a fluid document. It was written by men, inspired by God, to provide a balance between the government and the people. Our country is definitely at a crossroads right now.
Health Care and/or Medicaid Expansion
Here’s another area where we are at a crossroads! Do we want a health care system that is built on choices for the citizens and private involvement for the provider or a one payer government controlled system? When Medicaid Expansion was passed in 2015, it had a sunset clause in it – 2019. At this time, the legislature could re-look at it and make adjustments. I-185, if it passes, it takes that out of the legislature’s hands and saddles the public with paying the out of control increases that have occurred. I do not ever want to deny coverage for the truly needy BUT what is needed in the Medicaid Expansion is sideboards. Work requirements for those able. Drug testing. Asset assessment. The program has been a Godsend to those truly in need but terribly abused by others. I-185 and taxing the smokers will not cover the costs of Medicaid expansion. It is an unfair ‘sin’ tax. We’ve got to step back and reassess how we can best help those who need it most without saddling Montana with a huge unfunded mandate.
Why I am the Best Choice for the Position
Stepping up to run for the position of state representative is a decision I did not make lightly. It is a tremendous amount of hard work and a sometimes very thankless job. My experience working on staff in the legislature has given me the background that will serve me well as your representative. I have sat in on many committees. I have worked with bills from drafting to committees to the House floor to the Governor’s office. I have seen the behind the scenes work it takes to gain the support needed to get a bill passed… meeting with other legislators, testifying in committee, follow up meeting with senators to get it passed on that side. My relationships with the representatives and senators on both sides of the aisle have formed over eight years. I have the respect of those in Helena. I have the values and the integrity that you should expect in your representative. I will protect the constitution. I will protect your freedoms. I will resist the lawless movement every way possible. I will protect our historical rights of a citizen run government. I am not of the culture of mob rule and will resist that movement every way I can. I will be very honored to have your vote and will work hard as YOUR representative.