House District 92 Candidates Go Head to Head

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Community Council hosted two candidate forums, Sept. 19 and Sept. 26, at the Seeley Lake Community Hall. Candidates for state and local races answered questions from moderator and Council Chair Klaus von Sutterheim and the audience.

All candidates that appear on the ballot including Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians, were invited.

This week the Pathfinder features the candidates for Montana Senate District 46 and Montana House District 92. Visit http://www.seeleylake.com for coverage of the Governor/Lieutenant Governor; U.S. Congress; Secretary of State; State Attorney General; Montana Supreme Court; State Auditor; Superintendent of Public Instruction and Public Service Commissioner candidates. Look for the Missoula County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace coverage in the next issue.

Absentee ballots were mailed Oct. 14. The general election is Nov. 8.

House District 92: Mike Hopkins (R) is running against Addrien Marx (D). Both were in attendance at the forum.

Mike Hopkins (R) is a fourth generation Montanan born in Helena, Mont. and raised in Missoula, Mont.

Hopkins is running because he wants to return to a common sense budgeting that takes a realistic look at tax revenues that come into the state and budgets.

He watched during the last legislative session as the budget was set by the revenue estimate. The legislative fiscal division and the governor's budget office both made revenue estimates and the governor's estimate was very high.

Hopkins said the battle is figuring out which estimate is closer and what are the assumptions and conditions that lead to that estimate working out.

Hopkins said the Governor is obsessed with his $300 million surplus. When the legislature was discussing how to fund schools, infrastructure, health care, etc. they kept running into a wall which the Governor was saying he wanted this artificial surplus.

"He purely wanted to be able to campaign for re-election on it. When you look at it now, that is the kind of politics we need to move away from," said Hopkins. "Our money needs to be treated with more respect when our government takes it and spends it."

Addrien Marx (D): Is running because her heart and soul is in the district. She has lived in the district for 35 years. She ran a business here, raised a family here, has been a part of nearly every organization and chaired many of them. She brought different organizations to fruition. Marx chaired the Seeley Lake Community Council during the contentious land use planning.

"One of the skills that I've learned is to reach across the aisle, to look at different opinions and to be a little bit of everybody. Because here in House District 92, that is who we are," said Marx.

Marx said she's demonstrated this by running two republican campaigns in the past. She respects people on both sides.

"I'm going to take your values to Helena," said Marx. "Why? Because I've lived here. I've worked here."

Marx said that she lives here because of the resources, public lands, timber and the uniqueness of a small town.

"Public lands should never be transferred. They are ours. They do not need to go to the state. There are other solutions to the problems," said Marx.

Marx said she is the education candidate because she's for the students from preschool to high school. She wants funding for preschool all the way through college.

Marx has been a teacher and a school board member. She is endorsed by MEA-MFT, Montana's largest labor union.

"I'm proud of it because they are teachers. They're people that work every day in education and that is something to be proud of," said Marx. "That is our future."

What are your legislative priorities for the next session and how do they different from your opponent?

Marx (D): Differs from her opponent because she's lived here and knows her neighbors.

Marx believes in public lands, Hopkins has said he will transfer.

Marx believes in funding education from preschool through college, not just tightening budgets.

Marx would never abolish the Affordable Care Act but would tweak it. She has seen people of all ages finally get medical care that they have never had.

Hopkins (R): House district 92 has only existed for two years so Marx saying she has lived in the district her entire life is interesting.

Hopkins believes that neither he nor Marx represent the district better than the other. They each represent different parts of the district.

The majority of the district lives closer to Missoula where he lives. He doesn't feel he represents Missoula better than a Democratic legislator. However, Seeley Lake is a more republican area and helped elect the current representative Doc Moore who has endorsed Hopkins.

How much help do you feel the state should provide to fund projects like the Seeley Lake sewer and how much of the cost should be paid for by the community?

Hopkins (R): Very interested in infrastructure spending in the budget.

"When it comes to the budget [for] infrastructure you need to look at areas like Seeley Lake or Glendive where sewer projects, water projects, road projects and bridge projects can make the biggest difference for the most Montanans," said Hopkins.

Hopkins feels the state can help by setting aside all the legislators' side projects and prioritize projects like infrastructure.

"I think it is one of the biggest mistakes we make in state government it's that we don't have any real concept of what our priorities should be from one biennium budget to another," said Hopkins.

Marx (D): Has lobbied at the state and federal level for sewer funding and worked with the governor.

"The sewer board promised that they would not come forward unless it was affordable for the people in the district," said Marx. "We will stand by that promise."

Marx said the sewer system will not be so much that a person needs to leave the district because they can't afford to live there.

"We need a sewer system. I am the example," said Marx. "I paid $100,000 for a septic system. The next person is not going to be able to afford it. We will shut down the town. We need to be proactive. That's what we've been doing and that is certainly what I have been doing and I will do my best for the district."

How will you solicit public opinion to help make decisions for those you represent?

Marx (D): That is the most essential part of being a legislator. Her personal cell phone is listed on all her campaign material and she will always answer it.

"All my life in Seeley Lake I've had an open, revolving door. People that have disagreed with me have come and talked with me and we remain friends," said Marx. "The people here know they have access to me."

Marx said she is not an expert on anything. Her expertise comes from people sharing with her their life experiences and how bills will affect them.

Hopkins (R): This is a big challenge. He provided his cell phone on all campaign materials.

He would like to hold town hall meetings with the area community councils while the legislature is in session to share what bills he is working on and taking feedback from communities.

"At the end of the day, everything you do at the legislature in one way or another talks about what the interaction between government and the individual is going to be," said Hopkins. "I hope the town hall model will work pretty well."

What are you going to do to make public lands more available to the elderly and handicapped?

Hopkins (R): When you connect rule-making authority to unaccountable bureaucrats without the people being able to hold them accountable at the ballot box that is the result. The people in Helena are completely detached from people outside of Helena. Hiring new people with actual experience in the field will help.

Marx (D): Everyone is getting older so it is a concern for everyone.

"We do need more access," said Marx. "Turning over public lands is going to close up more access."

Marx will fight for more access and more ADA accessible places.

"It's going to cost money and we need to put our money where our mouth is," said Marx.

On the state level, what can be done to help the timber industry so we don't lose businesses like Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Inc.?

Marx (D): There is no magic answer to this but one is collaboration. Marx has worked with the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project for more than seven years.

"Timber has always been a heritage here and I would not have survived in my business without timber," said Marx. "We need to be diversified. We need recreation, we need wilderness, we need timber, and we need it all."

Marx will be a strong advocate for timber, wood products, and the industry and has been endorsed by Gordy Sanders, Pyramid Mountain Lumber Resource Manager. She will work with experts to help guide her through those decisions.

Hopkins (R): To change what has been going on, more Republicans need to be elected. The Democratic Party has been demonizing every good, basic job in the coal, timber and natural gas industry.

"The people are very influenced by the people who fund their campaign," said Hopkins. "When you allow a small army of activists to put it into their heads that all these jobs are the devil and we are ruining the environment by harvesting timber, it is ridiculous. Until you address that situation and get people into Helena that actually care about the issue it is simply not going to change."

Closing Statements

Marx (D): Doesn't appreciate her or her party being broad brushed and doesn't feel someone should be elected that broad brushes that Republicans have the answer for business.

Marx said she ran one of the largest business is the valley for more than 20 years, she knows budgets, employees, she knows how to take care of people and knows how to bring business in the door.

Marx said the most important attitude is one of acceptance for all people and recognizing that it takes everyone to make a village.

"I'm running because my heart and soul is in this district. I'm passionate and I know what works," said Marx.

Marx equated Hopkins to a politician because he has run three times in three different districts.

Marx was very offended by a post on Hopkins' personal Facebook page where "Trump was doing something to Hillary."

"This is a position that no leader in the legislature should have on their personal Facebook page," said Marx.

Hopkins (R): Welcomes everyone to visit his personal Facebook page where he posts his opinion on various issues.

He said his comments about the Democratic Party are based on conversations with people in Seeley Lake, Clinton, Bonner and said this is their outlook on issues.

Hopkins said Marx's claim that he is for the transfer of federal lands to the state is untrue. He referred to his response printed in the Pathfinder during the primary candidate forum. In response to the question "What is your position on transferring federal lands to the state?" asked at the May 9 primary forum, Hopkins said he, "feels the state manages land better than the federal government does. However, he feels paying for wildfires would bankrupt the state and therefore the land should stay federal for now."

He encouraged voters who think their taxes are too high, there are too many regulations and fees are out of control, to vote for Republicans and himself that want to see these things changed.