________________________________________________________________________
As part of E-City Beat’s continuing effort to help our readers make informed decisions as voters we have sent questionnaires to all local candidates in the upcoming general election and will be publishing their responses starting today.
First up are the candidates for Cascade County Commissioner, Jane Weber (D) and Josh Eli (R). Here are the three questions we asked each of them:
- Why are you the best candidate for the position you’re running for?
- Please identify three specific goals you want to achieve if you are elected and how those outcomes will benefit Cascade County citizens.
- What is the biggest challenge facing Cascade County generally and the biggest challenge facing the specific department you are seeking to lead and how will you address that challenge?
________________________________________________________________________
Jane Weber, Democrat Candidate for Re-Election to the Cascade County Commission
1.) Why are you the best candidate for the position you’re running for?
The decisions before a county commissioner are local and direct how our communities grow. The work requires attention to detail, budget experience, objectivity and the ability to listen and respond to constituent concerns. Learning the complexity and vast responsibility that comes with serving as a county commissioner takes time – learning the intricacies of nearly twenty departments and multiple divisions can be a challenge. Establishing a budget in excess of $70+ million can be challenging.
Having served Cascade County citizens for nearly eight years, I have a solid grasp on the challenges we face and the solutions available to advance our county. I provide seamless continuity of service as an experienced Cascade County Commissioner. I work well with the Department heads, my fellow commissioners, and both business and government leaders throughout our community. I serve on the Business Advocacy and Military Affairs Committees at the Chamber of Commerce, and as a board member for the Center for Mental Health, Gateway Community Services, Board of Health, and a board hoping to establish the first National Heritage Area in Montana. I work well with the Black Eagle community, Expo Park Advisory Board, Great Falls Turf Club, and City staff.
Every day, I learn something new from colleagues in our towns, city and neighboring counties, from county staff and our citizens. New ideas intrigue me, hard work exhilarates me, and honesty and integrity drive me.
2.) Please identify three specific goals you want to achieve if you are elected and how those outcomes will benefit Cascade County citizens.
I would like to complete several projects initiated under my tenure:
* Implement the 10-year road maintenance and reconstruction schedule to ensure school bus routes, missile roads and high travel roads are properly maintained;
* Advocate for federal cleanup of the Black Eagle, Neihart, and Carpenter-Snow Creek Superfund sites and initiate the citizen-based plans for re-purposing the former Anaconda smelter site;
* Review and revise county zoning to ensure future industrial development is properly located within the county;
* Implement a county-wide Capital Improvement Reserve policy to methodically plan and budget for county infrastructure improvements and reduce longstanding deferred maintenance projects;
* Expand the 24/7 program for DUI offenders to keep them working and financially supporting their families;
* Pursue options to divert individuals with mental health issues from jail to treatment options by supporting the Crisis Intervention Team and strengthening the Local Advisory Council on Mental Health;
* Support creative ways to implement pre-trial services to reduce the number incarcerated in the County’s jail, while ensuring community safety;
* Strengthen communications and coordination between city and county for greater efficiencies;
* Continue working closely with Volunteer Rural Fire Departments, City/County officials, and Emergency Services employees to provide services for citizens during times of disaster, like flooding and fire.
3.) What is the biggest challenge facing Cascade County generally and the biggest challenge facing the specific department you are seeking to lead and how will you address that challenge?
Cascade County faces three major challenges:
1. Developing a strategy to deploy limited funding to meet the operational needs of the county and remedy the longstanding/growing deferred maintenance of county infrastructure – buildings, roads, bridges. Working with Department Heads, I propose implementing a capital reserve policy and begin repairing and/or replacing the prioritized backlog of deferred maintenance. I would continue the interactive budgeting process with Department Heads to equitably and efficiently distribute funds and seek ways to work with the State Legislature to discontinue unfunded mandates and find alternative supplemental financing through grants and donations.
2. Rebuilding trust with constituents on zoning and subdivision regulations and processes established by Montana law and County policy. I propose refining zoning regulations to appropriately identify light and heavy industrial building sites by working with County Planning, city and town officials/staff, developers, and economic development entities to identify business needs and compatible land uses and locations. I would also establish/participate in community listening sessions to initiate citizen-driven changes to county zoning.
3. Identifying practical solutions to resolve the overcrowding issues in the Adult Detention Center. In collaboration with the new sheriff, I propose creating a public-private taskforce of government law enforcement officials and citizens to define the problem and identify options to rectify the situation. Explore pre-trial supervision solutions enacted in other Montana counties to reduce the number of people incarcerated while keeping our communities safe. Other solutions may involve a combination of innovative ways to assist citizens struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues; as well as expanding treatment courts; and/or upgrades to the 20+ year old Adult Detention Center.
________________________________________________________________________
Joshua J. Eli Republican candidate for Cascade County Commissioner
1.) Why are you the best candidate for the position you’re running for?
I have never been a politician before. I do however have a background in multiple disciplines that has afforded me a well-rounded set of skills. I have worked in engineering, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, education, and sales. I am able to communicate and cooperate with people from all walks of life. I grew up here in Cascade County, and I feel personally vested in our future. I do not have any conflicts of interest that would keep me from doing the job in any unbiased manner, with the possible exception of the current rendition of the proposed food park. This does not fall into what I would consider “sustainable” growth. I want to be able to grow and cultivate opportunities in our community that inspire our children to stay.
2.) Please identify three specific goals you want to achieve if you are elected and how those outcomes will benefit Cascade County citizens.
3.) What is the biggest challenge facing Cascade County generally and the biggest challenge facing the specific department you are seeking to lead and how will you address that challenge?
I see this as two parts of the same question. It is my goal to solve these three main issues/challenges.
The biggest issue facing Cascade County right now is communication. A more open and effective line of communication between the county and its constituents would take care of the majority of the county’s issues. There needs to be a better way to explain decisions to the people in a manner they can understand. We need to move public meeting times to a more conducive time frame where people are available to attend. With video recorded meetings for review, our politically active constituents can stay up to speed on what was actually said, and not what was perceived. I believe by getting active with online forums (modern day letter to the editor) the commissioners could keep the people up to speed.
The next big issue with the County is the lack of sufficient funds. There are many shortfalls within the current budget. There are never enough funds for roads, education, or public works. You can only tax and levy the property owner’s so much to pay for all of this. I believe that we are past that point. We need to seriously get into cutting wasteful spending, and the unnecessary expenses. This would not be accomplished by deferring maintenance. That is a horribly short-sighted way of trying to save money.
My other top issue is the current state of our infrastructure, more specifically roads. I do not agree with the current process of deciding which roads receive maintenance while others are left to entirely deteriorate. There is currently a computer program designed to decide maintenance schedules… A computer cannot factor in common sense. I would look to re-establishing a board or panel to oversee the results of this program, and give them the authority to adjust it accordingly.
________________________________________________________________________
