Candidate Responses: Michael Cooper (R) House District 26

ECB Staff on October 8, 2018

 

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As part of E-City Beat’s continuing effort to help our readers make informed decisions as voters, last month we sent questionnaires to all local legislative candidates in the upcoming general election informing them that we would publish their responses without editorial comment.

Here are the four questions we asked:

  1. What do you see as the top two issues facing Montana and Cascade County in the next 5 years and why are you the best candidate for the district you’re running in to tackle those issues?
  2. Identify at least one issue you see as an opportunity to work across party lines on and describe how you will do that to accomplish what’s best for your constituents.
  3. Why is Cascade County/Great Falls so far behind other Montana cities and counties in growth and economic development and what do you plan to do about it as a legislator?
  4. Do you think we need some form of a sales tax or other solution in Montana to help offset property taxes and why or why not?

Democrat Casey Schreiner and Republican Michael Cooper are the candidates in House District 26.  Schreiner did not respond to our request.

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Michael Cooper

Q #1.  My concern is mainly on infrastructure-maintain roads (pot hole free) sewer and water issues.  Infrastructure is a way for the people, to have a system of service’s to accommodate the life style of the taxpayer, with clean drinking water, an effective and safe water and sewer system.   To maintain bridges and on main highways and secondary roadways,  A good maintenance program working with the funds that are available to work with.  To keep property taxes as low as possible.  To work with established businesses who want to build or rebuild their business to accommodate the convenience to the consumer and create more jobs in the community. Support our law enforcement and fire fighters.  Keeping Cascade County drug free and safe.  Supporting the exploration of our natural resources which creates good paying jobs.

Q.#2.  I believe we could begin working together, with health care issues,  assisted living facilities issues and support of these institutions, and infrastructure, how to curb the run away medical and drug use and abuse in our county.  Work with the mental health organizations get the treatment to those who need treatment, and train law enforcement and medical personal how to recognize the symptom of a mental health disorder and which mental health agency to contact.  The housing issues.  Actually a long list to numerous to mention.

Q.#3.  This question is one to think about.  Just how far behind is Great Falls behind other cities and why do we need to compare our city to others?  If people want a metropolis then move to Chicago or Seattle, Portland etc.  A city can only grow as the population grows, and as the population grows the city and county commissioners should be on top of this and try to attract industry, and business to take and interest in our area.                                                                                                                                                                Q.#4.  Sales tax. This subject has surfaced many times over the years and has been voted down every time.  I have seen many states that have a sales tax and a property tax and even a personal property tax you have to pay each year.  What an atrocity.   Sales tax you pay on each purchase, property taxes (house and land) and even a personal property taxes on (your house hold goods-vehicles-4 wheeler’s-motorcycles and there net worth) they pay each year.  When a tax is mandated or voted on it never go away, and in time that very tax is increased and it seems like there is no end to the raising taxes on consumers and home owners, in short I would have to say (no) to a state sales tax.
I also realize there are exceptions to this, in case of catastrophic things that can happen.—fires, earthquake, volcano’s, flooding, etc. that the state emergency agencies have to act on.  Lets try to stop the government waste and have the state government live within the budget designated to follow.  When the economy starts to fall, then the state should start cutting some programs to accommodate the short fall that is about to come about, instead of waiting until critical mass then say there is and emergency and raise taxes, again which will never go away.  Levy’s that are voted on for numerous things never go away,  where a bond can be paid off. Lets see what we can do to keep our tax rate low enough so the citizens of Montana can afford to keep living in this beautiful and wonderful state.

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