BCQL endorses commission candidates
by JOEL GALLOB - Ravalli Republic
The Bipartisan Campaign for Quality of Life on Thursday endorsed four candidates, two Democrats and two Republicans, in the upcoming June 3 primary election for party nominations for two Ravalli County Board of Commissioners positions.
In the general election in November, the primary victors will compete for the two seats at stake.
In District 1, BCQL endorsed Democrat John Meakin and Republican Lady Jake Weitzel. Weitzel is running against incumbent Republican Greg Chilcott in that party’s primary. Only Meakin is seeking the Democratic nomination.
In the District 3 primary, there are three candidates for the Republican nomination, J. R. Iman, Dave Dedmon and Chuck Stranahan. BCQL’s endorsement went to Stranahan. The sole Democratic primary candidate in District 3 is Roger DeHaan. The incumbent, Alan Thompson, is not seeking reelection.
The three candidates BCQL supported previously for the county commission - Jim Rokosch, Carlotta Grandstaff and Kathleen Driscoll - all won.
Candidate DeHaan noted that despite the county’s division into districts, all voters will vote for both the District 2 and District 3 seats in November.
BCQL spokespersons said the group interviewed every candidate for county commission. The 32 questions asked of each were designed to be “fair and balanced and not too combative,” said Lyle Pilon of BCQL.
“It was important for us to be bipartisan. We wanted to make sure people could choose a candidate from their own political affiliation,” said Pilon.
Candidate John Meakin said he is “a strong advocate of this planning and zoning effort,” and a member of the Stevensville Community Planning Committee.
“There are some opposed to the effort, but I suspect at some point they will realize it comes from the mind set of ‘we’d like it to be like it was’ and ... that the time has changed with people moving in. As people congregate, people pressure grows and you need to regulate what happens between them. There’s the spectre of some very large developments that could bring thousands. Are we ready for it? Is our environment ready for it. My take is, no,” said Meakin.
Meakin said that while the Bitterroot is very beautiful, “people could wreck it, they could poison the river. To avoid that, we’ll need this kind of planning and zoning. Not to stop growth but so it’s done right.” That, he added, involves “growing our economy,” too.
Lady Jake Weitzel said she supports “reasonable zoning.”
Speaking of the Draft B version of the county’s proposed zoning regulations, Weitzel said “My problem is that it needs to be tweaked a bit. There will be a draft C, D and hopefully not many more after that. I hope people will work together to solve the problems in the draft.”
Beyond that, said Weitzel, “I would like to bring back trust in local government. I believe it’s been lost, and it’s something we need. We need to pick and choose the right people to be there, to represent your interests and your neighbors’ interests.”
Roger DeHaan wanted “a system of policies and regulations that are predictable, consistent and fair, that let everyone know what the rules are and make it easy to work with the county.”
DeHaan promised to develop “fair and logical impact fees that require new construction to pay its fair share toward the schools, fire departments, sheriff’s department and roads that long-time residents have been paying on for years.”
DeHaan also said he’d seek “options that both protect a person’s right to farm and ranch and allows the efficient sale of a portion of a person’s land for high quality development.”
Chuck Stranahan said in 30 years he’d like to see the valley have open spaces, farmers who can sell part of their acreage, a preserved riparian corridor, prosperous small businesses, safe neighborhoods, good roads, and well-funded law enforcement and ambulance services. Yet with the county focused on zoning, he said, “other county business is taking a back seat.”
He urged economic development that builds on the bio-medical base GlaxoSmithKline has provided.
Further, he said, there are “millions of dollars worth of homes” likely to be threatened by flooding “because the county failed to put in place meaningful setbacks.”
Stranahan wanted the county to stay with land use and “not tell people how bright their porch light can be. If we need a light ordinance, let’s deal with it later.”
Reporter Joel Gallob can be reached at jgallob@ravallirepublic.com or at 363-3300
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