WHAT BEING AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE MEANS TO ME
I am not a politician. If given the opportunity, I will be a representative. Too often we see politicians representing special interests. Their own interests, their friend’s interests, and the interests of their associates are put ahead of the interests of the community they represent. We need accountability in government and the best way to hold our elected officials accountable is in the polls.
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE
We decide what happens in our country, our great state of Montana, and locally in Ravalli County – at least that’s the way it was intended to be. I believe it still can be, we just need to elect people who listen.
I’m providing this information as a start for all to know a little about me and where I stand on issues, although if I am elected, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what I believe – what matters is what the 20,000 people in district 43 believe. That is how I will conduct myself while in office. I’ll be a representative. That’s what I expect as a citizen and that’s what you can expect of me when I’m in office. I know in my heart we can make a difference as long as we work together and really do things the way they were intended to be done. That’s precisely what I am going to do.
I truly love our beautiful state. I want it to be easier for Montanans to work, create businesses, and thrive. Government isn’t serving the people as it should, which is making life difficult for our families, workers, and small businesses. We have an ever-growing number of bad policies restricting growth and prosperity for our citizens. Montana has one of the fastest growth rates of income inequality and we continue to see lower and middle-class earners’ piece of the pie shrink, while seeing a push for tax hikes and growth in state government. That is not the kind of growth we want or need.
To help Montana businesses compete, we need to modernize our policies with regards to the environment, education, tax, and healthcare bringing more out-of-state dollars into Montana. With smarter government policies Montana’s citizens will be the primary beneficiaries of new, enhanced opportunities.
We need less divisive politics so we can actually work together and act on things quickly like peoples’ lives depend on it, because they do. When legislators don’t have the best interests of the people in mind, if they’re ineffective, or promote bad policy, it is Montana citizens and its families paying the price. We need smaller, less intrusive government, fewer hoops, and less harmful policy.
I strongly believe in supporting and strengthening our military. It is the backbone of our security and the heart of our freedom in this country. I grew up in a military family. My father was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force base in Great Falls. I appreciate the values, respect, and discipline he taught me growing up. I try to pass those same values onto my children. I have 3 amazing sons, from ages 14 – 26. My two older sons work and live in Hamilton. My youngest goes to Hamilton High School.
As a parent with a child in high school, I share the concerns surrounding our children’s safety in public schools. I think that parents, schools, and the state should be urgently working together on this critical issue.
The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people’s hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice. – John Adams
I’m a resident of Hamilton and local business owner of Bitterroot Gun Garage & Countrywide periodicals. I currently employ 20 people and plan to grow that number this year. I’ve always paid attention to politics as I feel that it’s not just every citizen’s right to be involved, but our responsibility. If you don’t want other people making choices for you then you have to be participatory.