Candidates compete for SD47
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Three Senate District 47 candidates are running for a seat in the newly-formed district that runs south from Reservoir Road in Polson to the railroad tracks in Missoula.
Joey Jayne and Tom France are running on the democratic ticket in the June 7 primary election. The winner will be on the November ballot against Republican Dan Salomon, currently a representative in House District 93.
Salomon, 59, was born and raised in the Flathead Valley. He and his wife have been married for 36 years and have a growing family with three daughters and four grandchildren. He works as a farmer. Salomon was elected five times to the Ronan School Board and has served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives.
He believes the most important local issue is Public Law 280, funding for the county.
“Lake County prosecutes and incarcerates all alleged felonies that happen in Lake County, both Tribal and Non-Tribal. This system works very well legally, but there is no Federal funding elements to compensate Lake County like there are on other Indian Reservation in Montana.”
He would like to see Montana’s economy moving with the downturn in agricultural markets and the decline of natural resource production.
“I have been and will continue to be a strong advocate for agriculture and natural resource development as they are under attack from new and some old governmental regulations,” Salomon said.
His vision for the community is to continue to work together and help this area prosper.
“This is a great place to live, if you can make a living. Economic development opportunities should be explored,” he said.
Jayne is an attorney who has lived in Arlee for the last 24 years. She received her Doctor in Law from University of Montana School of Law, Master of Science in Watershed Management from University of Arizona, and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Industry from Arizona State University.
From 2001-2008 Jayne served as a Montana State Representative and from 2013-2014 served as a Justice Court judge.
Jayne believes the most important state issue is to establish the State budget for the next two years in House Bill 2. Because the legislature is composed of Democrats and Republicans, each party has its agenda to fund government based on their priorities and pet projects which could result in an unbalanced budget, Jayne said.
“I have worked with both Democrat and Republican legislators, as a former House Representative, to resolve budget issues.” Jayne said. “If elected, I would prepare for and vote for a sustainable and fair budget with input from citizens and work with all legislators.”
Another important local issue is increases to the Montana State budget. Income and property taxes bring a large amount of funding to the state budget, and are set by Montana law as passed by the legislature. Thus, the legislature may increase any tax or fee in a legislative session, she explained.
“I generally vote against tax or fee increases because it impacts the family budget,” she said.
Other issues impacting citizens include supporting small businesses, increasing high school graduation rates, increasing jobs, increasing the minimum wage, and fair and affordable health care, and dealing with rampant drug use.
And agriculture is the mainstay of local economics, she said.
“Ranchers and farmers must have consistent water supply to sustain their income,” Jayne said.
Tom France works as the regional director for the National Wildlife Foundation, and said balancing the budget will be an issue given the expected decrease in energy-related tax revenues.
“Through Governor Bullock’s leadership, Montana has not only balanced its budget the last four years but maintained a budget surplus and rainy day fund,” he said.
Market forces have impacted both the coal industry and the oil and gas producers and they will pay less taxes as a result.
“Cuts in state programs will be on the table and we need to responsibly maintain needed state programs while balancing the state’s budget,” he said.
Providing adequate funding for public education is something France wants the legislature to resolve.
“We need a strong educational system from top to bottom to educate our children so they can find good paying jobs and stay in Montana … and a strong education system to build Montana’s economy and attract companies and entrepreneurs because have a highly trained and highly motivated work force,” France said.
Protecting Montana’s public lands and keeping public lands in public hands is important to France.
“I anticipate there will again be assaults on public lands and public access,” he said. “ I will fight to protect our public lands and expand public access.”
France received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana and his Juris Degree from the University of Montana School of Law.
As a member of the Montana State Bar, France has served on the boards of directors of the Five Valleys Land Trust, the Clark Fork Coalition, the High Country News Foundation and the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust. In the 1980s he was appointed to and served on the Montana Environmental Quality Council.
He and his wife Meg Haenn have three children: Luke Haenn, Sonja France and Toni France.
