County commissioner race draws four candidates
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POLSON — Four candidates are vying to serve as a Lake County Commissioner for the Ronan/Pablo area: incumbent Paddy Trusler, R; Gale Decker, R; Rick Jennison, R; and John Swenson, L.
Asked why he was running, Trusler said he has a history of public service, as county commissioner for the last 11 years and prior to that, 22 years as Lake County Director of Land Services. What sets him apart from the other two candidates is his track record — he’s already shown what he can do
“Experience in local government allows not only the ability to understand what can be done but also what can not be done,” Trusler explained on his campaign website.
His primary reason for running, Swenson said, is that a segment of the people in the Valley feel unrepresented by the current commissioners.
“They think, as I do, there are things being done on the county level that comply with Agenda 21, the equivalent of loss of private property rights,” he said.
Swenson said he thinks the job would be similar to being on call 24-7, since constituents will run into a commissioner on the street, in the store or decide to call at any time.
As far as what commissioners do, Swenson said decision-making is the No. 1 aspect of the job. There’s also a managerial component, Swenson said, with people who work directly under the commissioners and departments they supervise. There are also boards commissioners sit on and committees and meetings they are obligated to attend.
Decker said although there is no job description for county commissioner, there is also no job description for his job as Lake County Superintendent of Schools, either. His 33 years of teaching middle school math and 40 years of coaching have made him an able communicator.
A Montana Association of Counties publication said the two main qualities for a county commissioner to have are knowledge of the community and integrity, and Decker said he has both of those qualities.
“I want to serve the people of Lake County,” Jennison said, of his reason for running. “I have to make a difference.”
Jennison said what sets him apart from the other candidates is that he’s a U.S. Marine veteran.
Swenson’s top three issues are private property rights, real estate taxes and the budget.
Jennison agrees on private property rights, but his other two main concerns are roads and accessibility and accountability. When somebody has a concern about their road and they call the county commissioners, they talk to the road supervisor, who is from New York, he said.
“I’m going to be accessible,” Jennison said. “When you call, I’ll get back to you.”
He wants a government of the people and for the people, and he will uphold the Constitution of the United States.
With a yearly salary of about $42,000, county commissioners serve six-year terms and there is no term limit.
Whatever their view, all the commissioner candidates encourage all citizens to vote on June 5.
