Article published Jun 29, 2007

Final candidates file for city government jobs

By RICHARD ECKE

Tribune Staff Writer

It's a horserace for three seats on the Great Falls City Commission, including mayor.

However, Municipal Judge Nancy Luth probably gets a free ride to re-election. Luth, who filed for re-election May 10, was the only candidate to file for the position.

A general election takes place Nov. 6. Whether a primary will take place this year remains up in the air, according to election officials.

Before the filing deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday, five more candidates filed for City Commission positions or mayor, bringing the total to nine.

Ed McKnight, Larry Steele and Susan Kahn of Great Falls filed to challenge incumbent Mayor Dona Stebbins. Stebbins is completing her first term after unseating incumbent Randy Gray in 2005.

McKnight, a former National Weather Service employee, said his main goal as mayor would be "simply to listen." He termed "ridiculous" the City Commission's current three-minute limit on general public comments at commission meetings.

Kahn, an advertising sales representative for area publications, said, "I'd like the people to have a lot of say in their government."

Steele said he has heard many complaints about "the way that the mayor has been conducting the meetings."

"They think their First Amendment rights have been stripped from them," Steele said of those making the comments.

Two other candidates filed for City Commission seats:

Elna Hensley, a former Great Falls school board member and former administrative assistant in the city's Fiscal Services office, said she "has been impressed with the way the city is managed."

Stuart Lewin, who ran in the 2005 city primary, said he wants a blue-ribbon commission to look into why city and county officials are backing plans for the proposed coal-fired Highwood Generating Station east of Great Falls.

The candidates who filed earlier this week include incumbents Stebbins and City Commissioner Diane Jovick-Kuntz; and newcomers Bill Bronson, a Great Falls attorney and member of the City Planning Board; and Michael Winters, who spearheaded the Montana Veterans Memorial in Great Falls.

Commissioner Sandy Hinz declined to seek re-election.

Here's a rundown on some of the newest candidates' positions:

McKnight said he believes city commissioners should listen to people for longer than three minutes.

"An elected representative should listen to what's being said," McKnight added. Rather than setting a specific time limit, the commission might want to allow people who have less to say to go first, then let people with lengthier comments talk later, he said.

Months ago, McKnight said he did an independent analysis of the proposed coal-fired Highwood Generating Station for the anti-power plant group Citizens for Clean Energy.

He said he is sympathetic to the group's position on the coal plant, although he has met with proponents as well. McKnight said he has chronic bronchitis and loves the fresh air in Great Falls.

"For my own personal health, I am not exactly in favor," McKnight said.

He also said he would like to see more attention paid to crime, and wants thefts reduced in Great Falls.

"My house has been robbed and vandalized more than once," he said. "There's way too much theft going on in the city."

McKnight said he favors city leash laws, and thinks it makes sense for the city to treat dogs and cats as relative equals. Some city residents oppose a new city requirement to license their cats, which goes into effect Sunday.

Kahn said she filed for office when she believed Stebbins was the only candidate for the position.

"I wanted Great Falls to have a choice," she said.

Kahn deferred comment on issues facing the city, such as the coal-fired power plant.

Kahn, when contacted Thursday evening, said she has four children and a husband, "and I need to get dinner on the table."

Steele, a past legislative candidate, said he would run city meetings fairly if elected.

He also noted that the Malmstrom Air Force Base coal-fired plant has not caused environmental problems. He doesn't believe Highwood Generating Station would create serious environmental trouble either.

But, Steele said, "I don't like the way that the city first came around to it." He would have favored holding a public vote on the city's involvement in the power plant project.

Steele also questioned the need for the city to require residents to register cats.

"You're getting into bigger government when you do that," he said.

He said he liked the city and county allowing the same types of fireworks this year, but questioned the effectiveness of reducing by two the number of days people can buy and shoot off fireworks in the city. The new days are July 2-4.

Steele also said he favors adding police officers and cracking down on methamphetamine use, but he opposes limiting the size of retail stores in Great Falls.

Lewin, an attorney, said in a news release that government "must be open, honest, (and) responsive to citizen input and need."

"We live in a beautiful and historic place," Lewin said. "Our community must be livable."

He said he would like to see effective planning done in the Missouri and Sun river corridors.

Lewin said he favors good jobs, educational opportunities and "smart growth."

A vocal opponent of the coal-fired power plant project, Lewin said, "Surely the city can come up with better ideas to help our citizens be energy independent."

Lewin said that if he was elected, he would tell residents "truthfully what government is doing and listen to constituent concerns with open ears, minds and hearts."

Hensley worked for the city until a month ago, when she took a job with Consumer Credit Counseling Service. She served on the Great Falls Public Schools Board of Trustees for three terms, totaling nine years, through 2005.

"I really do believe in Great Falls," she said, adding the city is "extremely well run."

She noted the city spent much time and effort crafting its revised laws on fireworks and animal control. She said both ordinances can be repaired in a year or two if they need fixing.

Hensley said her position on the coal plant is not "real firm," adding she plans to learn more.

She said she is "always asking questions" and believes commissioners should "act as the conscience for the city."

She noted she is concerned with how issues "affect real people." Hensley said she hopes the city will find a new city manager who will "move it forward."

Current City Manager John Lawton has announced that he plans to retire by year's end.

A decision on whether to hold a city primary on Sept. 11 is expected to be made next week, according to the Cascade County Elections Office. Debbie Mart, office supervisor, is out of the office this week.

A spokesman for Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson said this week that a primary would not be required unless eight or more people filed for commissioner positions, or five or more candidates filed for either the mayor or municipal judge positions. Bowen Greenwood, communications director for Johnson, said a primary could be held even if a tiny number of candidates filed, but noted that might not be popular with taxpayers.

The cost of the primary would be about $42,000, according to estimates from Cascade County, which would run the election on the city's behalf.