Article published Nov 4, 2007

Candidates debate whether election rides on power plant

By RICHARD ECKE

Tribune Staff Writer

Great Falls voters on Tuesday will pick two city commissioners, at least one of them new, and a mayor.

One hot issue in the race has been the proposed Highwood Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant that five Montana rural electric cooperatives want to build in cooperation with the city of Great Falls. The city would own 15 percent of the plant, if it can obtain revenue-bond financing for its share of the plant. The power plant would be located east of Great Falls.

Opponents of the power plant have blasted its environmental effects and the impact it could have on a Lewis and Clark portage route, sparked arguments over renewable energy as an alternative and criticized the city for taking financial risks.

"I hope it's not a one-issue election," said plant supporter Elna Hensley, a former city employee running for one of the two City Commission seats. "Certain candidates seem to be trying to make it so."

One of those candidates is Stuart Lewin, who said "I am opposed to this plant and I don't want it constructed," during the last candidates' forum.

"It is a one-issue race," Lewin maintained Friday.

There are plenty of other issues to whet the appetites of voters, from licensing of cats or who should run the animal shelter, to proposed one-way street conversions to two-way roads, property tax issues and public safety concerns. Personalities also are expected to play a role, along with a candidate's leadership ability, past performance and promises.

Voters "think there are a lot of important issues out there," said City Commission candidate Bill Bronson. A power plant backer, Bronson has run into a number of voters who support the plant, although not all of them favor the city's involvement. Most voters are concerned about the environment, he said.

"I'm not in favor of building something like they built 30 years ago," Bronson said.

The unanswered question is whether the coal plant is a big enough issue to city voters that it trumps other issues, as well as candidates' personalities and experience.

Voters will ultimately decide how big a deal the coal plant is.

Most of the challengers in the election are critics of the power plant — Lewin, an attorney; Mary Jolley, an office manager; and mayoral candidates Ed McKnight, a property manager; and Susan Kahn, an advertising representative.

In the middle is mayoral candidate Larry H. Steele, who strongly backs the power plant but opposes the city's involvement. Steele said this position on the power plant has "allowed me to find a niche" in the crowded mayoral race.

Firmly behind the plant are incumbent Mayor Dona Stebbins; incumbent Commissioner Diane Jovick-Kuntz, a bookkeeper and salesperson; Bronson, an attorney and member of the City Planning Board; and Hensley, who served two terms on the Great Falls School Board.

Stebbins doubts the election will come down to only one issue, although she predicted the power plant matter will have some weight. She said she believes name recognition will give her a boost in the mayor's contest.

This is the first try for public office by Kahn and McKnight. Steele unsuccessfully ran for state Legislature last year.

Opponents of the power plant project would need to win all three seats to gain a majority on the five-member City Commission. That would mean knocking off the two well-known incumbents, Stebbins and Jovick-Kuntz, as well as defeating Bronson and Hensley. Lewin said he hopes that will happen.

A mixture of wins and losses for plant opponents would leave a majority of the commission in favor of the project.

There's also the possibility of a clean sweep for supporters of the power plant. Coal-plant proponents have raised more money than their challengers, all of whom said they plan to raise less than $500 in their campaigns.

Bronson said he believes there is a chance that power plant proponents will sweep the election.

Mayoral candidate McKnight said a lack of fundraising does not mean he is conceding the election to those who back the proposed power plant.

"I just never felt it was necessary to spend more than $500" in a city the size of Great Falls, McKnight said. He said he and supporters are putting a lot of effort into his campaign.

The number of people in each race may play a role in who wins, according to some candidates.

McKnight said he and fellow coal plant skeptic Kahn may be at a mathematical disadvantage in the mayor's race against Stebbins.

"It is going to split the vote," McKnight said. "That is my major concern right there."

As a well-known incumbent, Stebbins may garner much of the pro-coal-fired plant vote, although Steele also favors the project.

The potential split vote among candidates that are skeptical of the power plant is a concern to Highwood Generating Station opponents. Kahn said some coal-fired plant foes asked her to drop out of the race, a move that would have given McKnight a better chance against Stebbins. Kahn declined to do so.

Kahn said that the coal-fired facility wasn't the only issue that made her run. Kahn said that as she campaigned door to door in her neighborhood, the power plant issue was tops. But, she said, a number of people complained about how the city treated the Humane Society of Cascade County when the city took over the local animal shelter in July.

Meanwhile, coal plant opponents may hold a bit of an edge in the commissioners' race, according to at least one candidate.

"It's the math," McKnight said. "You've got three in favor and two against."

Bronson isn't convinced that's the case, adding there's no way to tell what will happen on Election Day.

Jovick-Kuntz said she believes some harsh criticism directed at commissioners and the city manager during the campaign has been unfair.

"I have never believed that this election should be about the coal plant," Jovick-Kuntz said, adding there are so many other issues facing the community.

"I think I've done a great job for the city," Jovick-Kuntz said. "Win, lose or draw, I'm going to hold my head up."

Jolley could not be reached for comment.

With candidates campaigning hard for weeks, and getting plenty of mainstream media and online coverage, county election officials have predicted a higher turnout than in 2005.

Most of the candidates were long on optimism late last week. They also were high on praise for their supporters and short on specific predictions.

"I never bet on horse races or elections," Stebbins quipped.