Verdell Jackson has proven record

Editor,

We should all thank Don Loranger for his service to our country. However, we must find ways to express our gratitude other than electing Mr. Loranger to represent Senate District 5 in the Montana Legislature. His military style of leadership may provide him with the qualifications for an office in the executive branch of government but different qualities and abilities are required for the legislative branch. For example, the ability to negotiate and work with your opponent are important skills for legislators but they are not highly valued in the military.

Verdell Jackson, on the other hand, has demonstrated these skills over and over in the eight years he has served Montana and the Flathead Valley in the legislature. I was part of the forum which Verdell organized and conducted that brought local legislators and the public together to provide balanced input for revision of the Flathead National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. More than 125 members of the public and the Forest Service participated in the forum during the sessions. In spite of the difficulties of joint decision making in a group that large, the forum produced a complete and in-depth document that addressed the desires of the public for the new forest plan. Verdell's leadership of that large group with deeply held and diverse convictions was masterful.

Montana, the Flathead and District 5 voters need a representative who is committed to this area and who understands local conditions and needs. Mr. Loranger and his backers have claimed that Verdell does not live in District 5 when in fact he lives right in the middle of it. This is a case of the kettle calling the chafing dish black. Loranger lived in a lot of places during his 30 year military career but none of them were in Montana. In the last few years, Loranger has moved his voter registration back and forth between Montana, and Arizona — and just last fall — back to Montana.

Verdell Jackson's only residence is here in the Flathead where he has lived and farmed for many years. He understands the special needs of this area the way only a long-time resident can. For example, Verdell has a good understanding of the importance of proper forest management to Flathead County. 78 percent of this county is non-private and most of that is National Forest. In addition to the forum mentioned above, Verdell organized a monitoring tour of the Moose Fire Salvage Project. Verdell is using the knowledge gained through his long years of working and living in the Flathead to lead the fight to preserve the water rights of NW Montana property owners.

I am glad to have known and supported Representative Jackson for the last eight years. I am sure he will continue to be an honest, hardworking and effective legislator if he is elected by the voters of District 5.

Gary E Hall

Olney