Lake County House District No. 11, 12 and sheriff candidates: In their own words

With the election this Tuesday, Nov. 2, time is fast approaching to make your decisions and vote for the candidate you believe will do the best job for you, their constituents. Forums have been held, signs have been hung and articles, TV appearances and radio ads have been run.

Now, read what the candidates for HD No. 11, 12 and the Lake County Sheriff have to say in their own words. All candidates were asked the same questions and given a space limit.

Responses may have been edited for grammar and/or space constraints. For continual updates on election night, visit www.leaderadvertiser.com. Unofficial election results will be posted in the Nov. 4 edition of the Leader and official results will be on the website as soon as they are available. Make sure to get out and vote!

Sheriff candidates

Dan Yonkin, Democrat

What is the main reason you are running for sheriff this year?

I’m excited to be running to be the Lake County Sheriff/Coroner for the same reason I joined the sheriff’s office 11 years ago: I want to keep Lake County a great place to live, visit and do business in. 

Name the top three reasons why residents should vote for you.

I am a man of integrity and will run the Sheriff’s Office on the old fashioned principles I live my life by: trust, honor and honesty.  I will be fiscally responsible with the sheriff’s budget and will ensure that I give Lake County residents the most service possible for their tax money. 

What are your top two goals if elected?

My first goal for the sheriff’s office is to return a team spirit among the employees.  Another goal is to restore the community’s trust in their sheriff’s office. 

Your age, occupation, family information, website, years in the area, civic involvement and organizations you’re associated with:

I am 40 years old, and have served as a detective and deputy coroner for approximately six years.  I have worked for the sheriff’s office since 1999, initially as a reserve deputy, a detention officer and in 2000 I began as a patrol deputy.  My wife, Suzi, and I have 5 children and have lived and owned our own business in Pablo for 13 years.  I am an active member in my church and have served as an assistant Scoutmaster with Boy Scouts of America, Foster Care Review team member and FICMR team member. I was previously president of Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and I am currently a member of the Montana Sheriff’s and Peace Officers Association.

Jay Doyle,

Republican

What is the main reason you are running for sheriff this year?

The main reason I decided to run for sheriff is that I believe that with the years of experience and training that I have received through the years, I am the most qualified. I have developed a one, five and 10-year management plan that will assist in providing direction and leadership for the employees along with getting citizens involved with the sheriff’s office.

Name the top three reasons why residents should vote for you.

I believe that getting input from the citizens is essential to providing the quality services that they expect and deserve. Since I started my career in law enforcement in 1988, I have always tried to do the best I could in what ever position I held. This will continue if the citizens vote me in as their sheriff. I have also tried to follow a simple rule, treat others as you would like them to treat you. Whether I am making an arrest or consoling someone that has just lost a loved one, I try to treat them with respect and dignity.

What are your top two goals if elected?

The top two goals I have if elected will be  re-establish the patrol zones which will include mandatory patrol zones in the rural areas and to improve communications with staff and the citizens. 

What is the biggest issue facing the department?

I think the biggest challenge facing the incoming Sheriff will be getting the employees to trust one another once again and to get the “team concept” back. We, as public servants, need to remember who we work for. The better we work together, the better service we can provide to the community.

Your age, occupation, family information, website, years in the area, civic involvement and organizations you’re associated with:

46 years of age, married with two children and one grandchild. I was born in Polson, Mont. and raised in the Mission Valley. 

Steve Kendley, Independent

What is the main reason you are running for sheriff this year?

I decided to run for sheriff to offer Lake County a trustworthy sheriff that is willing to work hard for the public, uphold the law, and protect all Lake County citizens.

Name the top three reasons why residents should vote for you.

First, I want the public to know that as sheriff, I and all sheriff’s office employees will be held to the highest ethical standards. Next, I am committed to have an “open door policy” to improve communication. This means I will always be accessible and fully accountable to the public I serve. Another reason is that I will strive to continually improve service to the public through communication, utilizing citizen input into such areas as hiring, ethics review, and feedback surveys stemming from contact with the sheriff’s office. Citizens in this county are going to see that the office is changing its attitude to that of being “the citizen’s office.”

What are your top two goals if elected?

The goals I have are to build a great team at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, to provide the best service and protection to the public, while prudently using your tax dollars.

It is also my goal to create an atmosphere that attracts the best in people, making the Lake County Sheriff’s Office the standard that other offices in the state and country want to emulate, and that the finest employees will be attracted to.

What is the biggest issue facing the department?

The biggest issue is regaining the public’s trust. Allegations of poor behavior and even criminal behavior by a small number of Lake County Sheriff’s Office employees are being investigated. The investigations need to be completed and appropriate consequences must be given if substantiated.  This has eroded the public’s confidence and needs to be openly, honestly and completely resolved.

Your age, occupation, family information, website, years in the area, civic involvement and organizations you’re associated with:

I am 52 years of age. I have worked patrol, worked as a School Resource Officer to three school districts, served as the Reserve Deputy Coordinator, the SRT Observer/Sniper Team Leader and currently serve as a Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detective.

I have extensive work experience not limited to law enforcement. I began working in earnest at age 11. I have traveled around the world. I entered the US Marine Corps when I was 20.  I have worked as a farmer, laborer and professional, including working for a defense contractor for several years. I served as a Youth Court officer serving Lake and Sanders Counties for many years. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Montana and became a FAA licensed airframe and powerplant aircraft mechanic.

I have been married to one woman, my best friend, Mary, for 26 years and our daughter is a fifth generation Montanan. My family has lived here in Lake County  for 33 years.

Some of the civic involvement and organizations I belong to are as follows:

Member and trustee of the First Baptist Church of Polson; member Gideons International; member of Oath Keepers; life member of the National Rifle Association since 1992; life member of the Second Amendment Foundation; I am a member of and the only Lake County Sheriff’s candidate endorsed by the Montana Shooting Sports Association.

I am proud to be endorsed by former Lake County Republican Sheriff’s candidates Art Walgren, Jeff Kingery and former Representative Rick Jore.

I sincerely hope that citizens will visit my website to gain more information about me. This site has over ninety guest book comments and has had over 180,000 visits. www.sheriffkendley.com  

I earnestly ask for your vote, Nov. 2.

House District 11

Janna Taylor, Republican

What is the main reason you are running for HD 11 this year?

It is an honor to work for the citizens of House District 11. I would like to see better jobs for our young people so we don’t continue to lose 1,500 children in K-12 per year in our state.

Name the top three reasons why residents should vote for you.

1. I understand the complicated state budgeting system. I have served on House Appropriations, Taxation, Agriculture and Transportation Committees. Currently, I am a member of the Legislative Finance Committee. We deal with all the fiscal issues. The budget shortfall is projected to be $368 million. We will have to limit government services somewhere. 

2. I am working with holdover senators on property tax reform bills as well as tort reform and other problems. One bill draft requires the Montana driver’s license test to be given only in English instead of the current five languages.

3. As in every session, I will work to keep our environment and our lake clean.

What are your top two goals if elected?

Less government, less taxes and more personal freedom. And I promise to continue to keep everyone informed through my website, radio and newspaper articles.

What is the biggest issue facing our area?

The biggest issue is the economy, but we can’t overlook property taxes, our environment and the effect of budget cuts on services.

Your age, occupation, family information, website, years in the area, civic involvement and organizations you’re associated with:

My family bought a ranch in the Proctor area in 1981. We now live in the Rollins area. I am still involved with the business end of agriculture, but semi-retired. That allows me to devote more time to legislative concerns. I am a member of the Dayton Presbyterian Church, Polson Soroptimists, PEO, Rollins Women’s Club and I volunteer in one of the back offices at our local hospital.

I never forget that I work for you. Contact me at 849-6096 or email jannataylor@montana.com.

Cheryl Wolfe, Green

What is the main reason you are running for HD 11 this year?

Our government is dominated by money and short-sighted corporate politics. I want to see more focus on the way we can work together for our common benefit.

Name the top three reasons why residents should vote for you.

We can start right now on our path to energy independence if we join together with the will to do it. We can create clean, long-term, high-paying jobs for our Montana families, preserve safety and ease for our elders and a bright educated future for our kids, while protecting the natural beauty of our unique and priceless wild and wide-open spaces.  Why would we aspire to be North Dakota or Wyoming? Instead we can be the first state in the U.S. to achieve energy independence, and the prosperity that would bring, while preserving our sparkling waters and fresh clean air.  If Germany can make the progress they have made, last year manufacturing half the photovoltaics in the entire world, if dirt-poor rural people in Bangladesh can work together to hire 110,000 women to install, service and maintain solar panels in their area, there is nothing that can stop us from doing even more if we choose.  Why are we stuck at the back of the line, as part of the herd, looking to the past for answers? Should we try the same old thing hoping for better results? Why should we destroy our lands or be beggars with our hat in our hands kissing up to the Saudis or spending the blood of our kids for oil? No!  We deserve a lot better. We can do this and you can make it happen starting with your vote.  Then call me and let’s pull our human capital in together, to get this started as we should have done years ago. We have ingenuity, we have guts, we have grit, we can do it. Let’s stop tearing each other down and start building the new green economy up.

What are your top two goals if elected?

A well-paid job for each person who  is able to work, and everyone in Western Montana to have their power bills cut in half over the next 10 years.

What is the biggest issue facing our area?

Lack of a plan. The jobs aren’t coming back by themselves any time soon. We can either wait or choose to make things happen.

Your age, occupation, family information, website, years in the area, civic involvement and organizations you’re associated with:

I am 46, a certified public accountant, I have a husband and three kids, have lived in Polson since 1996, and volunteer for the Flathead Reservation Human Rights Coalition.  Please visit my website at www.votecherylwolfe.org or call me at 406-270-7554 for more information.

House District 12

John Fleming, Democrat

What is the main reason you are running for HD 12 this year?

I am running for reelection to continue the work I started in the 2009 session.  The Montana Legislature sorely needs continuity and the relationship building between legislators to overcome the partisanship that is alwaysclose to the surface and gets in the way of reaching good solutions to the problems and needs of the state.

Name the top three reasons why residents should vote for you?

1. My experience gained in the 2009 session and the relationships I built and maintained on both sides of the aisle will be put to good use for my constituents.

2. My lifelong residence in Lake County and broad life experiences will continue to help me in representing all my constituents. I am a lifelong educator, father and husband, farmer/rancher, Vietnam veteran, and have served one term in the Montana House of Representatives. This covers a broad and diverse area of expertise and experience.

3. I am a good listener and will act on the ideas and wishes of the people of Lake County.

 What are your top two goals if elected? What is the biggest issue facing our area?

I feel that these two questions can be answered together. The biggest issue facing our area and the state of Montana is the economy and jobs for Montanans. Like any household, we must balance the state’s budget by making tough choices and do everything possible to assist in the development of jobs by assisting small businesses.

My goal will be to view each and every legislative action from the vantage point of impact on small business and job creation.  Homeowners and small businesses must be protected from any tax increases. Oversight continues to be a necessity protecting consumers. Nevertheless, I will continue to look critically at unnecessarily burdensome and delayed paperwork. Often these licensing procedures can mean the difference between a successful business venture and failure. Montana continues to be the last best place and place that must be able to provide jobs for our citizens and their children.

It is impossible to choose one issue as the “biggest” facing this area. House District 12 encompasses an unusually diverse set of circumstances and people. Farmers and ranchers are not comfortable with the methods used to appraise agriculture land for property taxes.  Homeowner appraisals remain a troublesome issue and will be the subject of a “look back” provision of the Appraisal Mitigation bill. The Water Compact being hammered out by the Tribes and the State is critical and potentially a financial disaster if each water right on the reservation must be adjudicated individually.

Education faces a critical decision by the legislature in replacing the ARRA money used to reach present funding levels. Aging services face a deep cut unless the Legislature can find replacement money for 20 percent of its present budget also funded in 2009 by ARRA (Federal Stimulus) money.  The “boomer” generation is reaching retirement age and will begin to create financial pressure for these services. The revising the Medical Marijuana Act to meet its original intent without the abuses we presently see must and will be accomplished.

Your age, occupation, family information, website, years in the area, civic involvement and organizations you’re associated with:

Born Nov. 12, 1946 in Polson, I am a lifelong resident of the Mission Valley and an educator/rancher and married to my wife Lydia for 36 years and we have three grown sons. I have been an educator at St. Ignatius Schools for 36 years. I graduated from Ronan High School, earned a BA in Business from Carroll College and a M. Ed at the University of Montana. I served as the representative for HD 12 during the 2009 session. I served in the U.S. Army and am a Vietnam veteran. I serve on the St. Ignatius Rural Fire Board, the Lake County Planning Board and coached many years of Lake County youth sports. Please visit my website, www.johnfleminghd12.org.

Dan Salomon, Republican

What is the main reason you are running for HD 12 this year?

The main reason I am running for state representative in HD No. 12 is to give the voters a choice in representation. After reviewing the incumbent’s voting record on some important issues, I felt compelled to file for this seat. I am offering a conservative voice that believes in smaller government, fewer taxes, protecting property rights, and I will work to improve the business climate in Montana.

Name the top three reasons why residents should vote for you. What are your top two goals if elected? What is the biggest issue facing our area?

I feel all three of these questions could be answered together. The issues facing the citizens of Montana are intertwined with my goals and reasons for running in this election.

Our state is facing challenging times. However, I know that if we work together we can find common sense solutions that will make us all safer, stronger and more prosperous. As a representative, I would advocate by working to re-prioritizing state spending to ensure a structurally sound budget, promoting a favorable business climate, protecting property rights, promoting quality education for our children, protecting the rights of Montanans to own guns, and advocating for responsible development of natural resources in Montana. Currently it is being advertised that presently the state budget is running in the black. The Legislative Fiscal Division is predicting that by the end of the budget year Montana will be in the red by approximately $368 million *(http://www.leg.mt.gov/css/fiscal/default.asp).

Getting the structurally unbalanced state budget in order is of the utmost importance in the coming session. By law it HAS to be balanced, so a solution to the current overspending has to be found. We must live within our means without raising taxes which means re-prioritizing state spending. Montana State government has expanded by over 1,000 jobs in the last six years. I believe that state agencies should justify every dollar spent on a biennium basis. Currently some state budgets are built upon the previous biennium’s amounts. I think a new budget request should start from a zero dollar beginning and be justified from there, not start from where the last biennium finished. Until the state’s economy improves, state revenues will continue to lag.

Jobs are the biggest issue facing Montana people right now. Promoting job growth requires a more favorable business climate. We need to reduce the Business Equipment Tax and reform Worker’s Compensation. At this time, Montana’s small businesses struggle with Workman’s Compensation rates that are the second highest in the nation. We need to empower individuals and small business owners. As we all know, our state is a great place to live but we also need to be able to make a living. It is important that we provide job opportunities that will keep our children and their families here in our own state.

Another issue that I feel strongly about is our students and their right to a quality public education. Our children are our future and their personal chances for success rise significantly with a high standard education. I have been involved as a school board trustee for 13 years. This involved budgets, curriculum, policies and procedures, personnel and facilities. I have been on the negotiation committee for a dozen years. All of these things give me a very diverse understanding of how education works in Montana. We cannot continue to put funding for education as the last item on the legislative agenda. Our children need to be put in the forefront.

Sustainable and environmentally responsible development of our natural resources is a key element to our economic growth. Montana was built on natural resource development and agriculture and we need to get back to that. Montana has huge potential in not only coal, oil, and gas development, but wind, solar, and bio-mass production. We need to stop the automatic litigation and overlapping regulations that bind up natural resource usage. Montana has already lost most of its forest products industry, and a high level of economic development along with it. I want to make sure that this same type of devastation doesn’t happen to our natural resource development and agriculture.

Your age, occupation, family information, website, years in the area, civic involvement and organizations you’re associated with:

Lifetime resident of the Mission Valley; graduated from Ronan High School; BS, Montana State University; partner, Salomon Dairy; married to wife Janey for 30 years; three daughters: two at Montana colleges, one a senior at RHS; former member, local and state dairy organizations; former member, Ronan School Board; member, Ronan Fire Board; member, Lake County Weed Board; member, Mission Valley FFA Alumni Chapter; former farm credit service director; radio broadcaster for local high school football and basketball games.