Lake County Municipal Candidate Surveys
Candidates for Lake County municipal seats were given the opportunity to introduce themselves to you, their constituents, before the Nov. 8 election.
Each were asked a series of questions:
- Why are you running for a seat on your local city commission?
- What do you hope to accomplish if you are elected?
- What is your previous experience with local government?
- What do you feel is the key element to having an effective local government?
Polson
Todd Erickson - Ward 1, 2-year term
I have lived in Polson since 1995. I followed my parents back to Montana where I started, operated and closed a local outdoor retail store. I met and married my wife in Polson and we are raising our two wonderful boys in one of the last best places, in the last best place. We appreciate and enjoy our school system and our local church community, which are all part of Ward 1. My current job with the state of Montana has allowed me to serve and stay in contact with the downtown and Lake County business community. I am interested in serving on the city commission and representing this ward because I think that I could make a positive difference in the growth and sustainability of our community.
I would like to assist in the continuation of a diverse, positive and long-term future of community growth. I have seen some good things happening here in the past five years, things that have long been dreamed and talked about, and want to help keep the momentum on track.
I served on the Polson Redevelopment Agency. I currently serve on the City/County Planning Board and am currently the appointed commissioner for Ward 1.
The key to an effective local government is openness to constructive and informed citizen participation with a continued working partnership with the excellent city staff.
Rory Horning - Ward 1, 2-year term
I am a real estate broker with Edgewater Realty. I was raised on the island of Oahu, Hawaii and in Las Vegas, Nev. I have been living, volunteering and working in and around Polson and Lake County for the past 13 years.
I have chosen to stand for a seat on the Polson City Commission because I believe that living in the only county seat located on the shores of the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River should have certain benefits for its citizens beyond the usual clean water and air. I feel that a strong community that provides opportunities for all of its citizens, lessening the ability for crime, poverty or prejudice to prosper. I believe that these same opportunities allow local families to grow and enjoy all the beauty and resources available in our valley. Polson being the county seat should be a shining example as to what the rest of the valley holds for both our residents and visitors. I hope to assist the staff of the municipality to be able to provide quality services to the people of Polson without continually raising taxes and rates.
I have 10 years of elected service in Hawaii, serving a community of approximately 45,000 residents. Our legislated charge was to represent our constituents with city; county; state; federal; military entities and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the equivalent of the CSKT tribal council.
The key element to effective local government is the same at all levels of government: Government must be open; accessible and welcoming to its citizens. It must provide services equally and economically. It must strive to assist its citizens in attaining a quality, peaceful, enjoyable and productive life.
John Campbell - Ward 1, 4-year term
My name is John Campbell. I am currently a commissioner and would like to continue to serve Polson. I moved to Polson in 1975 from Buena Park, Calif. I went to work for the city of Polson in 1976 and retired as its water and wastewater superintendent in 2002.
I have been on the commission for almost two years now and have found that my experience and history with Polson and its infrastructure have helped the commission make more informed decisions. I would also like to continue to help provide the environment for job growth.
If elected, I would hope to continue to keep the cost of city government down. I think the taxpayers have reached their limits. With the elimination of the library fund, we have been able to keep the medical mill levy down and build small reserves in the street and fire departments.
I was employed by the city of Polson for 26 years and continue to hold a class 1 water and wastewater certification. I was a volunteer firefighter for 23 years and retired as a captain in 1999. I now volunteer for the Lake County Conservation District and the City-County Planning Board.
Listening to the people and listening to the employees are key elements to effective local government. The commission’s role is limited in a city manager form of government. My approach has been to read everything you can on both sides then listen to comments before making up my mind. Comments are always welcome.
Joslyn C. Shackelford - Ward 1, 4-years
My husband, Mark W. Shackelford, and I own and operate Alpine Landscape and Design, LLC which is a full install landscape company in Polson. My schooling background is an undergraduate degree from Montana State University where I graduated with a Bachelor’s in the Science of Horticulture and a emphasis in Landscape Design. I grew up in Missoula and spent the weekends with my family here in Polson, which I came to love over my childhood years. After graduating from MSU in 2006, Mark and I decided to move to Polson and start a landscaping company here in the valley. We are very proud to call Polson our “home” and are excited to see what our future holds here in our great community.
Our community has a wonderful opportunity to be successful and to continue to be a place people want to live and raise a family. In order to keep the city of Polson heading in a positive direction, we need an acceptable approach with an open mindset. It has always been a goal of mine to look at an item from all angles and see what the positives and negatives are. Being a voice for my ward, I will listen to what my neighborhood’s wants and needs are and how items will effect them as a whole. If my campaign is successful for city council I will help guide Polson in the direction it needs to grow and to always be a community all generations will be proud to call home.
If elected I hope to communicate effectively from city council to my ward and from my ward to city council. To enhance and grow the small business community and to strengthen our current amenities such as city parks and recreation.
My previous experience with local government has been through volunteer committees working with the city of Polson and its city officials upon the Polson Main Street Project. I have been actively volunteering hours for the planing, fund raising and logistics of the Main Street Project since 2009. Seeing how five blocks of a city street can be torn up and redone in six months has been a great experience with the local government on how a project is completed step by step from all parties within the city and private parties working with the city.
The key element is having proper communication. Communication is usually the error in most discussions or conflicts. Without the proper communication whether it be from a city council meeting, an individual, a private entity or the city, all levels of communication and documentation need to be clear and available. Once communication is present, most projects or discussions carry out in a proper manner and most parties are satisfied.
Murat Kalinyaprak - Ward 2, 4-years
When we moved to Polson 20 years ago, it was “love at first sight” and I never saw Polson as an investment opportunity that could become the next Big Fork or Lake Tahoe. Previously I lived in many unique places like Istanbul, Paris, Los Angeles and Seattle but nowhere else for as long. I also made a living in Polson for 20 years, as an all-around computer professional and owning my business as “Computerman”. Most of my customers eventually became my close friends and I never had a better reasons to call a place “home”. I am willing to contribute whatever I can to keep Polson the “home” that it is for all the people who love it for what it was and live it for what it still is.
After years of participating in city government as an informed citizen, it is time to put my experience to use as city commissioner. Municipalities exist to provide their citizens affordable water and sewer utilities, fire and police protection, street maintenance, parks and other public recreations. I want to help Polson Government focus and perform better on these essential responsibilities.
I will make educated and informed decisions in overseeing Polson’s complex budget and personnel matters. I have considerable training and experience as a business systems analyst. I can contribute to a more efficient coexistence and cooperation between elected officials and hired employees.
For years I have researched and informed the city commission on issues important for Polson citizens, including the adoption of current form of government, attempted purchase of several real properties, forever declining membership and operating revenues of the public golf course, etc. and I was able to effect positive results.
The key element is transparency and respect for citizens’ rights. Democracy is being ruled by consent and our constitution exists to protect citizens from government oppression. We should always remember that city employees are subordinate to elected representatives, elected representatives are in turn subordinate to tax paying, voting citizens.
Cheryl Wolfe - Ward 3, 4-year term
My closest kin are Irish people who settled to farm in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Some migrated to Montana. As a child I traveled all over the Western half of the United States, and my husband and I moved to Montana in 1996 to be close to family. We have three children, including one who is still a student in Polson schools.
After several years in the resort area business, I went back to school and graduated with a BA in accounting from Western State College of Colorado in 1995. I passed the CPA exam, which included sections on accounting, auditing, tax and business law, and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1998.
I’ve had an opportunity to become familiar with the challenges and aspirations of people in Polson through work with the budgets and financials of many different individuals, and small and large businesses of all types. I’ve completed 40 hours of continuing education each year for the past 13 years. Polson has been a wonderful place to live and raise children and I would like to give back in service to my community by representing my fellow citizens.
Securing the infrastructure for adequate water supply for the future, prioritize fixing the streets, keeping taxes down and ensuring fairness in access to our public structures and services.
Recently joined Polson’s Board of Adjustments. 2003 –Design, setup, testing and implementation of accounting system for $5 million workforce investment act grant through the State of New Mexico Department of Labor. From 1992-1994, as chair of budget committee, supervised control and implementation of $500,000. student fees budget at WSC of Colorado.
Communication and transparency are key.
Ronan
Ellen Kaphammer - Ward 1, 4-year term
I have lived in the Mission valley most of my life, and have been in the Ronan area for over 38 years. My husband Karl and I have lived in our home on 3rd Ave S.E. for the past 17 years. We enjoy living in town. I am curently a nursing student at Salish Kootenai College. I worked at Plum Creek in Pablo for 21 years before attending college. All four of our children attended school in Ronan and we currently have grandchildren in the Ronan SchoolDistrict. My husband Karl works at Collision Service in Ronan.
I care about the city of Ronan and I feel it is important for citizens to be involved in the city government.
I would like the new water project to go smoothly and I would like to see the city be able to tie in storm water drainage and street improvments with the highway project. I also would like to see business growth in Ronan.
I was appointed to the city council in February 2010 and this has been my only experience with local government.
Effective communication between local government and the community and also between the community and local government.
Micheal Bartel - Ward 2, 4-year term
About me: I am 30 years old. I was born in Ronan and have lived here all my life, except for the six-plus years that I served in the United States Army. I currently own my own business called Morning Star Learning Center and Child Care, a group day care facility.
Why I am running: I feel that there are many areas that require attention and or change within our city goverment. I believe that I have a good view of these areas. I have listened to many different ideas and feelings on these subjects and have great ideas to improve the city government and wish to have the chance to do so.
What do I hope to accomplish: I hope that if elected, in my time I can improve the city through its ordinances, budget issues and daily operations. I hope through these changes it will give the citizens of Ronan even more pride then they allready have in their town and proud to call this their home.
My previous experience: I have no previous experience in local government. I am, however, doing what I can, if elected, to not go into this position blind. I have been attending city council meetings to gather knowledge on how the city government operates and learn the current issues that it faces. I also am trying to use this time at the meetings to voice ideas and hopefull changes.
What do I feel is the key element to effective local government: I believe that the key to an effective local government is that the individuals that are elected to represent the citizens listen to the citizen’s opinions, wants and needs and work together to make these ideas happen.
Scott Carey - Ward 3, 2-year term
My name is Scott Carey, I am a candidate for Ronan City Council. I was raised here in Ronan and left shortly after graduating from high school to join the U.S. Navy. I returned with my family in 1999 to help care for my mom who was ill. I have worked at Jore Corporation since May of 1999 as a technician. I have three sons in school here. Dylan, my oldest, is attending SKC; Montana is a senior at Ronan High School and my youngest, Elijah, is in eighth grade here in Ronan. I am married to the former Miss Sandy Tryon. Through her, I also have two wonderful adult step-children; Autumn, who has a son Caleb, and Adam. They both live in Polson.
The reason I have become a candidate for the city council is I want to, “Put my money where my mouth is.” I don’t feel a person has a right to complain about how our city is run unless they are willing to be involved. This started because of an issue in my neighborhood regarding storm sewer drainage that I was unhappy with.
I would hope if nothing else to at least be able to keep people better informed of what was going on in the city government. I get worried when I read articles from the meetings and there seems to be a lot of “the city attorney must/was consulted, etc…” It kind of makes me wonder what is going on. I would also like to see some of the municipal departments improve their customer service. I get the feeling sometimes that there are city employees that forget they are working for the citizens of the city. I think it’s more of an issue of perception, rather than actual fact.
I have no actual experience in local government, but feel a fresh approach might benefit the community.
I once again feel like open, honest communication is the key to effective government, not just local government, but all government. Thank you for considering me for election to the city council.
St. Ignatius
There are four candidates on the ballot for St. Ignatius Town Council: Raymond Frey, Marine Johnson, Roger D. Lemon and John Wayne Mitchell. The top two will earn four-year positions on the board, which is made up of four seats, alternating voting years.
Marine Johnson
My name is Marine Johnson and I have lived in St. Ignatius for 17 years. Originally from Boise, my dad was career Navy so I grew up all over the country and abroad, never staying in one place for more than a year or two. I learned a lot about the world and gained invaluable life experiences, but I was never able to establish roots anywhere — that is until I came here.
I understand that for a fair number of you, 17 years may not seem like that long. But for me, it’s a lifetime. This is my home.
I have worked as the auction administrator for Allard Auctions here in Mission for the last 13 years, am the proud single mother of two bright, talented, good-looking, popular, etc. (why wouldn’t they be?!) Mission High School students, and I manage my own rental properties. Beyond that, I am a community volunteer and advocate for parks and outdoor recreation opportunities such as girls softball.
Why am I running? I have been on the St. Ignatius Town Council for five years and I don’t feel my time is up. My presence on the council provides balance and oftentimes a different perspective of the issues, which is important in a small community such as ours.
What do I hope to accomplish? I would like to continue establishing and growing the council’s relationships with the various local and regional entities and the community as a whole through communication and cooperation.
What is my previous experience? I have served on the St. Ignatius Town Council since April of 2006 and have been involved with the parks board since May of the same year.
What is the key element to an effective local government? To be effective, it’s important for the local governing body to have a positive rapport with the public and with other entities. We need to realize and remember that we are not an island unto ourselves. In order to govern, we need the support and cooperation of our constituents. And rather than duplicating efforts, the governing body should keep apprised of what is going in the area, identifying opportunities to partner with local and regional agencies and organizations.
John Mitchell
I’m running for city council because I feel that it would be a benefit to have a new outlook, and perspective on things, and for the the needs of the people of St. Ignatius to be heard. I was born and raised here and think that a person that is from here can better serve the people that live here.
If elected, I hope to hold everyone in city council accountable for their actions, and for the city’s budget. I also hope to make better benefits available to the City’s employees.
I am a part-time police officer for the City of Ronan as well as being vice president of the Ronan Police Association. I have also run my own janitorial service for 15-plus years, and I feel that because of these things I am qualified for the position I am running for.
I feel a key element in having an effective local government is to have a city government that works effectively together, and to have a city government that will get more people involved in the city council as well as listening to the needs of the people that put them in their positions/offices.
Ballots were mailed on Oct. 14 and are due to the Election Office by Nov. 8.