Flathead district adds two new board members with different voices

The pro-compact push won another key supporter with the election of Paul Guenzler to the Flathead Irrigation District board’s District 3 seat. Bruce White won the District 5 race.

Guenzler unseated Bryan Bohn, an incumbent who wants changes to the compact and water agreement before he would support it. (See related story.)

“I hope the voters believe in my knowledge of being a rancher,” said Guenzler, who works more than 1,400 acres. “We need to work on (the compact). It’s got some good parts and we need it to happen.”

He said the long process was “thoughtful” and fair.

“Both sides had to give some and no matter what…somebody has to give up things in a negotiation,” he said. “That’s how life and business goes.”

He said the tribe and non-tribal irrigators have to get along for the benefit of both.

“I believe (tribal members) are good neighbors,” he said. “If we win, they win.”

He said the compact guarantees more than $100 million in state and federal funding to repair and upgrade the Flathead Water Project.

“Us ranchers can’t afford that kind of money,” he said. “That would shut us down.”

In the Jocko district, John Trimble held off Roger Christopher. In the Mission district, voters selected Gene Posivio to fill the seat recently vacated with a recall election led by irrigators who do not support the compact as written.