Choosing Azzopardi over "Rubberstamp" Reksten

It is difficult to write a letter in support of Shirley Azzopardi for House District 13 without comparing her to her opponent, the incumbent Linda Reksten. While Shirley advocates for the State Legislature to adjust tax rates to lower our property taxes, the Republican Supermajority and Linda Reksten wring their hands and blame the local governments for the tax increases that they promised to reduce during their campaigns.

Health care rights? While Shirley will work for Montanans’ right to privacy in making decisions concerning their bodies with their medical providers, the Republican Supermajority and her opponent feel that they know better. They want to tell us what we should do and what they will allow us to do, regardless of our medical needs, desires or religious beliefs. Witness the exodus of OB GYN physicians (and their families) from Idaho to see how that is working out.

How about education? Shirley has been a hands-on local educator for around 30 years, giving her a pretty solid perspective on the support and educational needs of our children. Her opponent is a former public-school superintendent – an upper-level manager if you will. You would think she would champion public schools. Instead, and yet again, she rubber-stamped the Republican Supermajority’s attempts to fund private charter schools with our tax dollars. How does that help our kids?

I am sure that at one time Reksten was an independently minded and respectable conservative. She left that mantle long ago and can now just be viewed as Rubberstamp Reksten. Shirley Azzopardi has her own voice and my vote. Vote with me for Shirley Azzopardi for House District 13.

– Joe Browning

Polson