Friday Havre 75¢ October 14, 2016 Saturday's weather 60° DAILY NEWS 44° Partly cloudy/windy Three battle for Hill County commissioner spot Complete forecast / A2 Paul Dragu putting a mill levy on the ballot,” [email protected] McLean said. It would essentially be the voters’ Ted Solomon, Diane McLean and decision to vote for the mill levy, not James Bedwell each want to be a Hill hers, she added. County commissioner for the next four “If the county could not raise those years. Thursday night they took part in taxes, there would have to be things a candidate forum in the Hensler trimmed,” she said. Auditorium in Montana State Bedwell took the business approach. University-Northern. “Try to bring in business to the com- The three county commissioner can- munity. Try to give them incentives to didates answered questions about the come, even if you need to give them a ALUMNI DUAL budget, how best to promote business little incentive like deferred taxes or and what they saw as issues facing Hill something,” he said. “We need to bring ON SATURDAY County during the candidate forum. businesses back into Hill County. It will The first question was: “In the last help with the tax structure.” Page A6 couple of decades, Hill County has seen It is important to identify and build a sharp decline in some sources of on existing assets like Beaver Creek money, income — for example natural Park, Fresno Reservoir, historic down- gas, revenue has dropped off signifi- town Havre, “anything that can draw cantly. If you were elected to the com- businesses,” Bedwell said. Candidates mission and the commission ended up He said he believes the county can facing a budget shortfall, how would raise money without raising taxes. you want the county to do deal with The second question was: “Should the speak in that?” county be taking more action in trying Solomon, who touted his business to attract more people and businesses Havre Daily News/Teresa Getten and ranching experience throughout to move here, and if so, what should it Hill County Commission candidates Ted Solomon, independent, from left, Havre Forum the evening, said it was important to be doing?” Diane McLean, Republican, and Jim Bedwell, Democrat, smile Thursday dur- live within the budget. He said farming McLean said it should and the coun- Tim Leeds ing an interchange in the candidate forum held in Hensler Auditorium in and ranching tax revenue has dropped ty could start by upgrading the web- Montana State University-Northern’s Applied Technology Center. [email protected] as wheat and cattle prices have site. decreased greatly. “Unlike my generation, who doesn’t Several candidates in local state leg- If things get tight, the county has to naturally gravitate to the internet, natural resources that attract hunting lift” and the roads and sidewalks should islator races were stumping in Havre start trimming, he said, adding that younger people do … if they want to and fishing, proximity to the moun- be fixed to “make the town presentable.” Thursday in a candidate forum giving a taxes must not be increased. know something about your county, tains, Beaver Creek — and it should be “Look into expanding the Wild Horse solo presentation to the audience. McLean said the county is mandat- they might look you up on their smart- done better, she said Port to 24 hours,” he also said. “Try to State Rep. Bruce Meyers, R-Box ed to balance its budget each year, phone, instead of looking in your phone Bewell emphasized the city’s tap into that Canadian tourism.” Elder, Democrat Douglas Adolphson of adding that under state law, “The only book, or calling your office,” she said. appearance and infrastructure. Glasgow, and Republican Jim O’Hara way to increase county funding is by Hill County has a lot to promote — He said First Street needed a ”face- ■ See County Comission Page A2 of Fort Benton attended the forum while their opponents were absent. Former state Sen. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, who is facing Meyers in the race for Senate District 16, Democrat Hess, Bachmeier square off in candidate forum Ryan Rominger of Floweree, who is facing O’Hara in the race for the seat Alex Ross Bachmeier, engaged in a public debate the seat in House District 28, which com- resources. in House District 27 and Republican [email protected] Thursday night during a campaign prises the city of Havre. The candidates agreed that more Casey Knudsen of Malta, who is run- forum in Hensler Auditorium in Montana It was the only one of five area legis- should be done to attract business to the ning for the seat in House District 33, With 26 days remaining until Election State University-Northern’s Applied lative races for which both candidates state. Bachmeier said it was crucial to told the Havre Daily News they would Day, state Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, Technology Center . showed up. Other candidates in atten- keep Colstrip open and protect the coal be unable to attend due to conflicts. and her Democratic challenger, Jacob The two candidates are running for dance were offered the chance to make industry. However, he said, the state The Havre Daily offered to read to the a five-minute statement introducing should also work to encourage the devel- audience statements sent by the absent themselves and explaining their plat- opment of solar and wind power. candidates, but had not received any forms. Hess said that further development of from them by the time the forum start- But the highlight of the night was the the state’s natural resources is the key ed. 18-minute long debate between Hess and and that the state's business equipment Democrat Bruce Finley of North Bachmeier. tax should be repealed. Havre, who is facing Knudsen in the Both candidates were asked ques- The use of tax credits for private was race for HD 33, declined both to attend tions and each allotted two minutes to a topic on which the candidates differed and to provide a statement. respond. sharply. Hess said she backs the use of State Rep. Mike Lang, R-Malta, who The first questions asked was what state tax credits for private schools. is facing Adolphson in the race for SD the candidates would do to promote Hess said tax credits are used for a 17, told the Havre Daily Tuesday he higher wage jobs in the state. variety of things. She said that credits would attend the forum but did not Bachmeier said the key to encourag- are not public money until they are sent show up for the event. ing wage growth is to keep taxes low on into the state as taxes. The first candidate to make a pre- small and medium-sized businesses. He “I think it’s your money,” she said. sentation to the audience was freshman said there also needs to be a focus on “So I have no problem with tax credits legislator Meyers, who is forgoing a run creating a living wage, adding that for private schools.” for a second term in his House seat to everyone who works for a living should Bachmeier said such a tax credit try for the Senate. have an opportunity to afford the basic would have little benefit for someone in He said he often tells people that an necessities. a family the size of his, with six children. American Indian running as a Hess said that high-wage jobs would Credits would do little to put him and his Republican is about as common as a come when government gets out of the siblings through private schools, he said. white elephant. way. He said such credits would siphon off Despite being told from his child- “The government needs to get off the money from public schools, which Havre Daily News/Teresa Getten hood on that Democrats are the party backs of our small businesses. They are Bachmeier called “the great equalizer”. Rep. Stephenie Hess, R-Havre, answers a question as Democrat Jacob for Natives, Meyers said, he has found overtaxed, overregulated and overbur- Bachmeier said Hess received low that the Republicans better match the Bachmeier of Havre listens Thursday during a candidate forum in Hensler dened, and we need to get out of the marks from state education groups. ideals of most American Indians. Auditorium in Montana State University-Northern’s Applied Technology way,” she said. When asked about transferring con- Meyers said he thinks Havre is right Center. Bachmeier is challenging Hess in her bid for a second term represent- Hess said there needs to be more trol of federal land to the state, Hess in the center of an area with huge ing House District 28, the legislative district comprising the city of Havre. development of the state’s natural ■ See Square off Page A2 ■ See Forum Page A2 Inside today’s Lang, Adolphson face off in race for Senate District 17 Havre Daily News Lang shoots for move to Senate Adolphson runs in first election Community A3 Alex Ross Alex Ross Opinion A4 [email protected] [email protected] Obituaries A5 He has served two terms in the Lang goes up Douglas Brenden, R-Scobey, who is unable to Record A5 Montana House of Representatives, against Democrat Adolphson, a seek re-election because of term lim- Sports A6-A7 but this year state Douglas plumber and its. Hi-Line Living B1 Rep. Mike Lang, Adolphson, a motel owner from Adolphson said R-Malta is making plumber and Glasgow, is mak- he decided to make Society B2 a bid fo state Senate motel owner from ing a bid for the a run for the A&E B3 District 17.