County Commissioner write-in candidate: Jerry Okonski

(Editor’s Note: In an effort to provide readers with an unbiased election package, The Western News sent five questions to Lincoln County Commissioner District 1 candidates Anthony Berget (on ballot) and Jerry Okonski (write-in). Each candidate was given guidelines on length and answers are in their own words.)

1. Why do you think you are the best-qualified candidate?

I have an extensive education and business background that fits very well with the needs of Lincoln County. I have good analytical skills. I am known as a persistent, hard-working and a solution-oriented person.

Regardless of political persuasion, the citizens who have known me over the last 33 years know me for my integrity. They know I will be an honest public servant. Beware, I like people!

2. Do you support the proposed wilderness areas in Lincoln County?

If you are referring to the Roderick Butte area and Scotchman Peaks (a portion of which is in Lincoln County), both have been de facto wilderness since 1964. There is no reason that they won’t remain in that status for 44 more years.

If you are referring to other roadless areas on the Kootenai National Forest, then I think each one must be re-evaluated with respect to catastrophic fire and insect infestation risk they may present to valuable, adjacent working forest areas.

Some of these roadless areas do not comply with the definition of wilderness as defined in the Wilderness Act of 1964. However, that may not preclude some of them or a portion of them from a local primitive backcountry status that we could all respect.

3. Do you believe the Plum Creek/Forest Service easement discussions will lead to more subdivisions in Lincoln County?

If you are referring to the long-standing cost share road agreements between these entities – then these agreements must be reviewed in detail to determine whether uses other than forest management may be allowed.

If they are, then there will be more subdivision development. Plum Creek would likely view more of their lands as yielding them an immediately higher shareholder return than placing their land under a long-term, lower yielding timber return.

If you are referring to the Montana Legacy Project that includes Plum Creek, the U.S. Forest Service, state, counties and non-governmental organizations, then this is a highly complex transaction involving large tax benefits to Plum Creek and the expenditure of hundreds of millions of tax dollars to re-allocate non-strategic Plum Creek lands toward public ownership.

Other than the Pipe Creek lands, which the county needs to review, this project would have little impact on increasing subdivisions within Lincoln County.

Even without easement discussions the county will have a continuing stream of subdivision proposals.

4. How do you plan to secure finances when the Secure Rural Schools/Payment in Lieu of Taxes funding ends in four years?

County government must aggressively build a legal and physical infrastructure that will promote business establishment and therefore employment opportunities. We want to promote a diversity of business activity with our human and natural resources that are right at our back door.

Included within this mix is the 75 percent of the county, which is federal forest land, continued promotion and upgrading of the business/industrial park concept. In the case of Libby, eliminating or drastically reducing the “asbestos stigma.”

We must realize the raw materials that exist within this county, built this county. This is still true today, but the raw materials may be used in very different ways due to technological and market factors.

Current economic conditions illustrate the need to utilize the resources readily available to us.

This effort will require pooling the knowledge and ideas of motivated citizens from across the county in a team effort.

5. What are the three most important issues facing the county?

1. Public safety – The first priority is to maintain public safety services and improve them where the budget will allow. A healthy, proactive law-enforcement group, functional fire districts, road maintenance, public health and emergency services are critical to providing as safe an environment for our citizens as possible.

2. Infrastructure development – We must work toward a countywide economy that will yield the revenue to hold down our collective tax burden – yet provide necessary county services. Our per capita income lags about 22 percent below the Montana average. Through private sector business initiative and increased employment opportunity, with decent-paying jobs, higher revenue will accrue in the county treasury.

3. Replacement plan for the government “bailout package” – We need a plan in place by 2012, the end of the four-year federal government payment scheme. We must work together to create that plan. It must provide the county a revenue stream that is independent of direct federal appropriations.

Biography

Jerry Okonski

Age: 62

Office Sought: Lincoln County Commissioner, District 1

Political Affiliation: Write-In (by law, not allowed to declare an affiliation)

Birthplace: Chicago, Ill.

Years of residency in Lincoln County: 33

Occupation: Independent businessman

Education: Master’s degree in forestry (Engineering specialty), University of British Columbia (1974); Bachelor of Science degree in forestry (forest products specialty), University of Montana (1968); Flathead Valley Community College, Libby campus, Spanish language course work (1991-92); Geodetic and Survey engineering course work, University of Alaska (1972); Private pilot’s license (1972); Systems Analysis and Computer Programming, U.S. Army (1969); First Quarter – MBA, University of Oregon (1968); numerous training courses and seminars.

Political Experience: 30 years working with State, Federal and International contracts and proposals; legislative lobbying and negotiating.

Other Experiences: Enlisted U.S. Army, 1969-1972; numerous and varied.