Letter: Berget will make excellent commissioner

Dear Editor:

Tony Berget is a candidate for Lincoln County commissioner.

As the mayor of Libby for 11 years, shortly after the Champion sellout, his term includes the asbestos crises, the collapse of the infrastructure, negotiating labor contracts, many management decisions and a constantly ringing telephone. This dedicated position pays only $600 per month.

Tony is the past president of the Montana League of Cities and Counties. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, which is awarded for making a substantial donation to Rotary Foundation. Tony paid his off over a period of about six years. The object of the Rotary Foundation is to eliminate polio and a large portion returns to Montana to be used in local projects.

He is the father of two boys and a girl who are all active in school and church activities. Tony and DeAnna stay busy with their children's activities. They have had a foreign-exchange student from China living with them. Tony himself was a foreign-exchange student while in high school.

He is a very successful businessman and entrepreneur constantly looking for opportunities for the city and himself. Quite a few years ago he offered a group of us the opportunity to invest in the Champion Mill site. We knew it had been an EPA toxic waste site so we refused. But Tony saw the good prospects and went ahead. It was a good investment.

Tony and five others ran for county commissioner in the Republican primary, the winner to automatically be commissioner since there was no Independent or Democratic candidate. It was a hard-fought battle and somewhat costly. Tony won the election yet one of the losers decided to run as an Independent write-in candidate.

I am positive Tony will be an excellent commissioner and serve the people of Lincoln County with the same intensity that made him Bull of the Woods for an unbelievable 20 years.

William Jay Riddel

Libby