Election 2010: Lincoln County Commissioner

As part of its general election coverage in Lincoln County, The Western News is publishing information about candidates and ballot measures. Darren Coldwell and Ron Downey are running for Lincoln County commissioner’s district 2 seat. Absentee ballots have been sent and the polls will be open Nov. 2.

Darren Coldwell

Age: 45

City of Residence: Troy

Background: I was born, raised and educated in Lincoln County. I received my degree in communications and a minor in business from the University of Montana. For the last 18 years I have owned and operated a successful sporting goods business in Lincoln County, Booze N’ Bait. Having been in business in Lincoln County for the last 18 years, I know what it takes to pinch a penny. In order to survive the downturns we all have faced, I have been forced to streamline my day-to-day operations, and will bring this attitude with me to Lincoln County.

Ron Downey

Age: 63

City of Residence: Troy

Background: I have over 30 years experience managing people, budgets and equipment. I’ve been a small business owner. I’ve worked in the forest. The last eight years I have been the District 2 road foreman – managing people, equipment and a budget of $1.2 million per year. I know the inner workings of the county and have established working relationships from one end of it to the other. During my 20-some years with the county, I’ve been there through the highs and lows, understand the challenges of running the county and can tackle the job head on.

With public safety representing a major chunk of the budget and with funding concerns on the horizon, how would you handle any possible cuts in that department?

Coldwell: Emergency services have always been a priority for me. These include our local fire departments, ambulance, search and rescue and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office as well. My extensive background in working with budgets tells me that there are always areas that can be reduced in a proposed budget. When dealing with the public welfare a commissioner needs to be careful to not eliminate necessary services that we all deserve. The sheriff’s office is different from most departments in that it has state mandates, guidelines and policies that it must follow – such as the number of jailers they must have, the necessary medical services that must be provided and ongoing training for department deputies. To accurately determine where potential adjustments could possibly be made I would need to review the department’s final budget line-by-line. I have never agreed with a straight across-the-board percentage cut, as I believe this is the least effective budgeting tool.

Downey: In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have budget cuts. But funding for the county is a growing concern. Budgets in all departments should be reviewed for efficiencies and prioritization. Not all departments are equal (for example, public safety trumps weed control). Unfortunately, the geography of our county creates a large coverage challenge for the sheriff’s department and, consequently, added expense. I will not compromise public safety, but I would look for all possible efficiencies from that department. I also expect a great deal of public input in setting budget priorities. After all, these are your dollars at work.

How do you feel about progress or lack of progress in the ongoing asbestos cleanup in Libby and Troy?

Coldwell: It is my opinion that the Lincoln County commissioners can be extremely influential on how both Troy and Libby communities are cleaned up from asbestos. I think that as a commissioner one needs to cultivate a good working relationship with the Department of Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency and our area contractors. This in turn will create the opportunity for open and frank discussion when potential concerns arise. It is also the duties of the commissioner to assure contractor oversight is maintained and issues are addressed and dealt with in a timely manner. Speaking to the Troy-area cleanup I can say that there have been a few problems, but overall I think the individuals in our community have bent over backwards to make the cleanup experience as painless as they possibly can. They take their time and make every effort to either replace what may have been disturbed and, in some cases, even bettered the properties.

Downey: As District 2 road foreman, I’ve had limited direct involvement with the asbestos cleanup issues. However, I’ve been listening to concerns voiced by the public and county commissioners regarding the Environmental Protection Agency, the ecological risk assessment, the pace, etc.  Changes have been initiated and more are slated. If elected to the position of county commissioner, I would view this as a work-in-progress with a constant feedback loop and improvements. Clear, concise communication to the public, following through on commitments, forward progress – are all key components to success. We all want a successful cleanup and to put this chapter of our history behind us.

What issue facing the county are you most passionate about and why?

Coldwell: The issue I am most passionate about is our economy. We are all worried about our future, and that of our children and grandchildren. As a father, I know the reality of our children having no option but to leave the area because of lack of employment opportunities. As your Lincoln County commissioner I will pledge to make every effort to encourage industry to come back to Lincoln County. We have advantages as we go about the heavy work of diversifying our economy for the future; we have an extremely qualified work force, we have a natural resource base in our timber and mining, we have the property to locate new and expanding businesses and we have the infrastructure to support our efforts. With over 18 years of business experience in Lincoln County, I bring with me the necessary tools to improve all of our quality of life, and the necessary knowledge to help Lincoln County prosper.

Downey: My first priority is one of jobs, jobs and more jobs! We have great natural and people resources within the county to attract good, stable, viable jobs. The county unemployment rate is high and people are frustrated, but we do have options (financial, partnering, education and training) and need to exercise all of them. Employment drives the county economy and we want to be moving forward. My second priority is the county funding issue. My third priority is a common sense approach to growth planning for the county. The slowing of the real estate market and development can give us an opportunity to take a breath and review our position on growth planning. I’m not in favor of zoning or excess permits/licenses. I respect the rights of individual property owners. But we do need a plan for growth.