Russ Bache interview

You have made job creation a cornerstone of your campaign. What are the specific steps you have to spark job creation in Lincoln County?

Well, I have stated on several occasions that I want to form a task force. I have already started forming that task force. Not a huge amount of people, of course, because I want to get more people involved. I don’t want people to think we’re full.

Like I said, I have already started. I got some ideas going, but I don’t know if I want to give all my ideas up already without being voted in. I don’t have anything specific; all I have is a lot of different ideas and mostly concerns. Mostly from the way the county is going, because it is going backwards, not forwards.

How many businesses have went out of business in this area? In Libby alone? I know there are businesses going out of business in Eureka and Troy as well.

I stopped in a store last night that used to have this nice café and store and everything. Well, now she doesn’t have a café anymore. There wasn’t enough business for her, to sell the food and everything. That’s my concern. I want to see all the empty buildings full. That’s my goal.

Even if I don’t win, I am still going to get my task force going, even if it is just a few people, to get more ideas for the commissioners and everyone to look at. It is important.

Back to your question, I don’t have any hard plans right now. Once I am elected, I will really get going on it.

In campaign events, you sometimes come across as similar to your opponent. What are the issues that separate you from Mark Peck?

I would say I am working on solutions more than Mark is. I don’t hear a lot of solutions, and that is what I am working for. That’s what I am working towards, a solution to the economic problem in the county.

Yes, Mark and I do think alike in a lot of areas whether it be forestry, I think we are close to the same page on that. On mining, even emergency management and the budget, we are about on the same page.

There is a little bit more difference on the budget. I tend to go more towards getting more jobs, and the budget will work itself out, as far as cuts. Yes, there is going to have to be cuts, but I think with more jobs in the county, we won’t have as big of a problem if we can get those jobs that we need so desperately.

I’m not hearing from Mark the solution for jobs. At least the task force is working towards a solution. I don’t hear that from Mark. That is pretty much the only thing we have different. Mark and I both love this place, love the county. We were both in the military and came back.

I don’t know about Mark, I don’t know where he’s been, but I’ve been all over the world and I still come back here, because I love it. That’s important to Mark and me.

We both feel the county could do better, and I especially think it could be doing better. I remember how it was in the 50s and 60s. It was really nice back then. Lots of jobs, even in part of the 70s.