Democrat Andy Hunthausen said he’s concerned about many issues affecting the residents of Lewis and Clark County, including rural health care, water quality, road maintenance and growth.

The 41-year-old Helena Middle School counselor faces off against Republican Liane Taylor in Tuesday’s race for county commissioner. The winner will join Democrats Ed Tinsley and Mike Murray on the commission and replace Anita Varone, who did not seek re-election.

“I think we have a fantastic opportunity as a county over the next 10 years or so,” Hunthausen said. “We’re going to be changing quite a bit and we need good people making good decisions.

“My skills as a listener and as a people person can make a difference,” he added.

Hunthausen wants the Lincoln Community Council reinstated and said he’s interested in creating a similar group in Augusta. Lincoln’s council was disbanded last month after a number of resignations, and residents will decide the advisory board’s fate in an election next year.

“I think it’s going to be really important to bring that back together,” he said.

Residents in those communities and other outlying towns like Wolf Creek and Craig sometimes feel like they’re “not heard,” Hunthausen said. He said he’d work to engage the county’s rural residents if he’s elected.

He also said economic development is a concern in the county’s rural towns.

“The folks there need good jobs and deserve opportunities to make a living in their own community,” Hunthausen said.

Health care is an important issue for Hunthausen, and he cited Lincoln’s loss of its community clinic and the closure of the only pharmacy there as concerns. He said the county needs to work to ensure the town’s residents have access to adequate medical services. County officials should look for partners to address the problem, he said.

County officials must learn from past mistakes when it comes to water-quality issues in the Helena Valley, he said.

“Water quality in the Helena Valley is a big issue in light of the projected growth numbers for our area,” Hunthausen said.

The county’s proposed zoning regulations, which may be nixed by a citizens’ protest, have become a central issue in the commission race. Hunthausen said he doesn’t completely support the regulations but commended county officials for having the “political will” to bring a proposal forward.

“The product that’s on the table needs work,” he said.

“I support zoning and I support us moving forward on zoning,” he added. “Whatever happens … we need to move forward with zoning. We need to make it a priority to establish good standards that work for all of us.”

Hunthausen wants “fair, predictable, sustainable zoning standards.”

He was born in Helena and raised in East Helena, graduating from Helena High School in 1983. The seventh of nine children, Hunthausen and his wife Pam are raising two sons at their home in the North Hills.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in counseling and development from Montana State University-Northern.

A licensed clinical professional counselor, Hunthausen ran a private practice and worked for Golden Triangle Community Mental Health before joining the Helena school district two years ago.

He’s also worked as a teacher and served as an admissions counselor at Carroll College.

Hunthausen said he’s thought about running for a seat on the county commission for several years.

“I’ve been here all of my life and I love this place,” he said. “It’s a big part of me. I love it and I care about it, and I want to be involved with my community at this level.”

Larry Kline can be reached at 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com.