Ray Barnicoat and Dave Kirsch are competing for the District 2 Jefferson County Commission seat, a 6-year position. The race is nonpartisan. Although the commissioner represents district 2, the vote is countywide.

Commission candidate questions

Because of space limitations, candidates were asked to limit their responses to a total of 500 words

1.What experience do you have in budgeting and economic development, if any?

2. Why should voters choose you over your competitor?

3. With projected mine closures in Jefferson County, perhaps as early as 2009, what are your ideas for replacing that funding?

4. What do you consider the biggest issue facing the county? And what are your ideas for addressing it?

5. Will you support the sheriff’s department levy in November? Why or why not?

6. Jefferson County is often in the top four counties in the state, re: the percentage rate of population growth n how do you suggest the county meet the needs of this growing population?

Ray Barnicoat

Age: 64

Address: 253 Lump Gulch, Clancy

E-mail address: rbarnico4@aol.com

Phone number: 933-8218

Education: graduated Butte High School; a lot of professional development in risk management for county government

Current job/career: retired risk manager for Montana Association of Counties (20 years) and currently teaching at Law Enforcement Academy; 12 years insurance agent/unit manager; 6 years mining; 6 years public transportation supervisor for Great Falls Transit District

1. For 20 years I had to prepare my budget and manage that budget. I am involved in the Jefferson County Health Board and Solid Waste Board budget process also. I have no experience in economic development.

2. Because of my county specific experience. For 20 years, five days per week, I worked with counties on projects to assist counties. I have written manuals and policies and trained county employees on a variety of county issues. I have taken many professional development courses in county risk management.

As chairman of the health board for almost five years, and chairman of the solid waste board, I know these programs well and what their current issues are.

I am current, up to speed and able to hit the ground running.

3. We need to be forward thinking. Some replacement taxable property will be the new power line and the new Elkhorn mine and reclamation projects. We need to keep our doors open to the mining companies I will continue to support expansion and new developments.

I have confidence in the Jefferson County Local Development Corporation staff and board, and our chambers of commerce and the planning department. I think we are on the right track. We need to stay the course.

We do not tap into tourism as much as we should. Whitehall is the perfect location to further enhance tourism. A local option tourism tax would benefit schools and local government. West Yellowstone, Red Lodge and Whitefish are examples of how that tax has bolstered their economy. Any tax of this nature should be considered through a vote of county residents. One source can not replace lost funding.

4. Growth and economic development. Growth will require us to provide infrastructure to meet the requirements of the state. We will be faced with providing water and sewer and added fire protection. We would be wise to form a water and sewer district soon, as opposed to later.

We need to attract some spin-off business from Butte industries. We may see a pork processing plant in Whitehall soon. What can we do to bolster that business and produce value-added products from that business?

Economic development will be limited only by our ability to make the dream come true. Our best days are ahead of us with slow and steady growth.

5. Like anyone, I do not like more taxes. However, if you are experiencing growth, you need to meet the demand for core services. If you are trying to attract new business to your community, you need to demonstrate that you are capable of providing a safe environment. Inadequate public safety services usually end up resulting in lawsuits. I would rather see the money that would be spent to defend and settle lawsuit cases stay in the community and used instead for service delivery. If we cannot make business prospects comfortable with our environment they will not come.

6. My plan is to stay on track with the current process and stay the course.

I do think that newcomers should be expected to pay the additional cost of infrastructure as they build and develop in our county.

Dave Kirsch

Age: 69

Address: P.O. Box 209, Boulder

E-mail address: dave.kirsch@jeffbb.net

Phone number: (h) 225-3737 (c) 439-4404

Education: graduated Billings Senior High School; two years at Eastern Montana and Rocky Mountain colleges; military

Current job/career: retired business owner

1. Former two-term mayor of Boulder. Successful local hardware store owner for 30+ years. Established and was chairman of the Solid Waste Commission. Longtime involvement in local economic development, including two countywide economic development studies that led to the creation of the Jefferson Local Development Corporation in which I was a founding board member, executive board member, and where I continue to be an active member. Bank director of First Boulder Valley Bank.

2. I have 30+ years of volunteer community and county involvement. This includes: member of the Boulder Fire Department, Riverside Youth Correctional Facility community board, Jefferson Solid Waste program, Jefferson Broadband board, Big Boulder Housing advisory board, former member of Governor's Committee for the Developmentally Disabled, former member of the Forest Service Critical Resource Management Committee, member of the Forest Service Technical Advisory Group, Boulder Cemetery Board, and North Jefferson Metal Mine Committee.

When the hearing regarding the expansion of Montana Tunnels was held this spring, I attended to testify in support of the mine expansion. As Montana Tunnels is one of the largest employers and tax payers in Jefferson County, I felt it was of the utmost importance that I lend my support to the mine.

3. As a member of JLDC, our challenge is to diversify and broaden our local economy to mitigate the negative effect that will eventually occur when the mines close. As an example, the establishment of the industrial park in south Jefferson County in cooperation with Golden Sunlight Mine is a step in the right direction. The purchase of the South Campus in Boulder enabled JLDC to refurbish two of the existing buildings to lease to Alternative Youth Adventures and also provide land and buildings for future development. With the help of JLDC, Jefferson Broadband High Speed Internet was established. This is a necessity in order to entice future business. These are just a small part of what JLDC has accomplished. I feel very fortunate to be a part of that progress.

4. The exposure of most of Jefferson County to extreme fire danger due to the dead and dying trees is a major issue. I will be proactive in the attempt to get the appropriate agencies to consider fire breaks between the communities to prevent the spread of a mega fire.

5. This is an issue that is before the electorate of Jefferson County and not a commissioner decision. As a new, incoming commissioner, I will abide by the will of the people as it relates to this issue.

6. While Jefferson County has consistently been in the top five fastest-growing counties in the state, this growth has leveled off to some degree in the last year to a more manageable level. As a commissioner, I will make sure that each subdivision and development application receives equitable and consistent treatment by the county planning department and applications are processed in a timely manner. Jefferson County continues to be an attractive place for people to relocate given our natural amenities, relatively lower property taxes, great schools and overall high quality of life. I support continued growth and development as it is an important economic engine. However, it must be done in a thoughtful, planned manner in order to assure continued high quality of life for all residents.