Letters

Trapping ban not a private property question

Dear Editor,
An article in a 1998 issue of “The Varmint Hunter” magazine, page 13, had this question pertaining to the Colorado state ban on public and private lands trapping.
After losing 61 of 65 lambs born out of one lamb crop to coyotes, a several generations ranch family member by the name of Lucy Quintana shook her head in disbelief and said this:
“All we are doing is raising feed for the darned coyotes. I don’t see how people could have voted to ban trapping.”

I’m voting for a mayor

Dear Editor,
I got to talking with a friend the other day. We were discussing the plusses and minuses of a mayor form of government. Now, for as long as I can remember, living in Lewistown and working and being in business here for many years, we always had a mayor. It seemed to work well, and didn’t usually have too many problems. That was unless, of course, we got a goofy one, which rarely happened. Walter Mondale was the only one that I can think of right offhand. But the system allowed us to vote them out and get somebody new. It worked just fine, and we had a say.

Another bureaucracy layer costs more

Dear Editor,
I had the privilege of serving on the Lewistown Study Commission 10 years ago. We found that Lewistown was ahead of the curve for cities greater than 5,000 in population with an effective and efficient commission-manager from of government. We recommended no change in the form of government.

Writer issues call to action for Democrats

Dear Editor,
Election Day draws near and Democratic voters here in Central Montana face a perennial question that haunts them at every election: What difference does my vote make? To vote or not to vote – to stay home or go to the polls. (Although that last conundrum is now obsolete with the popularity of voting by mail.)
So why should Democrats turn out and vote in an area where a majority of people vote their Republican tribal identity in solid lockstep, election after election.

Why add another layer of bureaucracy?

Dear Editor,
Per the Nov. 8 ballot on an alternative local government: Many have been touting increased “accountability” via adoption of an alternative Commission/Mayor/CAO Charter Form of Government.
Our existing Commission/Manager form of government consists of seven elected city commissioners, each of whom represent the citizens of Lewistown. Given each is elected by their constituents, they’re accountable for any/all of their decisions, actions, and votes.
Said seven elected representatives currently hire, guide and manage a paid city manager.

Letter misrepresents Gianforte information

Dear Editor,
Ms. Thaxter’s tirade (in the Oct. 15 News-Argus) against governor-candidate Gianforte is total misinformation. She claims Greg Gianforte has only lived in Montana for two years -- he moved to Bozeman over 20 years ago. Her description of the company Mr. Gianforte founded (he owned the company—not an employee as Ms. Thaxter stated) is also falsely stated. Recently retiring, Greg Gianforte sold this international Bozeman-based company, Right Now Technology. (Senator Daines was in fact one of his highly paid executives—not just an “employee.”)

Put a representative for the people at the table

Dear Editor, In response to the opinion “Sometimes less is better,” the call to possibly offer the citizens of Lewistown an option to adopt an alternative form of government was not “initiated by a faction of Lewistown citizenry who felt their voices were going unheard.” It was initiated by a majority of Lewistown citizens in an election. The writer also states a mayor could be persuaded to take the positions on behalf of a vocal minority and sway the commissioners in their decisions. I think it is a wonderful idea that the mayor would speak on behalf of the people to the Commission.

Vote for Republicans at state, federal level

Dear Editor,
The weakness in the Constitution is it requires us to have a federal government, a Senate, Congress and president.
Ironically Democrats and Republicans finally agree on something. Both sides have nominated a candidate for president incompetent to serve.

Making a living in Montana

Dear Editor,
Domestic-raised elk, mining of all sorts, coal-burning, trapping, horses slaughtered for meat; look, somebody figured out a way to make a living in Montana. Quick, outlaw it.
Sounds self-destructive to me.
Cheryl Boyle
Lewistown

How valuable is your vote?

Dear Editor,

If an election were a football game, cheering for your team and winning is everything. Winning gets you a shiny new trophy and bragging rights, but will it improve your life?