Four candidates attend event

Four local candidates turned out last Thursday to address key issues at an event hosted by the Lower Jefferson River Watershed Council.

Jefferson County Attorney candidates Steven Haddon and Erin Inman, State House District 75 candidate Sabrina Steketee, and Jefferson County Commission candidate Leonard Wortman all spoke at the event that took place at the LaHood Park Steakhouse.

LJRWC member Bob Sims said they have hosted an event like this 15 or 16 times to get an idea where the candidates stand on water issues. The public was also invited to ask candidates questions.

Sims said one of the questions candidates might want to address has to deal with a recent ruling by the Montana Supreme Court. Sims said the Court recently upheld a lower court ruling which great restricts the "exempt well loophole" that has allowed the drilling of 113,000 exempt wells in the state, and a projected 78,000 more by the end of the decade.

"Recent ground water studies confirm that removing a gallon of ground water has the same effect as removing a gallon of surface water. The Montana Association of Realtors, the Montana Building Industry Association and other groups will be asking for relief from this ruling at the next Legislative session. What is your view on this issue," Sims stated in a letter to the candidates.

Sims went on to state in the letter that the State of Montana is spending approximately $3,000,000 every two years to fund detailed studies of ground water in selected basins.

"While these results are interesting it is not clear how or who has or will use these results and for what purpose. Should this effort continue and what do you expect to get for your tax money?" Sims asked in the letter.

CANDIDATES

Each of the four candidates gave a brief speech to those in attendance with information about their background and why they are running for office.

Steketee, who has served on the school board in Boulder since 2005, said she is committed to continuing to work for education and our kids. She said the issue that helped make her decision to run was the Legislative decision to close the MDC in Boulder. She said the community got steamrolled. She also discussed her experience in creating jobs.

Haddon said he was hired by former Jefferson County Attorney Matthew Johnson in 2013, and was selected to fill the position when Johnson stepped down last year. Haddon said the County Attorney has to work in both criminal and civil cases and he has experience in both.

Haddon said he thinks they do a good job at the office, and they work hard every day to do the right thing.

Inman also discusses her experience in both civil and criminal cases. Inman said she was excited to run for the position after she learned Johnson had stepped down. Inman, who has previously served as the Prairie County Attorney and the Deputy Boulder City Attorney, said she enjoys helping prosecutors. Inman added she originally got involved with law to possibly study water issues.

Wortman, who is running unopposed, discussed his experience as both a Jefferson County Commissioner and County Assessor.

Wortman said it is an exciting time for Jefferson County and there is a lot of opportunity.