An open letter to Bob Brown

Dear Bob,

I am writing this letter to you both as a friend and as a concerned citizen of Montana. As you probably know, I feel fortunate to call both you and Brian Schweitzer friends. I have respected both of you both personally and as potential governors of this great state. However, my respect for your candidacy has diminished considerably with what I consider to be "low-road" campaign tactics. I am referring specifically to the fuss that was made over Brian's purchase of motor vehicles in Idaho, the snooping into his personal and business past by a private investigator and the "push-poll" that has been conducted recently. I know that you and your campaign committee have disavowed any knowledge of these actions, and that you also claim that none of these actions was authorized by you or your committee.

Bob, both you and I know that nothing that happens in a political campaign, especially one that is of such significance as a gubernatorial race, without some tacit knowledge of it by those in charge. You and your campaign people might not have authorized these actions overtly, but I cannot believe that they occurred without your knowledge and/or tacit approval. If this is the case (and I believe it has to be), then my evaluation of your candidacy has been greatly reduced. I have always believed you to be an extremely honorable man who has a high degree of integrity. I also believed that whether you or Brian won this election, Montana's future would be in very capable hands. Since these three actions have occurred, I am having serious doubts about this. I believe that the success of any organization always begins at the top. State government should always be "about the people." People (us common folks) depend on the integrity of our elected officials to do the right things for us in both an open and unbiased way. The only way this can happen is if the people who are elected are of the highest integrity and moral character. The actions cited above diminish your standing in my mind.

As I said before, I had felt that Montana would be in good hands regardless of whether you or Brian Schweitzer was elected. However, I had planned to vote for Brian prior to these events. The reason for this has to do with the plain fact that under Republican leadership this great state has fallen upon dismal times. The Republican Party must be willing to shoulder much of the blame for this. So, instead of admitting that your party had made many mistakes that the rest of us Montanans have to shoulder and offering new perspectives on leadership (which I believe you have the intelligence and political savvy to do), you have taken a "low-road" offense and delved into Brian's personal and business past. I believe this to be unconscionable and would hope you would "come clean" about all of the dirty tricks that have taken place. I am asking this as both a friend and a concerned citizen of Montana. As was stated earlier, it is of the utmost importance that our elected leaders are of the highest moral character. Resorting to the kind of political practices that have occurred is just not right. Don Gaynor lives on KM Ranch Road near Whitefish.