Task force member responds on wilderness

I usually skip anything written by Dave Skinner. When I saw my name mentioned in Dave's opinion letter in the Whitefish Pilot's Sept. 28th issue, I figured I better read what he had to say about me.

I thank God that our Constitution protects Dave's right to free speech, but I find his writing to be boring. As usual, his writing style wanders, lacks relevant details and is meant to inflame rather than to enlighten.

If the Pilot would be interested in featuring another perspective on the Flathead County Commissioner's Roadless Task Force, I would be happy to supply one, but for now, suffice it to say, I volunteered for a position on the task force and was chosen by commissioner Gary Hall to serve. I participated to the best of my ability in the committee's process through the roadless review portion, as directed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

I helped author the minority opinion. I resigned at that point because I thought that our job, as mandated by the governor, was done.

I did not agree with commissioner Hall's insistence on a county-wide vote on roadless lands, particularly because pro and con statements explaining what was being voted on were not made available to the public from the committee. I agree less with what I view as short-sighted and regressive management directions for our national forests that were ultimately to come out of the task force.

I am a member of the Montana Wilderness Association, and I am proud to be one. Montana Wilderness Association, a statewide organization with more than 7,000 members, has been advocating for wilderness since 1958. I've been a member for approximately 20 years.

Like many of you readers, I am a business owner. I am a former planning board member and a former Whitefish City Council member. My wife and I came to Montana as young idealists. I love Montana's wild places and try to live my idealism still.

If you are interested in finding out more about Montana Wilderness Association and how you can help to protect Montana's wild lands, please call our office at 755-6304.

Edwin M. Fields lives in Whitefish.