County commissioner race: Jordan wants to represent the people

Coram resident and Democratic candidate for the north valley county commissioner seat, Gil Jordan has a pithy way to explain his political philosophy: “Quoting Jim Hightower’s granddaddy, ‘Everyone does better when everyone does better.’”

Pointing to the county’s $75 million budget and 522 employees, Jordan emphasizes the importance of representing everyone in the Flathead, not just segments of the population.

“I believe people and country are more important than party and politics,” he said. “I’m the get-the-job-done kind of person.”

Jordan, 66, has been the executive director of the Northwest Montana Historical Society and the Museum At Central School, in Kalispell, for eight years. He notes that he helped double the number of members to 800 and eliminated substantial debt.

“When I got here and saw the debt and the amount of reserves, I asked the board, ‘Why are we paying on this debt?’” he said.

A Flathead Valley landowner since 1978 and full-time resident since 1985, Jordan served 25 years with the Coram-West Glacier Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter and secretary-treasurer. He also served five years with the Flathead County Library Foundation Board of Directors, including three as president, and four years with the Flathead Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.

He has worked 13 years as a social worker treating adults with mental health issues and five years as a guest teacher for all subjects in the Columbia Falls, Whitefish and West Glacier school districts.

He holds a bachelor’s from Cal Poly-Pomona and a master’s from UCLA.

“My diplomas are signed by former California Gov. Ronald Reagan,” he noted, pointing to the diplomas on the wall of his office.

Among his seven core political values, Jordan lists “accountable stewardship of taxpayer resources” as number one.

“I have one credit card and zero debt,” he said. “I never paid a nickel on my credit card, and I only buy what I can afford.”

If elected, he said he would move to rescind the recent pay raise for the elected commissioners and would turn down the county-provided vehicle. He said the commissioners job is “good-paying for the Flathead and community oriented.”

Jordan’s core values also include respectful and responsive communication, professional service, proactive and innovative leadership, creating a positive team culture, providing safety and security across the Flathead, and equal treatment for all.

A supporter of practical planning, Jordan expressed concern that in the county’s revised draft growth policy, “property rights could trump everything else and sap the strength of the growth policy.” He said he prefers to make decisions based on who will benefit and who will be hurt, and taking time making decisions.

“I don’t like regulation anymore than anyone else, but some planning is needed,” he said. “Our economy here is primarily based on tourism and small businesses. But will that continue if the area is no longer pristine and beautiful?”

Jordan is used to races. He ran in the Senate District 2 race in 2008 but lost in the Democratic primary to Brittany MacLean. He’s also an avid long-distance runner with 25,000 miles under his belt, and he continues to run marathons. He ran the Boston Marathon last year and has completed 35 marathons over his lifetime.