Democratic commissioner candidates debate
Stacey Schnebel and Jack Garlitz, Democratic candidates running for the District 1 Flathead County commissioner nomination, faced a critical but interactive crowd inside the Gateway West Community Center on Monday.
The primary election is June 3. Schnebel or Garlitz will face the winner of the Republican primary between Phil Mitchell and incumbent Cal Scott in the Nov. 4 election.
Schnebel is a 36-year-old Coram business owner and mother of two. Garlitz, 73, of Whitefish is a retired railroader.
They are seeking election in a solidly Republican county and want voters to look past political affiliations. They faced questions on budgets, possible tax increases, the Agency on Aging and zoning issues.
“Too often people see someone running as a Democrat or a Republican and just see that D or R above their head,” Schnebel said. “They think that person couldn’t represent me. That’s not why we’re running.”
Garlitz echoed that sentiment.
“We’re not going to represent just Democrats,” he said. “I hope if I do get this job the Lord will strike me down if I don’t represent all the people.”
Both acknowledged they hadn’t read the 324-page county budget, but Schnebel said she had seen proposed expenditure increases of $2 million that would lower cash reserves. She wondered if some of that money might be better served bolstering the county’s recycling program.
Most of all, Schnebel wanted transparency, with clear goals stated for each county government department so taxpayers could see if what they were paying for was worth it.
Garlitz took issue with the legality of salvage from the landfill, but also wanted accountability for tax and grant money in the county.
On the questions of zoning laws versus property rights, both candidates were hesitant to support expansion of zoning while also admitting the laws can be helpful.
“Maybe you’re never going to make everyone happy,” Schnebel said. “But zoning protects me from my neighbor and my neighbor from me.”
Garlitz thought compassion would be better than new laws.
“It really comes down to consideration for your neighbor,” he said. “A good lawyer is going to find a loophole in those laws no matter how they are written.”
The candidates were also asked about the legal fight between the county and Whitefish over the city’s extraterritorial “doughnut” planning area.
“The doughnut’s hogwash,” Garlitz said. “Whether you live in the city or the county, live by the rules of where you live.”
Schnebel looked at the political process.
“It’s a great example of what happens when commissioners change hands,” she said. “If I’m elected, I want to make the doughnut my top priority and stop dragging our county through the mud.”
Neither had a well-developed answer about the county’s Agency on Aging building on Kelley Road.
“I know they need a new facility,” Garlitz said. “I’m looking at this building. There must be room in here.”
Schnebel looked toward the fairgrounds but wasn’t sure if that would meet the agency’s needs.
“It’s a commercial kitchen,” she said of the Kelly Road facility. “I know Meals on Wheels is based out of there. Along with legal counsel, handyman services and other services seniors need. It should be centrally located.”