HILL COUNTY DISTRICT 2 COMMISSIONER MIKE ANDERSON MAY HAVE A PROBLEM

I went downtown this afternoon and what did I run into out in the cold but someone gathering signatures on a petition. Petitions are usually for some cause or another to be placed on the ballot so when I saw the guy busy with someone else I tried to bolt but he hollered after me “Hey, Hey, will you consider signing this petition?” He had me cornered. “Ok, what is the big cause you are working for?” I asked him. Imagine my surprise when I saw that he was gathering signatures to get a candidates name placed on the ballot as an Independent for the District 2 Commissioners race in Hill County. I didn’t realize that if you want to run for office free of any political party encumbrances you must first gather signatures from registered voters in your district to even be allowed to have your name printed on the ballot. In Montana you may only file for office with one of four political parties. If you don’t wish to declare yourself as either a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or a Constitutional party member Montana State election laws require that you must first gather signatures of registered voters in the district in which the office is held.

The person with the petition told me that local resident Jeff Lavoi is gathering signatures to have his name placed on the ballot for Hill County District 2 Commissioner against Democrat incumbent Mike Anderson. The person also went on to say that Lavoi thinks all of these local offices should be governed by non-partisan elected officials and that is why he is seeking to run as an “Independent.”

It seems that Mr. Lavoi did previously run for the position 6 years ago and was defeated by Mike Anderson in a 3-way race on the Democrat party ticket. The petitioner told me that Lavoi ran as a Democrat because he was told 6 years ago that he would have to run as a Democrat and have the party leadership’s blessing if he hoped to be elected. Lavoi now realizes that was a mistake and he will be campaigning for an end to partisan politics in Hill County this cycle and will begin his quest in that direction by being truly non-partisan in his endeavors.

A portion of the story published in the Great Falls Tribune story on June 5, 2004 from that election is printed below in blue;
THREE VIE TO REPLACE CONWAY ON HILL COUNTY COMMISSION
Hill County Commissioner Pat Conway's decision to step down after nine years in office has attracted a wide field of candidates to replace him. Conway will give up his seat to travel and spend time with family. He also is no longer eligible to run since he has moved to a home outside the district he represents.

 Vying to replace him are Democrats Mike Anderson, Jeff Lavoi and Timothy Herron, all of Havre. The primary election winner faces Republican candidate Jody Manuel of Havre and Independent candidate Wyatt Dahlin of Havre in the November general election.

Anderson, a lifelong Hill County resident, said economics is central to his bid for election. If elected, Anderson, a career firefighter and captain on the Havre Fire Department, said he'd take a more "pro-active" approach to economic development, including exploration of value-added agriculture products. "We need more jobs is basically what it boils down to," he said. Water issues also are close to his heart, including reconstruction of the St. Mary Canal that feeds the Milk River, which he said is vital to the region. "It would be devastating not only to Havre but also the entire Hi-Line if that's not repaired, and that's a huge issue," Anderson said. Obviously the county is behind it already, but I would like to be more proactive to get funds raised and get the project moving forward." If he wins the election, Anderson said he plans to retire from firefighting.
Excerpts from a similar story published in the Havre Daily News on June 4, 2004 is below in blue;
Anderson, a Havre native who describes himself as "young, energetic and proactive," is president of the Montana State Fireman's Association, having been elected on an annual basis since 1996. The association, which has about 450 members statewide, works to preserve the retirement plan of professional firefighters in Montana, Anderson said. Anderson is also a member of the Montana State Council of Professional Firefighters and is a lobbyist for that labor group. He plans to retire from the Fire Department and step down from the labor organization if he is elected. Anderson cited his ability to work with other people and experience working with budgets as his primary attributes in the race.

LaVoi, 58, owns a small ranch in the Bear Paw Mountains and works in the sales department at Moodie Implement Co. in Havre. He said his strongest attributes are his well-rounded education, good common sense, and a caring attitude. LaVoi was raised on a small farm in Minnesota. He spent four years in the U.S. Navy and has a degree in agricultural business from the University of Minnesota-Crookston. By age 25 he was the manager of a John Deere dealership. In 1981 he and a partner purchased a John Deere implement company in Havre, and he moved here to manage it. Five years later LaVoi moved to Grand Forks to run a second John Deere dealership he had purchased with his partner. He returned to Hill County in 1997.

The salary for a Hill County commissioner is $34,865 a year.  (Corrector note*  This was the salary in 2004 -It is now $41,904)

The Corrector thinks Mr. Anderson may just have a problem retaining his cushy position at the Courthouse. Looking back at campaign promises made 6 years ago kind of show where the bacon has hit the frying pan. Anderson has failed miserably in his campaign promises. Still no substantial efforts made towards St. Mary’s Canal funding, but of course that issue was “hot” in 2004 and it made for great campaign rhetoric. Anderson said he would be pro-active in seeking economic development but what he has spent his 6 years in office doing has been battling partisan politics and pitting City taxpayers against County taxpayers which in the most part are one and the same. He said he works well with other people yet the Corrector hears continual reports of the difficulties he has working with Courthouse staff. Anderson said he had experience with budgets yet he was directly responsible for the 20% cost over-runs on the recent Courthouse basement remodel, not to mention the steps and the expensive of the new failed computer system. Interestingly, the HDN reported in their article in June of 2004 that the commissioner position paid a salary of $34,865 and now 6 years later the position pays $41,904, an increase of over 21 per-cent from when he first took office. I guess we now know what Mr. Anderson has concentrated his efforts upon.
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