Trego's Mountain Ear

By Chelsea Deets

The Timbers Event center in Eureka, MT sponsored a moderated debate Friday evening between the three candidates for Lincoln County Commissioner in District three.

Doug Davies, Noel Duram, and Brian Phillips participated in a lively debate on Friday. The Timbers Event Center welcomed citizens of Lincoln County to listen to each candidate’s vision for the County Commissioner’s office for the coming years.

All three candidates stressed the importance of citizen participation in government. “Hold our feet to the fire, hold us accountable,” says Doug Davies. He goes on to explain that the County Commissioner’s office is more effective when the community alerts them to problems and concerns and makes their voices heard when it’s time to make decisions that work toward community goals.

Among the topics discussed, they also agreed there’s a need for infrastructure to accommodate unprecedented growth rates within the county, though they differ in their approach on how to accomplish these goals.

Our county growth plan was updated in 2019 when we expected 400 new homes. Instead, 1500 were built as people migrated to Montana during the pandemic. This puts a strain on the waste management system and county services currently in place.

Davies calls for an audit, saying we need better checks and balances on government spending and diversifying our economy.

“Reducing the budget means losing services,” says Noel Duram, reminding citizens the easiest service to lose would be the annex and the inconvenience that would cause. “It’s the income that’s the problem, not the spending.” Duram went on to explain that 75% of the land in this district is federal land and they pay a substantially lower property tax rate than the residents of the county. His plan is to seek increased tax rates for the government to make up the difference.

Brian Phillips states the government isn’t going to pay more taxes. He points out the disparity between the average family income for Lincoln County residents and the multiple pay raises elected officials have given themselves in the past. “We need to sever the tie between the Commissioner’s salary and the Sheriff’s.”

He went on to explain that while the county commissioner doesn’t need to be giving themselves a raise, the Sheriff’s office needs the money to attract and retain quality police to keep our community safe despite the growing populace. He also says the budget as it stands now is indecipherable, making transparency in government difficult.

After the moderator finished asking questions, members of the community were invited to speak. Citizens voiced displeasure over the lack of communication regarding the 16ac gravel pit and asphalt production creating a stench the surrounding residents must deal with daily. The candidates’ response indicated a need for community engagement while reminding citizens that it was a state rather than a county project.

One woman called Doug Davies out for a comment he made stating the MAGA movement was akin to the KKK. Doug Davies acknowledged the complaint and stated that as an elected official he would need to put his personal prejudices aside to work effectively with his constituents.

The debate gave Lincoln County residents much to think about before the November 2024 election.