Updated 12 p.m. Nov. 1 with Halberg’s responses

The Electric hosted a city candidate forum on Oct. 26 at the Great Falls Public Library.

Jenn Rowell of The Electric, Jason Laird of KMON and Tim McGonigal of KRTV moderated the forum with mayoral, commission and judicial candidates.

The forum included candidates for mayor: Joe McKenney, Casey Schreiner, Cory Reeves and Abby Brown; candidates for commission: Eric Hinebauch, Rick Tryon, Micaela Stroop and Shannon Wilson; and judicial candidate Mark Dunn.

The Electric’s city candidate forum is Oct. 26

Kendall Cox was inadvertently missed on the email invite so his written responses to the questions are below. 

Cayle Halberg was unable to attend the forum since had a trial go late that night. His written responses are below.

Mayor and commission candidates were asked the following questions: 

• What do you think is the role of a city commissioner/mayor?
• What do you think are the three biggest strengths of the city?
• If elected, what would be your top three priorities?
• What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the city for the next two to four years?
• What do you think you can do as a city commissioner/mayor to address those major challenges during your term?
• How would you approach the budget in terms of balancing needs and costs with available resources?
• In your view, what is the city’s role in economic development?
• What are your thoughts on the city’s development review process and what changes or improvements would you make?
• Many of the candidates have said housing is an issue you’d want to address, how would you do so as a commissioner/mayor?
• On public safety, if voters approve the levy, would you be in favor of taking the full mills allowed if the state’s property values remain high and if so, what would you propose doing with the funds over the city’s current request of $10.7 million?
• If the public safety levy fails, we’re reverting to a 2019 candidate question from readers that’s slightly modified: Previous commissions have failed to adequately staff our public safety departments over the past several budget years, even though they recognize the need. How would you increase manning in the public safety departments to increase the safety of our community?
• What are your ideas for addressing mental health and addiction issues that can be done within the parameters of local government? What funding sources would you use?
• How would you interact with staff to learn about city operations and regulations and stay informed about items you are being asked to vote on?
• As a city commissioner/mayor you are asked to represent the whole community, how do you represent those that are different, or that have different views than you do and how would you communicate with the public to hear their concerns?
• During your campaign or time on the commission, what has most surprised you about what the city can or cannot do?

Elections office addresses duplicate ballots, other election questions

The audio from Laird at KMON is

Kendall Cox’s written responses:

• I’m running because in my dealings with the city in the last 20 years or so, it’s become increasingly difficult to negotiate so I would like to explore a more business friendly process that’s not as adversarial. Also it’s important to seek ways to trim the budget and thus avoid tax increases.
• The primary role of a city commissioner is to administer the funds available in as frugal, judicious manner within the scope of one’s authority, while also being a person of integrity and moral behavior.
• The three biggest strengths of our city are: our area which has an abundance of natural resources; our location as a regional site for consumers and agriculture service, value added/manufacturing; of course our people, military and civilians.
• My three priorities: seeking to cut costs in spending; streamline process; lessen development costs; shorten the length of commission meetings.
• A critical challenge is to create single family residential sites inside the city for family growth. Also the staffing of quality law enforcement and prosecutors. Seeking manufacturing assets.
• As for the budget, it needs to be lean as is practicably possible. The taxpayer needs priority.
• The city’s role in economic development is to provide as much project ready, offsite infrastructure as possible; also maintain reasonable and competitive tax levels.
• As for the development process, arcane, convoluted, and very costly in time, energy, and money. It’s risky having a long lead time. Housing, especially single family housing would be a focus of mine. The city departments need to prioritize housing, especially single family. Also those changes within the discretionary scope of staff should be taken to expedite the process.
• Simply no. My instinct is to leave as much money in the pockets of the taxpayers.
• I think we should take a look at restructuring the current staff’s schedule and technology to make their work product more efficient and productive.
• I think it’s a worthwhile avenue of engagement to invite more involvement of the religious resources of the community; either as volunteers, part-time workers or a combination.
• I would make myself available to anyone in such city subsections to share their knowledge and expertise.
• I must fully disclose that my moral compass is firmly fixed. I’m a Christian and study the storehouse of the most uniquely inspired book, the Bible. I have a lifelong relationship with God through Christ. Thus my moral views are informed and fixed by that fundamental foundation of the Judeo-Christian world view. It will guide my thoughts, words, decisions, and actions.

Judge Steve Bolstad is running unopposed for his seat in Department A of Great Falls Municipal Court.

Mark Dunn and Cayle Halberg are running for the newly created judge seat for Department B.

Judicial candidates were asked:

• If elected, you’d be in a newly established judicial department for the city, how would you approach getting that department up and running?
• What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the municipal court and how would you address those challenges if elected?
• What do you think are the major drivers of offenses that end up in Municipal Court and do you think the court can address those factors? If so, how?
• Courts are governed by law, but are there any creative ways you’d approach mental health, addiction and recidivism in the local system?
• What would you do as a judge to address the backlog of cases in Municipal Court?
• What do you think you could do, as a judge, to address repeat offenders in Municipal Court?
• A municipal judge runs their department but the budget falls under the commission. How would you work city staff and commissioners to appropriately fund court needs?

Halberg was in a jury trial and was unable to attend the forum. 

His submitted written responses are below:

• I am running to ensure that the new position is helmed by a competent individual who is dedicated to: protecting individual rights, including the sanctity of the home, the right to a jury trial, and due process; and, bringing accountability to the government and individuals who are convicted or plead guilty to crimes; and, deterring the usage of the judicial system as an additional hidden tax on the citizens of Great Falls.
• I would evaluate the resources available to the court and take steps to ensure that the court is not bending over backwards to facilitate the work of the executive at the expense of the work of the judiciary. Contrary to popular belief, the court does not work for the prosecution. From there, with the assistance of staff, I would learn the things that I do not currently know regarding the inner workings of the court to ferret out areas that need refinement. Then, I would implement a procedural timeline for docket management purposes that would attempt to alleviate crowding and lead to a more efficient use of courtroom time.
• From the outside looking in, the court has many challenges, some within its sphere of control, and some that are not. For example, the Cascade County Detention Center only permits the Great Falls Municipal Court a certain number of “beds” at the facility. As a judge, I would issue orders and it would be up to the executive branch of the city to follow those orders. Our community has a local detention center that has chosen to house federal inmates to the detriment of the local community. Next, the court deals with many individuals who suffer from mental health issues. The city does not wish to pay to have those individuals treated. If a motion for such an examination is filed, I will sign it and the city will be statutorily required to pay for such treatment. The alternative, which we have seen for years, is a catch-and-release system that externalizes the cost of dealing with these types of cases onto individuals and business owners in Great Falls. Doing what needs to be done is a challenge, but one the court can meet. It would greatly assist the court if the city attorney was more actively involved in the management of its subordinate prosecuting attorneys to ensure that those individuals were properly evaluating and managing their casework. Dealing with the docket, I would deny motions to continue that do not demonstrate good cause. This simple step would effectively manage the docket in most cases.
• Poverty, drug, and alcohol addiction. The court is limited in how it can address those concerns. At best, the court can order evaluations and to follow-up with treatment. If the individual does not comply, the court is left with its only other tool: contempt power and incarceration. The court cannot single-handedly address the socio-economic factors prevalent in the community—that falls upon the community.
• As I touched on above, I would order evaluations, and if the individual suffers from mental health disorders requiring treatment, the city will be on the hook to pay for it. That is the city’s statutory duty. The alternative is forcing Great Falls Police officers to arrest these individuals on a routine basis. I would utilize community service and the resources available at the pre-release center to give individuals an opportunity to establish a routine, which, in many cases, is one of the biggest factors in recidivism.
• I would address each case as it came across my desk.
• I would utilize the Cascade County Detention Center and the Pre-Release to house individuals whose cases require incarceration. I would give longer sentences to individuals who continue to commit crimes in the community.
• My concern would be my courtroom and justice for the individuals appearing there. As an individual who has had to go out and earn his own money, I understand budgets and working within them. You would not see me at any committee meetings requesting additional funding.