Name: Don Ryan

Experience relevant to position sought: born and raised in Cascade county, four terms on the Great Falls Public Schools board of trustees, eight years in the Montana Senate, two years on the Cascade County Commission

Campaign website/social media accounts, if applicable: Electdonryan.com

Q: Why are you running for county commission?

A: l am running because of the large number of county department heads and employees who asked me to return.

Q: What do you believe is the role of a county commissioner?

A: The role of the commissioners is to oversee the budgets of all the elected offices as well as the obligations assigned by state law to be handled at the local level. (i.e. roads and bridges, health dept, aging services, planning dept, etc)

Q: What do you believe are the top three challenges facing Cascade County? How do you think you could address those as a commissioner?

A: 1) prepare for the impact of the Sentinel project;  2) mitigate the impact of the tax increases especially on our elderly;  3) public safety especially who to deal with mental health challenges homelessness.

As a commissioner, I will immediately contact the county commissioners in North Dakota and Wyoming affected by the Sentinel projects to get firsthand account of problems and solutions they have dealt with. My experience with the legislature will help me lobby effectively to get property tax relief. The county must work with the many volunteer agencies who deal with disadvantaged or citizens with mental health problems. Putting them in Jail is the wrong answer, we need the jail space to for criminals.

Q: If elected, what would be your initial priorities and how would you accomplish those goals?

A: If elected I am able to be a full time commissioner on day one without a training period. The legislature will be meeting in January as I take office and I am the only person with experience as a commissioner and legislator to be effective.

Q: If elected, how would you approach the decision-making process on items before the commission?

A: As a commissioner, as issues arise before the Commission, I listen to all involved and communicate with staff before making a decision.

Q:  How would you conduct public outreach on controversial matters before the county, or to promote a general understanding of the county’s public process?

A: It is not easy without a major newspaper or full-time reporters to inform the general public on all matters before the commission. I always made myself available for interviews or for background information for the media. We could explore moving our meetings to a time more convenient to the general public.

Q: How would you address the discord and distrust in and among county government that has developed over the last few years?

A: The discord and distrust currently has cost the County some good employees the past two years, it is impossible to keep good people in the environment created the past two years. The Commission should work to make the tasks assigned to elected officials and departments easier not harder.

Q: Would you make changes to the current county processes for public meetings to determine what goes on commission agendas and to ensure public awareness and input?

A: See answer 6

Q: How would you approach working with the City of Great Falls staff and the City Commission to address broader community needs and goals?

A: The city is not the only governmental body within Cascade County; we have incorporated towns, fire districts, sewer and water districts, and don’t forget the federally recognized Little Shell Tribe, the county should not try to take over these local entities, but openly communicate and see how we can help make them effective.

Q: What do you believe is the role of the county commission in economic development?

A: The county must be prepared to facilitate infrastructure upgrades and remove unnecessary regulations.

Q: What do you believe are the core services a county should provide to residents?

A: Some of the core services provided by the county go unseen by general public. Aging Services does tremendous work to help the senior citizens of our county live safely and comfortably. The health department works with individual and business to ensure the community is as healthy and safe as possible. Our public works department keeps our roads, and buildings in the best shape possible. The most visible services are the property tax and motor vehicle services, law enforcement and the election department. They are all important to an effective county government.

Q: How would you approach the budget process to ensure the county is making the best use of taxpayer dollars?

A: Having been through the budgeting process twice, I understand the function of each department. I will ask each department for a priority list and how it will improve their efficiency and service to the public. Then as a commissioner, I will have to prioritize according to resources available.

Q: What is your opinion of the tax cap on counties set by the Legislature?

A: It’s sad that the legislators who seems to trumpet “local control“ don’t trust elected local official to do what what is necessary to properly prove services to their people. This is one over the reasons special levels are so high, because local governments struggle to keep up with routine maintenance and inflation

Q: How would you work with the sheriff’s office and other agencies to ensure public safety? Do you think current public safety funding is adequate?

A: The sheriff’s office was responsible for getting a public safety levy passed two years ago. It is vital that revenue not be diverted from public safety. During my term as commissioner helped direct $3 million to upgrade the jail and make it more efficient and a safer environment.

Q: What do you envision your working relationship with county staff would look like?

A: I did not know most to the county staff when I took office. I worked to develop positive working relationships. I am looking forward to resuming those relationship. Even if we sometimes disagree, we don’t have to be disagreeable.