CANDIDATE PROFILES: Commissioner, District 2

NAME: Randy C. Arnold

EDUCATION: Graduate of Plains High School. Attended University of Minnesota On-site sewage Treatment Program, Certified Advanced Septic Designer, Septic Installer, Septic Inspector and service provider

OCCUPATION: My Last Job was Foreman of a Paving Crew, currently working with my brother on our family ranch.

What characteristics make you the best candidate for the job? I am a 3rd generation Sanders County resident with knowledge of road construction with over 10 years experience. As a septic designer, part of my job was to do site evaluations for subdivisions locating septic sites on lots before subdivisions could be approved. Also, as a septic designer I helped people decide on the best advanced treatment system to be installed for their property. I have 20 years experience working with people as a Foreman. It is my belief that a commissioner should be listening to and representing the people of Sanders County. I am approachable and willing to listen.

What experience do you have with managing budgets? While working on septic systems I would bid a large number of jobs ($20,000+) and managed the crews and ordered parts to be installed on jobs to ensure that profits were made. While working on road construction I was part of a team which included the Project Engineer, Superintendent and myself to manage multi-million-dollar budgets and the crews on each of the jobs that we completed.

Are you in favor of the county accepting federal funding and grants? Why or why not? I would be in favor of accepting federal funds and grants for improvement projects to be administered by the county, as long as there is no added burden to the taxpayers of Sanders County. Any other grants I would evaluate individually. I am for responsible spending of taxpayers’ dollars and not adding to their taxes.

NAME: Don DeTienne

EDUCATION: Business in ag bachelor’s degree from MSU

OCCUPATION: Rancher, wild land fire fighter, and sell home grown beef locally.

What qualities make you the best candidate for the job? Common sense, frugality and logic. I try to make sense of things before I decide. For example, candidates have talked about paving dirt roads because they are tearing up $80k vehicles. The cost of paving can be over $1,000,000 and upkeep is $8500 a mile per year based on a report in Maryland. Gravel roads are much cheaper. I will also stand my ground. At our last Q&A for republican women, we were asked about the Paradise sewer lagoon. The crowd wanted me to answer. I wouldn’t answer as I had no knowledge of the project.

What experience do you have with managing budgets? I am a rancher. I manage expenses on the upkeep of my machines and cattle for long term sustainability. I have to maximize purchasing power as far as it can go to make ends meet. Question one may help with how I would budget or keep things within the budget.

Are you in favor of the county accepting federal funding and grants? Why or why not? I am in favor of using federal funding and grants so long as there are no strings attached that would hurt our community. There are lots of ways to use grants to help the county. One of the ways would be to use those grants to invest in the youth of the community to get training in law enforcement or other occupations within the county so that they can stay here, raise their families ,and give back to the community.

NAME: John Holland

EDUCATION: Plains High School Graduate and Trade School Graduate

OCCUPATION: Rancher, Retired from Montana Dept of Transportation (30 years)

What qualities make you the best candidate for the job? I was born and raised in Sanders County and have a strong interest in the future of the county. I bring years of knowledge and experience from working with the public, boards and managing budgets for the Plains Rural Fire District and the Plains School. I have 40 years of construction experience building and maintaining roads.

What experience do you have with managing budgets? As a 18-year school board member I was involved with approving and managing the school budget. I have also been on the Plains-Paradise Rural Fire board for 26 years where I help create and manage the annual budget.

Are you in favor of the county accepting federal funding and grants? Why or why not? Yes, I am in favor of federal funding and grants, as long as it is beneficial for the county and there are not under lying stipulations that are not in the counties best interest. The County depends heavily on the Federal funding to fund some of the department’s budgets which in turn saves the local tax payers money.

NAME: Mahlon Lee

EDUCATION: After finishing Trade School, I used that knowledge to start and grow my own businesses.

OCCUPATION: 1. Cattle Rancher. 2. President and CEO of a 14-year Commercial Roofing Business.

What characteristics make you the best candidate for the job? I have the ability to listen to people and hear them out. If I don’t have answers concerning a question or issue I’ll do my best to find out and get back with you. I’m even tempered and have the ability to work with people. I’m willing to learn.

What experience do you have with managing budgets? We have a lucrative business that we started from scratch, and built into a successful multi-state business.

Are you in favor of the county accepting federal funding and grants? Why or why not? A grant is the community’s tax dollars that they’re getting back. Which may or may not be a good thing. The important thing is that there are no strings attached to the grant or the federal funding, and will need to be carefully and properly researched.