Senate District 6 race is on
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Senate District 6 candidates Albert Olszewski-R of Kalispell and Rolf Harmsen-D of Polson are vying for a seat that will be decided in the primary election June 7.
Olszewski has lived in the area for 18 years. He is a third generation Montanan that was born and raised in Great Falls. Olszewski has been married to his wife Nancy for 29 years and is the proud father of five children. He is an orthopedic surgeon with Flathead Orthopedics. He has served nine years of active duty Air Force and four years reserve, with experience as a flight surgeon, orthopedic surgeon and Rapid Response Mobility Surgeon under his belt.
Polictically, Olszewski is a first term State Representative for House District 11. He is also a healthcare policy expert and advocate at the state and national level.
Olszewski believes that the most important local issue is the inability of counties and cities to adequately fund their budgets.
“Dependence upon property tax and mill levies when more and more properties are exempted from property taxes is going to lead to a financial disaster at the county and local level,” Olszewski said.
At a state level, Olszewski believes funding infrastructure projects needs to be prioritized.
“Governor Bullock tried to reward his cronies by spending cash on a massive government building program and force Republicans from the east side of our state to borrow money through bonding to repair schools and water systems badly in need of repair,” Olszewski said.
Olszewski believes that good jobs for the state of Montana are important, too.
“I would like to see Regulation Reform that increases the availability of real jobs that provide a living wage and offers dignity to our people,” Olszewski said.
His vision for the community in the next ten years is to see city and county services appropriately prioritized and funded and infrastructure appropriately maintained. He would also like to see the expansion of Medicaid to help improve the health of citizens.
“Regardless of who is elected, I urge the people of our community to take an active interest in the civic issues challenging Senate District 6. We need all people to become educated, energized and involved in all levels of government,” Olszewski said.
Rolf Harmsen owns his own insurance business, Harmsen Agency, Inc., and is pro-business and pro-life. He’s lived in the area 30 years and has five children, including a special needs daughter who has lived with him all her life.
The most important state and local issue for Harmsen is dealing with drug and alcohol abuse, and he wants to see a functional treatment facility in Lake County.
“Nothing we do has any long-term value if we don’t come to terms with the rampant drug and alcohol addiction which threaten to destroy our society,” Harmsen said.
All people must have hope in their lives, and a sense of purpose and belonging, he said.
“We need to teach people and provide the tools necessary to navigate life’s ups and downs, without the dependence on addiction,” he said.
In regard to energy, Harmsen believes the state’s dependence on coal and fossil fuels is not sustainable.
“It is essential that we continue to build our alternative energy future,” he said, which he said is the state’s only choice. “Certainly, wind and solar energies in Montana must be maximized to their full potential.”
That, he noted, will bring about choice through competition, “as opposed to the limited monopolies we have been subject to all our lives.”
Public institutions must provide great service and a good product, just like a business does.
“I would like to be a part of a new future where our public institutions are more productive and more available to the public they serve,” Harmsen said, “and have a greater sense of service.”
If elected he would appreciate public participation in the problem solving process.
“I can’t help solve problems if people don’t’ come forward,” he said. “My office is accessible to my clients and will be to my constituents. Call me or come in. Let me serve you.”
Harmsen is a graduate of Golden West College and has served on the Lake County Planning Board from 2000-2010.
