Fort Peck Rural County Water District Board Lack Of Transparency

Dear Editor:

The letter to the Editor in the April 24 Courier written on behalf of the Board of Directors for the Fort Peck Rural County Water District is another example of why Mary Kaercher and I are running for positions on the Board. We oppose Board practices that are NOT transparent and contrary to Montana law.

Although this letter is purportedly from the Board – for the purpose of providing "relevant facts and evidence" related to "two candidate statements" that were "distributed" – there was no meeting of the Board of Directors publicly reviewing its content/legality or authorizing its publication and expenditure of advertising funds. (This same "notice" was run as an ad in the BS Buzz on April 23 and 24.) Will the District's Office Manager be expected to "provide" campaign rebuttal information on the Board's behalf" - – i.e. on behalf of the incumbents?

"A public officer or public employee may not use or permit the use of public time, facilities, equipment, state letterhead, supplies, personnel, or funds to solicit ...opposition to any election of any person to public office." Section 2-2-122 MCA."

The Board was provided a copy of the statute at its February 5, 2024 meeting in advance of the upcoming election. This law specifically prohibits the activity the Board is engaging in. This invitation is also contrary to the District's strict Policy requiring that questions to the Board be submitted in writing.

Mary and I stand by the statements we made in our campaign materials – all information is documented and sourced. We believe fiscal responsibility, transparency, and following the District's Ordinances and Rules & Regulations is in the best interest of the District.

Sincerely,

Debra Steffani

Fort Peck, Mont.