ADLC Commission District 3 Candidates

Kevin A. Hart

 

Age: 62 years old

Length of residency in Anaconda: Born & raised in Anaconda, 4th generation resident of Anaconda and the last 31 consecutive years in Commission District #3

Occupation: 1. Current ADLC Commissioner for District #3; 2. Current Supervisor for Montana Correctional Enterprises at Montana State Prison; 3. Former Housing unit Sergeant at Montana State Prison for 16 years; 4. Former ADLC Justice of the Peace and deputy County Coroner; 5. Former Licensed Mortician in Montana and Arizona having worked at Longfellow-Finnegan and KT Riddle Funeral Homes.

Family: Wife of 36 years: Stacey Guindon Hart (4th generation Anaconda native); Two sons and their families: Eric Hart with 3 children: Emma, Alayna & Joe Devin & Ashley Hart with 6 children: Kassidy, Michael, Tayton, Caliber, Bryler & Oaklen.

Education: Graduated from Anaconda High School in 1980. Graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science 1981. Two years at Montana Tech.  Received Montana State Morticians license in 1984. Advanced Coroner training 1997. Received Commissioner Certification from the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) in 2013.

Military service: None

Previous political offices held and/or memberships in community/professional organizations: I have served the people of Anaconda in all three branches of government: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Justice of the Peace 1995 to 2003; Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Deputy Coroner 1997; ADLC Study Commission 2005 & 2015;  Served on the ADLC Police Commission from 2007 to 2013. Former State Registered Process/levying Officer Appointed by Gov. Racicot to the Interim Court Funding and Structure committee in 1999 that resulted in the State funding of District courts and public Defenders program; Current member of the ADLC Parks & Recreation board and Economic Development board.

 

Question 1: Why are you running for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission, and what skills do you bring to the table as Commissioner?

I am serving my twelfth year as ADLC Commissioner for District #3, and I have been very dedicated to this position that the residents have entrusted me with. There have been approximately 550 Commission meetings over the past 11.5 years, and I have only missed 5 or 6 meetings. Fellow Commissioners have elected me to be the Chairman or Vice-Chairman for many of those years. I have also served on the last two ADLC Study Commissions (2005 & 2015). I have gained a wealth of knowledge about government, especially the ADLC Charter form of government. I am keenly aware of the issues facing Anaconda from Economic Development, streets, and capital improvements to our county buildings, infrastructure and blight. All of these issues are being dealt with on an ongoing basis and they will continue to be well into the future. My involvement with business in Anaconda along with my involvement in our government as Justice of the Peace, Study Commissions, Police Commission, County boards and Coroner’s office have provided me with a wealth of knowledge that make me very well suited for Commissioner. My heart and soul is vested in Anaconda’s success, and I have no ulterior motives or hidden agendas except to see Anaconda prosper. I have stated since first being elected to the Commission that I believe Anaconda’s future is bright, and I want to continue being that voice for you in making this happen. We may not always agree, but my decisions will always be made with knowledge, integrity, honesty and most importantly experience for Anaconda’s future. 

 

Question 2: What are your top priorities as Commissioner?

Infrastructure will remain a top priority for me, because as we continue to make improvements to our community, positive growth and tourism will continue as well. We need to continue our street, water & sewer improvements that have to be done a little at a time. Our government buildings & facilities need repairs, such as the Courthouse, Library & Kennedy Common. Some buildings, such as the Fire Department, need expansion due to positive community growth. Secondly, growth will cause an improvement to our tax base, which in turn should reduce the amount of property taxes. Thirdly, improve our tourism season to year-round instead of just summertime. Our hotels, restaurants and shopping stores need business all year long. If ADLC is fortunate enough to get a State Tourism grant, we will be able to have good ice on the Kennedy Common all winter long regardless of the weather, have a hockey rink and a modern type of sledding hill that will be great for our residents and will attract people from miles away. This would be in addition to utilizing the Old Works golf course with year-round use, and improved walking trails in and around Anaconda and the C-hill area. With updated infrastructure, growth and improved tax base, along with utilizing all of the year-round recreational opportunities, Anaconda can thrive. Lastly, we must encourage “Pride in our Community”.  This means that we must care for the improvements we make, we all need to work together to clean up our own properties and help our neighbors.  We all need to address the blight in our respective areas of the county, it’s not just a government problem.  Encourage kindness and respect and say hello or just waive to someone you don’t even know.  

 

Question 3: What in your opinion is the number one issue affecting the residents of your district, and how will you work with the Commission, ADLC staff, with other agencies and officials and the public at large to address it?

I find that the recent property reappraisals by the State of Montana is one of the biggest issues for not only the residents of Commission district #3, which I currently represent, but for the entire County and State.  With the higher values came higher mortgage costs, cost of rent, and higher taxes. In ADLC the Charter directs that the CEO prepares the annual budget, presents that budget to the Commission for approval, and then the CEO executes the adopted budget. There is maximum mills (tax) set by State law that municipalities can assess and that dictates what their maximum budget can be. With responsible fiscal management ADLC has been able to treat our county employees fairly, while improving our infrastructure and paying off our debts. The best part is that this was done at the same time as CEO Everett was able to include a tax break (reduction from the maximum tax) to taxpayers so that the State increase wasn’t felt as bad as it could have been. This reduction has been done every year that CEO Everett has been in office, but this last year was the biggest cut. The Commission has routinely approved these responsible budgets.

 

Question 4: How will you work with the other members of the Commission, the CEO, ADLC department heads and collective bargaining units to ensure that ADLC residents will receive the best possible public services while operating within the confines of a budget that’s impacted by higher costs and without an undue burden to the taxpayers?

I feel that I have an exceptional working relationship with the Commission, the CEO, all of the department heads and all of the ADLC employees based on a mutual respect for them as a person and the job they have. That working relationship is most evident by what we, as a government, have accomplished over the past decade.  No county employee works alone, we are a team providing a service to the residents. However, there are some boundaries as established in State Law, our Charter and Administrative Code, and these boundaries are actually what makes our government work so well. 

ADLC Charter excerpts

The Commission:

• Except for the purpose of inquiry or investigation under this Charter or the Code of local government, the Commission or its members shall deal with the local government employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the Chief Executive, solely through the Chief Executive, and neither the Commission or its members may give order to any such employee, either publicly nor privately.

• To approve and adopt an annual budget.

The Chief Executive:

• shall be the chief administrative officer of the local government and shall be responsible for all administrative functions of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, unless otherwise provided by this Charter.

• Direct, supervise, and administer all departments and agencies of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.

• Prepare and present the budget to the Commission for its approval and execute the budget adopted by the Commission.

ADLC Administrative Code excerpt: 

The Chief Executive shall be responsible for the negotiations of contracts with employees of the government, but such contracts shall be subject to the approval of the Commission.