1. What is your view of the 2004 Attorney General Opinion regarding access to streams from county road bridges ?
have a strong and proven record as a state legislator of consistently voting to protect and expand access to Montana public lands and waterways. The 2004 Attorney General’s opinion played a key role in securing Montanans’ access rights
2. In your opinion are public property rights important - often as important as private property rights?
Private and public property rights are both important and protected by Montana law and our constitution.
3. Do you believe the state should be allowed to acquire water rights sufficient to allow major streams to function as natural aquatic systems?
Yes.
4. Are you familiar with and do you support the Public Trust Doctrine?
Article IX, Section 3 (3) of the Constitution establishes the Public Trust Doctrine that guarantees all waters within the boundaries of Montana as property of the state for the beneficial uses of all our people as provided by law. As a state legislator, I pledged to uphold Montana's constitution and I will do so again as State Auditor.
5. Should we consider the sale of water in Montana’s rivers to be moved out of state?
have been and will always be a strong supporter of protecting Montana's water - both access and quality. I support laws that set strict standards for the sale of any water for out of state use.
6. Should the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks remain the sole decision maker for the allocation of licenses and permits that determine who may legally hunt and harvest Montana wildlife ?
Montana's Fish, Wildlife, and Parks have been charged with this duty and any change in those responsibilities would require extensive discussion with all parties - especially the public.
7. What should be done to reduce elk populations that exceed optimum numbers as defined in current management plans?
When elk numbers exceed numbers defined in sustainable management plans, we should establish special hunts and expand annual harvest levels.
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