Montana Jobs for Montanans

Editor:

Our governor mouths the platitude of good jobs for Montanans, but it is happening again: According to an Associated Press story, the state of Montana is proud to announce a nationwide search to fill one of those good Montana jobs.

This time it is for chief public defender. Do we have someone already in this state who has the experience of leading a system with a $23 million budget and 200 employees? Not likely.

But do we have someone with the skills and motivation to provide the necessary leadership? Probably.

It's time for us to give a good Montana job to a Montanan. Yes, his learning curve will be steep. Let's give him the support he needs. We already have good jobs in Montana, and we often give them away to out-of-staters. It's time to give more than lip service to the idea of saving our good Montana jobs for Montanans.

Kent Hanawalt

Livingston