Thoughts on primary defeat

Editor:

First of all, I would like to thank all of you that voted for me in the primary election, especially precincts No. 3, 4, 14, 18, 22 and 28. I feel I worked hard for your vote and will always be grateful for your support. I sincerely feel that all of us living in Hill County will be facing difficult times in the coming future.

Secondly, I am deeply disappointed in fellow Democrats for the low voter turnout. I am new to the political game, although not new to Hill County, and lost this election because of it. I believe in honesty and hard work and I am unable to tell lies or use "dirty politics" in order to win an election. I do believe in my "fellow man" and have a, sometimes painful, tendancy to take everyone at face value.

I worked very hard, spending a lot of time and money, while canvassing Havre and driving to each small town on the Hi-Line, including Rocky Boy and Box Elder. I enjoyed the process of going door-to-door every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and evenings after work, spending many, many hours in rain, snow, wind and occasional sun while traveling our great county. I met some wonderful Hill County residents and will always treasure the memories that were created and the people I met while informing you all of the experience and knowledge I've gained these past 11 years while working for Hill County and of my willingness to work hard to better the life of each Hill County resident. We have some very challenging issues in the years ahead of Hill County, and there is not one person residing here that would have worked harder for all living in Hill County, than I would have. I feel that some of the issues ahead such as annexation, dike repair and maintenance, road and landfill issues would have been better addressed by someone that has experience with the county and wants what is best for Hill County and all of you. Someone willing to listen to your concerns, whatever they may be without making prior or hasty judgements before knowing all sides of the issue, and someone available and in the office every workday. Reduced revenues within the county cannot be addressed correctly by someone that has never worked with a fixed county budget. The county cannot sell a computer, tractor, or finish up an electrical job, in order to generate more revenue as a business owner is able to do when additional revenue is needed.

I believe the Republican Party noted my hard work and chose to try to end my run for Hill County commissioner by casting enough votes for my opponent to ensure his victory and my defeat, in the hopes of giving their candidate, what they feel is, a much better chance of victory in the general election. I hope that my fellow Democrats, independents and all residents of Hill County, will see these tactics for what they are and will vote in the general election in a way that will benefit Hill County instead of in a way that will harm Hill County and all of us. I am concerned with a person becoming Hill County commissioner that will use the position of county commissioner and county funding and power to further their own interests, and we should all be watching closely what happens in the future in the commissioner's office. Just because I lost this election does not mean that I, or any of us, should close our eyes and shut off our brain to wrong doings.

Thank you again to all of you who supported me. I will continue to do, to the best of my abilities, all I can to make Hill County a better place to live for all of us. I sincerely feel that by pulling together we can, and will, "Make a Difference."

Deborah Walker

Former candidate for the Democratic nomination for Hill County commissioner