Support our students by supporting Stapleton

Editor:

As a University of Montana student from the Flathead Valley, I have first-hand knowledge of how important education is to future generations.

Adequate preparation in high school for college and affordable, quality, in-state universities is vital to the success of Montana's students.

If you're expecting that I am now going to ask taxpayers to increase the amount of money they send to Montana's public education system, you'd be wrong. Montanans don't need to pay higher taxes to fund education, the money exists literally under our feet.

Take Otter Creek Coal for example: This particular coal tract alone is estimated to produce around $2 billon for education, thanks to legislation authored by Corey Stapleton. Corey is now running for governor because common-sense solutions like Otter Creek have been held up by Brian Schweitzer and Steve Bullock.

Corey also wants to build a medical school in Billings to prevent brain drain of Montana's best students and keep them in-state to practice medicine. I call Corey by his first name in this letter because he took time to meet with me and other students personally while he visited the Flathead. It's not often that politicians actively engage younger voters, but Corey talked with us about the issues we care about for over two hours. This is why I fully support Corey Stapleton to be Montana's next governor: He has demonstrated to me both personally and legislatively that he genuinely cares about Montana's youngest generations.

Brandon Simpson

Missoula