Election 2015: Vance profile in Havre City Council Ward 1 race

Political office is something Douglas Vance never thought he would pursue. Nonetheless, he now finds himself mounting a campaign for Havre City Council.

Vance, a vice president with Herberly and Associates, an engineering consulting firm, is running for the seat in Ward 1 held by Pam Hillery, who is not seeking re-election. He will go up against former school board member and retired KXEI station manager Ed Matter in the elections. Ballots will be mailed out Wednesday.

When asked what his wife and two daughters think about him wading into electoral politics he said, laughing, "probably think I am crazy."

The political newcomer said he had been trying to find a way to give back to the community when local business woman Debbie Rhines approached him about running for council.

"I want to help people," said Vance. "That's what it comes down to, I want to help people."

Because his father was in the Air Force, Vance moved around a lot during his childhood. He lived in Palmer, Alaska, for eight years, where he graduated from high school. Vance then moved to Helena to attend Carroll College where he completed an engineering 3.2 program. He then transferred to Montana State University in Bozeman, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering.

Following his graduation in 1996, Vance relocated to Havre and accepted a position at Heberly and Associates, where he designed telephone networks for rural cooperatives. Six years ago, he bought into the company and became its vice president. He has a wife and two daughters and is a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Jude Thaddeus Church.

Vance concedes he is not someone steeped in policy or who has all the answers. However, he says his background in business and engineering, whether it be his knowledge of contracts and accounting or his willingness to be deliberative in reaching a conclusion, can be an asset.

"A lot of times these solutions come from a couple of days worth of thinking, not right away," said Vance.

One area where he has established a firm position is rehabilitating the city's aged infrastructure.

This election season, along with the candidates, a proposed 20-year, $30 million mill levy increase will be on the ballot. If approved, the measure would spend $1.5 million a year on fixing the city's streets.

Vance said he supports the proposal, saying failure to act now will make it more expensive later on.

Vance wishes the city had been more proactive in the upkeep of its roads, rather than allowing them to devolve into the condition they are in today.

"The last 50 years were a missed opportunity as far as I am concerned," said Vance.

But the mill levy and construction alone he argues, are not enough. Rather he wants the council to come up with a plan that will ensure its roads and other infrastructure don't, once again, fall victim to neglect.

"It's just like a house, it requires maintenance in order to maintain it," he said.

The amount of taxes residents would pay for the road repairs would be eased, many say, by continuing efforts to annex 14 properties west of Havre. Doing so would provide a portion of the needed revenue and alleviate some of the burden on existing Havre taxpayers.

Vance said those who utilize city-provided services should be paying city taxes.

On the economic development front, Vance said he doesn't have a detailed plan. He said the city can provide incentives for companies to relocate to Havre. Such incentives that usually come in the form of property taxes, would not be feasible if the city is working to upgrade its infrastructure.

In terms of the types of companies the city should be looking to attract, Vance said those companies with about 50 to 100 employees would be the city's best bet to start courting.

"I think they should be more on the technology side," he said. "I think what we have here could support that."

Voter Information

• Voting will take place by mail ballot only. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters Wednesday.

• Ballots must be returned by Tuesday, Nov. 3. County officials urge people who have not mailed them by Monday, Nov. 2, to deliver them by hand.

• People can register at the Clerk and Recorder's Office at the Hill County Courthouse in downtown Havre. People can cast their ballot when they register.