Election 2015 forum: Ward 1

The Ward 1 candidates for Havre City Council agree they have no problem if people want to have a drink at Town Square while enjoying music at Sounds on the Square.

They would favor allowing the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce to continue operating the program as it always has.

"I think it was blown out of proportion," said Ed Matter, a former school board president and radio station manager.

"If a man and his wife want to drink a wine cooler that's no big deal," he said.

The Chamber sponsors a weekly program featuring local bands Wednesday nights during the summer. A flap developed this summer when a visitor had had an open container at the park and was cited by Havre police.

City Council said it would look at making changes so that when Sounds on the Square came around this summer, such drinking would be legal.

Doug Vance, who is opposing Matter in the voting, said he too felt drinking at the concert was OK.

"As long as it is not disorderly and no one is getting drunk," he said he would allow drinking.

Economic development

Matter admitted that it will be difficult to attract new employers to town, but said the city should try.

He said he saw a lot of hope in a proposal by Greg Gianforte, who is mulling a bid for the GOP nomination for governor, who favors an emphasis on telecommuting.

People could work for companies headquartered in large cities from the confines of their home anywhere in the nation, he said. This, he said, would enable people to return to their Montana roots while still achieving the high salaries that big companies offer.

Vance predicted rough sledding, but said the city should move ahead with economic development efforts.

"No matter what you do, things are going to be tough," he said.

He suggested attracting younger people with an entrepreneurial spirit who want to start businesses.

Chickens and roosters

Matter said he was not a wild supporter of the idea of allowing chickens in the city.

"A couple of chickens in the yard might not be bad," he said.

But he added that he would oppose a large number of chickens or any barnyard animals within city limits.

Vance had his own reason for being skeptical about having animals in the city. He said a neighbor had a rooster that caused a lot of noise in the neighborhood.

"It's not bad for me." he said.

But, he said, it is harder on his daugher, whose bedroom was on the same side of the house.