From the bottom of our hearts, we apologize for the disrespect shown to you by our county leaders. The chairman of the planning board should be immediately dismissed for his ignorant bigoted comments. The commissioners also should be and will be voted out during the next election. Their extreme views do NOT reflect the views of the majority of the citizens of Ravalli County. We are sorry that they have disrespected you under the guise of taking care of the county citizens to the tune of $808 per year. It is shameful, ignorant and deceitful.

Open Suggestion to ALL Ravalli County Citizens: We teach our children that it is NOT OK to stand by while someone is targeted by racism. Now is the time to show them with our actions. Every one of us in Ravalli County should speak out right now. It is NOT OK for our leaders to stand by while the planning board chairman infers that the Tribal Elders are comparable to a bunch of “drunken Indians.” The board of commissioners needs to remove him from his post immediately. Anything less than that is “standing by.”