Dow bows out with laughs, gifts

City Councilman Rick Dow ended his Havre political career Monday night by praising his colleagues, even those he frequently disagreed with, and handing out gag gifts to other councilmen.

The conservative Dow is moving to Minnesota where his wife, Dr. Margaret Dow, was appointed to a position with the renowned Mayo Clinic.

Dow praised his colleagues, urged people to get involved and clarified his position on Earth Day and the environmental movement.

Dow gave Mayor Tim Solomon an Earth Day T-shirt, recalling their differences over a resolution to recognize Earth Day.

Dow praised Councilwoman Bonnie Parenteau for asking questions and showing her concern for the city. He drew laughs when he presented her a "Proud to be a liberal" T-shirt, which she gladly accepted.

Councilman Jerry Veis got a Kojak T-shirt. Dow and Vies are short of hair.

Councilman Allen

"Woody" Woodwick got three gifts — a toy gun, a cellphone and an unopened bottle of wine.

"Only one of these three things is illegal," Dow said.

Woodwick sponsored the city ordinance banning use of cellphones while driving, which Dow opposed and later was charged with violating. He was cleared by a Havre City Court jury.

Dow also took a shot at

the Havre Daily News.

"If you don't read the newspapers, you are uniformed," he said, quoting Mark Twain. "If you do read the newspapers, you are misinformed," he added.

From that, the councilman defended his opposition to a city proclamation recognizing Earth Day.

He said he meant no slight to the people who recycle and clean up the the city's landscape. But the founders of Earth Day were "bat crap crazy radical environmentalists," he said.

Such over-the-top environmental extremists cause people to lose their jobs — people involved in many local jobs or those who commute to the Bakkens to get jobs in the oilfields.

Those people, he said, are people who take their families into the wilderness or going hunting with friends and are the best stewards of the land.

Dow said he once took part in Recycle Hi-Line's recycle drives but recently has been using the services of the Havre Day Activities Center.

"These people are doing God's work," he said.

Dow was elected in 2011, defeating incumbent Democrat Bob Kaul. Before being elected, he was a frequent guest columnist for the Havre Daily News, where he espoused conservative views.