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Ryan Zinke is ready to be back in Washington, D.C., representing Montana. Zinke is running for Montana's newly added second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Zinke this week set out on a 1,200-mile tour through the district. He stopped in Thompson Falls on Tuesday, visiting with The Ledger after meeting with the Sanders County Republican Central Committee.

Zinke, a Republican, talked about the tension between federal control and power and having local influence and voice. He said that America needs to function less on red team vs. blue team and more red, white and blue. When asked where he stood on counties taking federal money tied to COVID, he said he determines his stance issue by issue. He said he thinks the recently passed infrastructure bill was "a Trojan horse," and that states need to judge whether tiebacks are too onerous when accepting federal funds. "Taking federal funds in some cases is taking the bait."

Zinke has previously served in the Montana Senate and spent two years in the U.S. House before being named to Donald Trump's cabinet, serving two years as Secretary of the Interior. Zinke, who was raised in Whitefish, says managing public lands should be up to states, not the federal government, and that public lands should be open for multiple-use recreation.

"I love my country," Zinke stated. "I think it's fixable." He said two things make him right to serve in the U.S. House. "First, I get things done. And second, I have never really cared about political parties. I just love this country."

When asked about solutions for local housing issues, Zinke said counties should look to the private sector to invest in projects. He also said that the state and federal governments need to be more flexible in how counties spend their money. "Every county is different," he noted.

Zinke added that having two seats in the U.S. House means double the influence for Montana. "It will matter in the Electoral College," he said.

Zinke also said that good leaders need to support the people who voted for them, as well as those who didn't and the people who would never vote for them. "I will do things that are in the best interest of Montana."