As Montana’s June 4 primary loomed, 28 candidates for national, state and local offices, or their representatives, trooped to the Kleffner Ranch in East Helena on Apr. 14 for a forum to meet local constituents and publicly field questions on a range of issues.Participants included Montana’s sitting Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras, on behalf of her and Governor Greg Gianforte’s upcoming re-election bid, the entire Republican primary field for U.S. Senate, and a raft of other candidates from across the state.
“A constitutional republic depends on an engaged citizenry,” said Tim Sheehy who hopes to take on incumbent U.S. Senator Jon Tester in November. “It depends on people showing up to actually vote, and it depends on people doing what you’re doing right now, which is learning about the issues, learning about the candidates and ensuring that you are engaged in our process.”
The event was hosted by the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee, chaired by Boulder resident Stu Goodner. Goodner was joined by his wife, Lisa Goodner, Clancy residents Jane Hamman and Terry Kramer, Whitehall residents Jim and Kerry Buterbaugh, and Montana City residents Terry Churchill, Debbie Churchill, Mary Bryson, Dan Johnson, and Tammy Buckley in organizing the event.
“We really appreciate all the candidates that have come here today,” said Debbie Churchill. “We know they’re out on the trail; they’re knocking on doors and talking to people, and we really appreciate the time they’ve taken out of their schedule to come and see us.”
Candidates for each of the included races were given an opportunity to make a public statement before fielding questions from master of ceremo-nies and Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives Matt Regier. Over 28 campaigns were present to distribute literature, speak on behalf of their candidates, and participate in the forum. Most were running for local offices across Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, and Broadwater counties.
“We’re not a monolithic group,” said Regier. “We have a lot of ideas here in our Republican caucus, and that is what we’re here to present.”
Issues spoken to by candidates included proposed Montana State Constitutional Initiative 126, which would effectively create a ranked choice voting system for Montana primary elections and is fiercely opposed by the Montana GOP; parental rights; border security; foreign policy; and others.
While a variety of positions and policy concerns were considered before the audience of roughly 80 attendees, candidates were ultimately uniform in their criticism of President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.
“America is at a crossroads,” said Sheehy. “Boys are boys. Girls are girls. The border should be secure. Gas should be cheap. Cops are the good guys. Criminals are the bad guys. It’s about time we stopped being called bigots and racists for believing basic truths that have underpinned our society for 200 years.” Sheehy, while joined in the Senate Republican primary by fellow hopefuls Brad Johnson and Charles Walkingchild, is the only candidate in any Montana race presently endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
After the Senate candidates addressed the forum, those running for state offices spoke to more Montana specific issues. While many state races were represented, including those for Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Insurance Commissioner, and Secretary of State, the governor’s race was of particular interest to those in attendance. Lt. Gov. Juras, on behalf of Gov. Gianforte, spoke alongside challenger and former Montana State Representative Tanner Smith on several topics, such as property taxes, public safety, entitlements, and Montana’s energy future.
“We need to improve opportunities for our natural resource industries to get back to work,” said Lt. Gov. Juras. “We are pushing back hard against the Biden administration’s policies to shut down the coal industry. Timber, extraction, and others; we are the Treasure State, and we need to remember that.”
“I was born and raised in Stevensville, and every establishment, every business, used to have a sign that said ‘This business is supported by timber dollars,’” said Smith. “We’re going to get back to logging, mining, and using our natural resources.”
Similar presentations were later made by candidates for state Legislature, the Montana Supreme Court, and the 2nd U.S. Congressional district previously occupied by US Representative Matt Rosendale. Of the nine candidates vying for Rosendale’s now vacant seat, only Ric Holden, Stacy Zinn, and Elsie Arntzen had a presence at the forum. Primaries for all races will be held on June 4.
