Montana

GOP primaries set to shape Montana Legislature

Published

2 years ago

May 12, 2022

GOP primaries set to shape Montana Legislature

HELENA — Republicans have held a strong majority within the Montana Legislature for greater than a decade, and that sample seems more likely to proceed in 2022. Meaning GOP primaries may play a giant function in how subsequent 12 months’s legislative session performs out.

Throughout 100 Home races and 26 Senate races statewide, 31 function two or extra Republicans competing within the June major. 9 incumbent Republican lawmakers are dealing with major challengers. Within the remaining 22 races, a number of Republicans are operating to interchange a departing incumbent or problem a Democrat.

The contested races are unfold throughout the state, from Miles Metropolis to Mineral County. Eight of them are within the Flathead alone.

One notable contest is the one one within the state the place two incumbent Republicans are dealing with off: Reps. Geraldine Custer and Barry Usher are each operating to signify Senate District 20 in Jap Montana. Every of them at the moment represents half of the district, which incorporates all of Musselshell and Treasure Counties and elements of Rosebud, Yellowstone and Custer Counties. Incumbent Sen. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip, is termed-out and couldn’t run once more.

Custer lives close to Forsyth. She served greater than 30 years because the clerk and recorder of Rosebud County, earlier than being elected to the state Home in 2014, the place she’s served 4 phrases. She factors to her household background in agriculture, her information of the problems dealing with the district and her native authorities expertise.

Custer says Ankney inspired her to run for his seat. Each of them have been linked to the “Options Caucus,” a gaggle of Republicans identified to interrupt with occasion leaders and work with Democrats on sure points. In the course of the 2021 session, Custer voted towards Republican-sponsored payments to get rid of Election Day voter registration, to determine partisan judicial elections and to maintain transgender athletes off women’ sports activities groups.

“I really feel like, as a candidate, that you just’re despatched there to not compromise your personal values, and undoubtedly to vote for what’s good on your space,” Custer mentioned. “In case you’ve achieved that, I feel on the finish of the day you possibly can relaxation simple, and I really feel like that’s what I do. Typically, sure, it goes towards what the occasion does, however I really feel like my expertise is why I can get up.”

Custer says she’s open to some new concepts on election legislation, however she’s assured Montana’s elections are safe. She additionally says she trusts judges within the state to behave impartially and doesn’t see a necessity for in depth adjustments to judicial elections. A number of the high priorities she identifies are addressing rising property taxes, housing and labor shortages, baby care availability and the financial transition round Colstrip.

Usher is a enterprise proprietor, working dealerships like Beartooth Harley-Davidson and Beartooth Mahindra close to Billings, the place he sells bikes, tractors and off-road autos. He unsuccessfully challenged Ankney in a Senate major in 2014, then was elected to the Home in 2016 and has held the seat for 3 phrases.

Usher has been a staunch conservative within the Legislature, and he factors to his voting report when encouraging GOP major voters to help him. He argued Custer has damaged with the Republican occasion line much more than the opposite Options Caucus members.

“I feel it’s fairly simple and clear; you simply should lookup our voting data,” he mentioned. “We differ on nearly all of our votes. I’m clearly a conservative Republican voting Montana values, and my opponent just isn’t.”

Usher says he’s seen constituents dropping religion within the state’s election system, and he favors extra restrictions on voter ID and registration as measures to make sure integrity. He argues the Montana Supreme Courtroom and district judges have put themselves above different branches of presidency, and he supported proposals to make judicial elections partisan and elect Supreme Courtroom justices by district as a substitute of at-large.

Usher recognized inflation and property taxes as the most important points for folks in his district. He additionally says he’s targeted on felony justice, together with addressing facets of a 2017 reform package deal that he believes have hindered the justice system.

In Home District 97, which covers Lolo and rural elements of Missoula County, two Republicans are operating to interchange the termed-out Rep. Brad Tschida, a distinguished conservative who’s now operating for state Senate.

Lyn Hellegaard is government director of Missoula Ravalli Transportation Administration Affiliation and the Montana Transit Affiliation. She additionally served one time period on the Missoula Metropolis Council from 2008 to 2011. She says her work has given her expertise working with legislators and being a part of the lawmaking course of.

Hellegaard says she’s most involved about inflation and rising property taxes. She needs the state to concentrate on boosting useful resource growth as a method to cut back the burden on property homeowners.

Hellegaard, together with Tschida, has additionally been concerned with an effort by Missoula County activists that alleged there have been discrepancies within the 2020 election and mentioned they discovered a number of thousand mail ballots couldn’t be matched with envelopes. She says there are loopholes in state election legislation that must be modified to make sure safety.

Missoula County election officers have mentioned the activists’ declare is inaccurate, and that every one 2020 ballots have been correctly licensed.

Michael Burks owns a number of companies in Montana, Idaho and Washington. He’s additionally a volunteer pilot and “wing chief” with Angel Flight West, a corporation that arranges free flights for folks in want of well being care or different help.

MTN reached out to Burks a number of occasions, however didn’t obtain a response from him. In a press release on his web site asserting his candidacy, he recognized property taxes, the price of residing, crime charges and homelessness as a number of the points that must be addressed.

In a March put up on his marketing campaign Fb web page, Burks pushed again on claims about election integrity. He mentioned a second rely of 2020 ballots, carried out with county GOP volunteers watching, discovered lower than 100 ballots. He mentioned the outcomes confirmed no proof of corruption, and he urged voters to take part on this 12 months’s election – and belief their ballots will probably be counted.

Hellegaard says she believes there’s room for Republicans to work their disagreements out inside the occasion.

“That’s one factor that I like about that physique, is you possibly can have a differing opinion and get these arguments and discussions out, which helps our constituents perceive what’s occurring,” she mentioned. “I’m for the dialogue – and that’s one factor in regards to the Republicans, we usually don’t vote the occasion line.”

Here’s a full checklist of Montana legislative districts with contested Republican races:

Home District 3 (Columbia Falls, West Glacier and jap Flathead County): Incumbent Rep. Braxton Mitchell, Lorena Wooden
Home District 5 (Whitefish): Lyn Bennett, Brian Owens
Home District 7 (Kalispell): Dave Ingram, Courtenay Sprunger
Home District 8 (Kalispell): Former Rep. David Dunn, Terry Falk, Lynne Ogden Rider, Mark Twichel
Home District 9 (Kalispell and Evergreen): David August, Tony Brockman, Constance Neumann
Home District 11 (Somers and Lakeside): Devon Decker, Ronalee Skees, Tanner Smith
Home District 14 (Mineral County and elements of Sanders and Missoula Counties): Incumbent Rep. Denley Loge, Randy Mitchell
Home District 15 (Elements of CSKT and Blackfeet reservations): Ralph Foster, Betsy Johnson
Home District 17 (Teton County and elements of Lewis and Clark and Pondera Counties): Incumbent Rep. Ross Fitzgerald, Justin Cleveland
Home District 26 (Nice Falls): Marci Marceau, George Nikolakakos
Home District 30 (Central Montana): James Bergstrom, Randyn Gregg
Home District 38 (Miles Metropolis): Wyatt Winchester English, Greg Kmetz, Mike Willems
Home District 40 (Musselshell County and northern Yellowstone County): Bob Goffena, Bruce Hoiland, John Nickelson, Greg Oblander
Home District 55 (Laurel): Lee Deming, Curtis Schomer
Home District 65 (Bozeman): James Cocco, Ryan Eisele
Home District 68 (Belgrade): Incumbent Rep. Caleb Hinkle, former Rep. Bruce Grubbs
Home District 75 (Jefferson County): Incumbent Rep. Marta Bertoglio, Tim McKenrick
Home District 78 (Anaconda and Deer Lodge): Incumbent Rep. Gregory Frazer, Steven Grant
Home District 81 (Helena): Charlie Hull, Jill Sark
Home District 84 (Helena and East Helena): Kurt Aughney, Keith Pigman, Kaitlyn Ruch
Home District 86 (Hamilton): Incumbent Rep. David Bedey, Jeffrey Jones
Home District 88 (Northern Ravalli County): Alan Lackey, Wayne Rusk
Home District 97 (Lolo and different outlying areas of Missoula County): Michael Burks, Lyn Hellegaard
Senate District 4 (Kalispell): Rep. John Fuller, Lee Huestis
Senate District 5 (Flathead County): Rep. Mark Noland, Rob Tracy
Senate District 12 (Nice Falls): Rep. Wendy McKamey, Desma Meissner
Senate District 14 (North-central Montana): Incumbent Sen. Russ Tempel, Steven Chvilicek
Senate District 20 (Jap Montana): Rep. Geraldine Custer, Rep. Barry Usher
Senate District 34 (Belgrade): Bryan Donald Haysom, Shelley Vance
Senate District 43 (Southern Ravalli County): Incumbent Sen. Jason Ellsworth, Joede Vanek
Senate District 49 (Missoula County): Nancy Burgoyne, Rep. Brad Tschida

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Montana

Pups with a purpose: Photo contest a backdrop for Montana public lands

Published

4 hours ago

September 29, 2024

Press Room

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(Big Sky Connection) A Montana conservation group is holding a photo contest, with a focus on dogs and social media to promote the state’s vast trove of public lands.

The Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund wants photos of people with their dogs enjoying Montana’s 30 million acres of public lands.

Kearstyn Cook, program director for the fund, said those lands are one-third of the state and featuring photos of dogs with their humans in the “Pups for Public Lands” photo contest is an effective way to encourage people to experience Montana’s crown jewels.

“With our best friends, our dogs,” Cook explained. “Because it seems like dogs are also a way of life here. Everyone has them. So, with this contest we are kind of hoping to inspire Montanans to get outside with their dogs in a responsible way that respects our public lands.”

People enter the contest on Instagram by following Montana Conservation Voters, tagging them and using the hashtag “pups for public lands” in their post. The contest winners will be featured on a calendar and the top dogs will get what’s described as a “prize pack of goodies.”

Kim West, professional pet photographer for Missoula-based Lint Roller Productions, is a contest judge who will potentially scroll through thousands of dog photos after the contest closes Monday.

“It’s a tough job looking at cute dog photos but I’m up to the task,” West joked. “One of the easiest ways that people can improve their pet photos is to get low when they’re taking that shot, and to photograph from the dog’s eye level. It really invites the viewer into the dog’s world.”

West added the best time to snap a photo is in what she called the “golden hour,” either early in the morning or just before dusk.

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Montana

Scottre Humphrey scores three touchdowns as No. 3 Montana State pulls past Idaho State

Published

13 hours ago

September 29, 2024

Press Room

Scottre Humphrey scores three touchdowns as No. 3 Montana State pulls past Idaho State

POCATELLO, Idaho — Third-ranked Montana State was locked in a tense tussle with Idaho State through three quarters Saturday at the ICCU Dome.

After the Bengals clawed back to within 17-10 to start the fourth quarter, Bobcats quarterback Tommy Mellott lobbed a pass to tight end Rohan Jones, who had gotten behind the ISU defense. Seventy yards later, Jones was in the end zone, giving the Cats a two-possession lead they would not relinquish on their way to a 37-17 Big Sky Conference football win.

In what was expected to be a high-scoring affair between two explosive offenses, it was the defenses that shined early.

Montana State led just 3-0 at the end of the first quarter, getting a 44-yard field goal from Myles Sansted after capitalizing on a 50-yard punt return by Taco Dowler. The Bengals had just 8 yards of offense in the first quarter.

The offenses got going in the second quarter, though. On the first play of the period, Mellott corralled a high snap and then weaved through the Idaho State defense for a 7-yard touchdown run that put MSU up 10-0.

Scottre Humphrey added to Montana State’s lead midway through the quarter on a bruising 18-yard touchdown run. Humphrey powered through an Idaho State defender at the goal line to push the Cats’ advantage to 17-0.

It looked the rout might be on, but Idaho State had an answer. The Bengals moved the ball deep into Montana State territory with less than a minute to play before halftime. Facing fourth and goal from the 5-yard line, Idaho State coach Cody Hawkins opted to go for the touchdown instead of kick the short field goal.

Quarterback Kobe Tracy threw a high pass to the back of the end zone, and 6-foot-6 receiver Michael Shulikov made a leaping, toe-tapping catch to send the Bengals into halftime trailing just 17-7.

They got back within 17-10 on a 33-yard field goal to start the fourth.

But Montana State closed the game in style — first getting the 70-yard touchdown by Jones and then a 6-yard scoring run by Humphrey to go up 31-10.

After the Bengals scored — this time on an impressive 16-yard pass from Tracy to Jeff Weimer — the Bobcats leaned on their ground game to add another Humphrey touchdown and run out the clock, improving to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in Big Sky play.

Turning point: Idaho State had gotten back within seven points when Jones gave momentum back to Montana State. The junior tight end got behind the defense and nobody was close to him when he caught Mellott’s pass. Jones showed off his speed, pulling away from the Bengals to find paydirt. The Bobcats were never threatened the rest of the way.

Stat of the game: Idaho State totaled just 276 yards of offense. The Bengals entered the game averaging 278 passing yards and 140 rushing yards per game. They had 201 passing yards Saturday and just 75 rushing yards.

Bobcat game balls: RB Scottre Humphrey (Offense). Idaho State did a commendable job against the Bobcats’ vaunted rushing attack, but Humphrey still finished with 159 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries.

DB Rylan Ortt (Defense). Ortt has been a solid presence in the Montana State secondary all season and was again Saturday. After the Bobcats turned the ball over on an Adam Jones fumble in the second quarter, Ortt made a diving interception to keep Idaho State off the scoreboard. The pick led to Humphrey’s first touchdown, as the Bobcats took control.

PR Taco Dowler (Special teams). Dowler has turned into a threat returning punts for the Bobcats, and his 50-yard return gave Montana State a spark in the early going. For the game, he fielded five punts and had 73 return yards.

What’s next: Montana State (5-0 overall, 1-0 Big Sky) returns to Bozeman for its first Big Sky Conference home game of the season against Northern Colorado (0-5, 0-1), which lost 28-7 to Cal Poly this week. The Bobcats have won their past 10 meetings with the Bears, including the last four by an average margin of more than 28 points. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 5 inside Bobcat Stadium.

Idaho State (2-3, 0-1), meanwhile, is at Cal Poly (2-2, 1-0) next week. The Bengals won the most recent meeting between the two teams, a 40-31 victory in 2022.

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Montana

Q2 Billings Area Weather: Records may fall Sunday, then our highs fall quickly

Published

21 hours ago

September 29, 2024

Press Room

Q2 Billings Area Weather: Records may fall Sunday, then our highs fall quickly

BILLINGS — Much of Montana and Wyoming had nothing but sun on Saturday, but some areas dealt with smoke from the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming. We can expect a fairly clear sky tonight and it will be a little milder Sunday morning than it was Saturday morning. Lows will be in the 40s and lower to mid 50s.

An approaching trough of low pressure and cold front will increase our cloud cover, our wind speed and our high temperatures on Sunday. Record-breaking heat is possible by late afternoon with highs in the 90s, and fire danger will be much higher with the heat, dry air and stronger wind. Please be careful, everyone!

Once the new week arrives, a new weather pattern arrives, too. A cold front will race over Montana and Wyoming late Sunday and early Monday, bringing much stronger wind and cooler air. Highs Monday will be 25-30 degrees cooler than Sunday. Much of next week looks dry, but we’ll be in the 60s and 70s with gusty wind.

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