Montana

New group put more than $500K into Montana Public Service Commission race • Daily Montanan

Published

2 months ago

November 8, 2024

New group put more than 0K into Montana Public Service Commission race • Daily Montanan

In one Public Service Commission race this week, incumbent Republican Jennifer Fielder walloped her challenger despite an infusion of cash by an independent committee for her opponent late in the campaign.

Independent Elena Evans, who criticized Fielder for supporting recent steep rate increases the PSC approved, had raised significantly more money than Fielder on her own.

Then, an independent committee, the Montana Ratepayers Association, reported raising nearly $500,000 for the race to support Evans and defeat Fielder.

Evans lost her campaign anyway, but the windfall of six figures is an anomaly in these races.

Neither the Montana Ratepayers Association nor its dark money funder, American Jobs and Energy Security, returned requests for comment from the Daily Montanan.

However, a political analyst said the big money may be an attempted warning to the Public Service Commission to reconsider its energy priorities — and a state senator and newly elected PSC member said he fears it is and could affect future campaigns.

State Sen. Brad Molnar, R-Laurel. (Provided by the Montana Legislature)

State Sen. Brad Molnar, a Republican who also previously served on the PSC, noted the push of money in the race in a news release last week.

He said he wanted to alert Montanans that a “moneyball” awaits commissioners who don’t support the agenda of the funders, citing another donor, the Climate Cabinet Action.

Based in San Francisco, the organization identifies itself as using a “moneyball” approach — identifying and supporting under-the-radar politicians who back climate initiatives. Records show it gave $20,000 to the Montana Ratepayers Association.

The American Jobs group then gave $475,000.

“We do not know the donors’ motives in funding the Montana Ratepayers Association, but plainly it is not open/fair elections or consumer protection,” said Molnar, himself a previous and future Public Service Commissioner, in a statement.

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The Public Service Commission, made up of five commissioners elected by district, has been criticized for approving high rate increases for energy utilities.

Detractors also argue the PSC, currently all Republican, has been slow to encourage more affordable and sustainable power sources for Montana consumers.

Earlier this year, a coalition of 40 businesses and other organizations submitted a formal request asking the Public Service Commission to consider the adverse impacts of greenhouse gas emissions in utility regulation.

The climate petition is pending.

Most of the late push of more than half a million dollars into the race came from the American Jobs and Energy Security group, which lists its purpose as to support clean energy candidates and initiatives.

The group could not be reached for comment through phone numbers and an email address on file with its registration with the Commissioner of Political Practices.

American Jobs and Energy Security reported sending $475,000 later in September and $40,000 later in October to the Montana Ratepayers Association, plus additional in-kind contributions.

The Montana Ratepayers Association reported spending part of the money on “creative testing,” or polling research, and the bulk of it on digital and print advertising to support Evans.

In an interview last Friday, political analyst Lee Banville said large infusions of dark money are unusual in down-ballot races in Montana. However, he said they have taken place before, such as in Montana Supreme Court races.

“We saw it in the ballot initiative to get marijuana legalized,” said Banville, journalism professor and head of the School of Journalism at the University of Montana, of the 2020 effort. “There was a single group that funded the entire thing that we know almost nothing about.”

In this case, Banville said funders might be those who are frustrated by the lack of transition to renewable energy, which the PSC has not been pushing. The money may be a way to “change the conversation,” but be a warning to other commissioners and hopefuls as well.

“‘Maybe you should be taking renewables more seriously,’” Banville said of the possible message.

Prior to the election, however, Banville said Fielder had the advantage in the race regardless, being a Republican with incumbency and plenty of name recognition as a former state legislator.

But Banville also said he wanted to know the true purpose of the Montana Ratepayers Association: “Are they a real organization doing things to protect ratepayers? Or are they serving as a pass-through for money that is otherwise dark?”

The Montana Ratepayers Association is not registered with the Secretary of State’s Office. It did not respond to an email last week from the Daily Montana or a request for comment in a form submitted through its web portal.

The only information on its website is about recent PSC rate hikes, and the only candidates it mentions are Evans, whom it supported, and Fielder, whom it accused of “corporate cronyism.”

Jennifer Fielder of the Montana Public Service Commission (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Fielder).

In a phone call the day after the election, however, Fielder said she suspects the funds spent to oppose her are “corporate money from entities that tend to profit from PSC decisions.”

But Fielder said she did not know for sure, and regardless, she didn’t see the expenditure as a threat from those who want the PSC to respond to the harmful effects of climate: “I don’t operate that way.”

“I do what is right under the law and in the public interest,” Fielder said. “I do my best, and fortunately, the people have tended to agree with that kind of thinking and have sent me back to continue working for them.”

Fielder had earned 55% of the vote to Evans’ 45%, according to the election results on the Montana Secretary of State’s elections site Thursday.

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In an email to the Daily Montanan about the Montana Ratepayers Association, Evans said she learned about the group from people in her district who received its mailers and shared them with her.

Independent Elena Evans, who ran for the PSC. (Provided by the Evans campaign.)

Although she lost, she said she was “overwhelmed” by the response from Montanans — “Trump voters and Harris voters” — who wanted to see change on the PSC.

In a public statement after the election, Evans said she would not stop advocating for “forward-thinking” energy sources and “a better future for our children.”

Besides Fielder and Molnar, one other Republican won his race for the Public Service Commission this week. State Sen. Jeff Welborn, a moderate from Dillon, had 62% of the vote Thursday to Leonard Williams’ 38%.

Welborn said when it comes to energy sources, reliability is key for the people he has talked to during his campaign — to keep refrigerators cold and hospitals open, for instance — even if consumers have to pay a little bit more.

But he said it’s hard to raise money for Public Service Commission races, more so than for legislative races, and the six-figure contribution is striking.

Four- and five-figure campaigns are more commonplace for the PSC.

Jeff Welborn (Courtesy of Montana Legislative Services)

“I’m here to tell you that it is a big effort to raise even $5,000 one check at a time from donors,” Welborn said.

The groups didn’t insert themselves in his campaign, but Welborn said big money won’t change the way he approaches his decisions regardless: “I’m not going to be bullied or pushed around by any organization.”

Still, he said, the fact that some entity can drop even $100,000 on a PSC candidate — “exponentially” more than candidates can raise on their own — and help them buy 20 times the name recognition is significant. And he said it raises questions.

“What is that expectation for the return on investment?” Welborn said. “And at whose feet does that expectation fall?”

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Support, direct and indirect

The groups behind the half a million dollars for PSC candidate Elena Evans, separate from her candidate campaign, did not return calls or emails for comment from the Daily Montanan.

American Jobs and Energy Security lists an address at a Delaware building with a business that registers companies and helps make sure others “stay out of your business.”

It couldn’t be reached by phone last week or this week.

Montana Conservation Voters political director Molly Bell said her organization supported Evans, and it received indirect help from the groups.

In August, a consultant with Ship Creek Group, a creative and political agency in Alaska, contacted Montana Conservation Voters to see if it wanted to pool resources in conjunction with a poll, Bell said.

Ship Creek received support from the Montana Ratepayers Association, funded mostly by American Jobs and Energy Security, according to campaign finance reports.

The consultant on the project did not return a request for comment from the Daily Montanan.

Late last week, Bell said she didn’t know much about the groups that were also wanting to support Evans and clean energy, although she was pleased to hear they shared similar goals.

Bell had hoped to see Evans declare victory, but she said the aim from her organization is a PSC that supports new energy and commissioners who won’t be a “rubber stamp” for the fossil fuel industry.

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Montana Ag Network: Sleigh ride season kicks off in Montana

Published

6 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Montana Ag Network: Sleigh ride season kicks off in Montana

On a frosty morning in late December, Marce Hoffman backs two huge draft horses out of a barn at the historic 320 Ranch south of Big Sky.

“Step up, step up,” Hoffman instructs the horses as he maneuvers them toward a waiting sled. It’s time to take the animals out for a turn on a trail they’ll know well by the end of the winter season. They’ll tread the path up to seven days a week during the holidays and five days a week after that. The animals strain in their harnesses, eager to pull and run.

“They’re fresh. They won’t be fresh come New Year’s, though; they’ll be all muscled up, ready to go,” said Hoffman.

MTN News

The 320 has a long history. It was homesteaded as two separate ranches more than 125 years ago.

“1912 they combined them to form 320 acres That’s how the ranch became known as the 320,” explained Hoffman as he practiced the history lesson he gives while narrating the ride through the high, narrow valley the ranch is nestled in, just outside the boundary of Yellowstone National Park.

In 1936, Bozeman doctor Carolyn McGill purchased the ranch.

Hoffman said, “She fell in love with this area on different hunting trips, trips down into the Yellowstone Park.”

You might recognize McGill’s name from somewhere else.

“Caroline started the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman; was actually called the McGill Museum when it first opened up,” said Hoffman.

Current owner Dave Bass purchased the ranch in 1985.

Hoffman explained that’s when the ranch really began to grow into a tourist Mecca. He said, “He (Bass) bought it up from a 20 gust capacity over 200 that we have today.” He pointed to cabins that drifted by, framed by the mountains and the Gallatin River. It’s the view guests get as they take a one-hour trail ride in the sleighs. Hoffman ticked off the sights: “You get to see Cinnamon Mountain, Burnt Top Mountain. We’ll be able to see the Spanish Peaks when we go along the Gallatin here. Looking back you’ve got a view of Monument.”

As he drives onto a flat, straight stretch of the trail, the horses get frisky. “These guys are gonna air out right here,” he cautioned, just as the horses break into a run. It demonstrated the challenge of managing big Percheron horses around guests.

“Our number one priority is keeping everybody safe. So we always have to be constantly looking at the equipment. As far as the people, probably the hardest part is herding them up and getting them on the sleighs,” Hoffman laughed as he allowed that it is probably harder to manage the passengers than the animals.

Sitting next to him, Head Wrangler Logan McDaniel said she enjoyed working at the ranch.

“I like, of course, to drive and work with the horses but also meeting people from all around the world. You get to meet people from all different parts of life, all kind of different places,” she said. “They’re here for vacation. You get to kind of realize a little bit of people’s life story. It’s pretty cool just to meet different people.”

And the horses?

Hoffman said, “We’re looking for good disposition, you know. We’re not looking for heavy pullers we’re just looking for horses that are pretty docile and easy-going horses. They’re not gonna win any pulling competitions here.”

But these workhorses are no slouches.

“We’ll pull 18 people no problem and these guys are big horses,” said Hoffman.

He said that translates to about 18 hands and nearly 2,000 pounds each. As the horses cool down after their workout, Hoffman wiped them down and explained how these animals cope with the harsh winters at the ranch.

“You know those horses are on hay, you know free choice grass hay and water. They do pretty well. We’ve got a lean-to for them to get out of the wind. But for the most part, you know, they’re pretty hearty animals,” he said.

By late afternoon, as dusk descends on the ranch, guests begin to wander toward a pair of the big sleighs. They board the blanket covered seats for a ride out to the other end of the valley where a wood-floored canvass tent awaits. It’s heated and features a bar serving snacks, hot cocoa, cider, and more. A fire crackles in a pit surrounded by seats outside. After a bit of rest, the passengers will climb back into the sleds for a ride back to the ranch restaurant.

Taking in the view around them, Hoffman and McDaniel reflected on their jobs. Hoffman said, “There’s a lot of people that never seen a horse or been around horses, so it’s a good opportunity to you know, to introduce them to the horses.”

McDaniel added, “It’s cool watching people fall in love with the horses. That’s why I kind of do this. It’s to see people fall in love with horses like I do.”

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Missoula Sentinel pipeline aiding Montana State's run to FCS national championship game

Published

13 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Missoula Sentinel pipeline aiding Montana State's run to FCS national championship game

MISSOULA — Montana State’s path to Frisco, Texas, for the FCS national championship has been built by Treasure State natives.

For Rylan Ortt, Adam Jones and Zac Crews, that road started with the decision to become Bobcats — and spurn the hometown Montana Grizzlies — after playing high school football at Missoula Sentinel.

Tom Wylie / MTN Sports

Montana State captain Rylan Ortt stands during the coin toss of the Bobcats’ game against Idaho in the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.

“Rylan was the first guy to grow up a Griz fan and make that jump over to Bozeman for a lot of different reasons,” Sentinel football coach Dane Oliver told MTN Sports. “And so that kind of laid the foundation. And I know Zac and Adam both looked up to Rylan.

“You know how recruiting works, if they’re having a positive experience wherever they’re at, it helps when they hear from a kid that they trust and know.”

Ortt joined Montana State in 2019 after a stellar Sentinel career playing quarterback and throwing the javelin. As the Spartans’ QB, Ortt threw for 2,098 yards and rushed for 750 yards as a senior in 2018.

In the javelin, he won the 2019 Class AA state championship with a throw of 208 feet, 8 inches.

Once in Bozeman, Ortt transitioned to safety. He redshirted in 2019, and the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the four years since, he has emerged as one of the leaders on a defense full of Montana guys.

This season, he leads the Bobcats with 75 total tackles. He’s also caught one interception and forced and recovered a fumble.

“He sacrificed a lot for our (Sentinel) program just having to play quarterback,” said Oliver, who played for the Grizzlies and was a member of their last national title team in 2001. “And hopefully that’s helped him being a safety, and maybe the knowledge you gain from the quarterback perspective has allowed him to have success at that level.”

While Ortt has been a stalwart in MSU’s secondary, Jones has had a breakout season on offense. He burst onto the scene in the Bobcats’ season-opening come-from-behind win at FBS New Mexico when he rushed for 167 yards, including a 93-yard touchdown that sparked the fourth-quarter comeback.

Jones this season has become the most prolific freshman runner in program history, rushing for 1,134 yards and 14 touchdowns. Against Idaho in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs, Jones accounted for 95 yards and four touchdowns with starting running back Scottre Humphrey sidelined.

“He’s got all the traits of what it takes to be great,” Oliver said of Jones. “You know, (Jones is successful) maybe a little earlier than I expected. I think the thing that Adam had going for him (in high school) was he was a three-sport athlete. You know, he was a heck of a baseball player, did hockey and football.

“He was always physical. … He’s got the hockey nature, so he’s not afraid of contact. But he’s put on some weight. He can finish runs, always falls forward, he’s got great vision. He’s got all the qualities of a back.”

Montana State vs. South Dakota — Montana State’s Adam Jones (23) and Zack Black (50) celebrate after the Bobcats defeated South Dakota in a semifinal game of the FCS playoffs at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.

Jones, Crews and fellow Cats Dylan Rollins and J.J. Dolan each played a part in helping Sentinel win Class AA state football championships in 2020 and 2021. Prior to the 2020 title, the Spartans’ last championship came in 1972.

Crews, a sophomore, has turned into a contributor on the defensive line with 24 total tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Dolan is a redshirt freshman, and Rollins, the 2020 Gatorade Montana player of the year and a 2021 Sentinel grad, is a freshman after beginning his college career at BYU and serving an LDS mission.

Now they’re all part of an MSU program aiming to end its own drought and win its first national championship since 1984.

“It’s fun to see them go on to be successful, not just the ones that play college football,” Oliver said. “It’s made me realize why I do this. It takes a lot of time and energy to coach high school football.

“So, just to see them grow into young men and have success and be fulfilled in it, whatever career they choose, and those guys are doing it on a public stage, and so obviously super rewarding for myself and all our staff to see the success they’re having.”

Montana State (15-0) will play North Dakota State (13-2) for the FCS national championship on Jan. 6.

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Montana

How North Dakota State and Montana State reached the FCS national championship game

Published

24 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

How North Dakota State and Montana State reached the FCS national championship game

After a thrilling 2024 season, FCS football will crown a champion when North Dakota State and Montana State battle on a Monday night. As the Bison and Bobcats near the pinnacle of the sport, let’s take a look back at their journeys.

🏈 MORE FCS FOOTBALL 🏈

North Dakota State

Regular season

North Dakota State finished the regular season 10-2, losing its first game to Colorado out of the FBS and its final game to South Dakota out of the MVFC. The season-ending loss prevented the Bison from winning the MVFC outright, but it didn’t matter as NDSU still got the No. 2 overall seed in the playoffs.

FCS playoffs

North Dakota State fought off an early scare from Abilene Christian in the second round to win by 20 points. In the quarterfinals, the Bison beat Mercer 31-7 in a game they controlled from start to finish.

Semifinal round

In the semifinals, North Dakota State defeated South Dakota State for the second time this year to advance to the championship game. Click or tap here for more on the thrilling finish.

Bison schedule

Opponent	Win/Loss	Score	Record	Ranking (AFCA)
at Colorado	L	31-26	0-1	No. 2
vs. Tennessee State	W	52-3	1-1	No. 2
at ETSU	W	38-5	2-1	No. 2
vs. Towson	W	41-24	3-1	No. 2
at No. 15 Illinois State	W	42-10	4-1	No. 2
vs. No. 6 North Dakota	W	41-17	5-1	No. 2
at Southern Illinois	W	24-3	6-1	No. 2
vs. No. 1 South Dakota State	W	13-9	7-1	No. 2
at Murray State	W	59-6	8-1	No. 1
vs. Northern Iowa	W	42-19	9-1	No. 1
vs. No. 14 Missouri State	W	59-21	10-1	No. 1
at No. 4 South Dakota	L	29-28	10-2	No. 1
vs. (15) Abilene Christian	W	51-31	11-2	No. 4
vs. (7) Mercer	W	31-7	12-2	No. 4
vs. (3) South Dakota State	W	28-21	13-2	No. 4

Key players this season

QB Cam Miller
RB CharMar Brown
RB TK Marshall
WR Bryce Lance
WR Braylon Henderson
TE Joe Stoffel
OL Mason Miller
OL Grey Zabel
DL Eli Mostaert
DL Kody Huisman
DL Loshiaka Roques
LB Logan Kopp
DB Darius Givance
K Griffin Crosa

North Dakota State has a reloaded roster under first-year head coach Tim Polasek. The Bison have the Jerry Rice Award winner CharMar Brown in the backfield along top-three Walter Payton Award finalist Cam Miller. The trenches are stout yet again with NFL prospect Grey Zabel on offense and All-American Eli Mostaert on defense.

Montana State

Regular season

Montana State finished the regular season 12-0 with the longest regular-season win streak in the FCS. Only two Bobcat games — an FBS win over New Mexico State and a Big Sky win over UC Davis — were within one possession.

FCS playoffs

Montana State’s dominance continued in the playoffs. The Bobcats didn’t play a close game in the first two rounds, averaging 50.5 points scored and a 32.5 margin of victory.

Semifinal round

In the semifinals, Montana State held off South Dakota to advance to the championship game. Tommy Mellott led the way offensively with 134 passing yards and a touchdown plus 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Click or tap here for more from the game.

Bobcat schedule

Opponent	Win/Loss	Score	Record	Ranking (AFCA)
at New Mexico	W	35-31	1-0	No. 4
at Utah Tech	W	31-7	2-0	No. 3
vs. Maine	W	41-24	3-0	No. 3
vs. Mercyhurst	W	52-13	4-0	No. 3
at Idaho State	W	37-17	5-0	No. 3
vs. Northern Colorado	W	55-17	6-0	No. 3
vs. No. 8 Idaho	W	38-7	7-0	No. 3
Portland State	W	44-14	8-0	No. 3
at Eastern Washington	W	42-28	9-0	No. 2
vs. Sacramento State	W	49-7	10-0	No. 2
at No. 4 UC Davis	W	30-28	11-0	No. 2
vs. No. 10 Montana	W	34-11	12-0	No. 2
vs. UT Martin	W	49-17	13-0	No. 1
vs. Idaho	W	52-19	14-0	No. 1
vs. South Dakota	W	31-17	15-0	No. 1

Key players this season

QB Tommy Mellott
RB Scottre Humphrey
RB Adam Jones
WR Taco Dowler
WR Ty McCullouch
TE Rohan Jones
OL Marcus Wehr
OL Conner Moore
OL Titan Fleischmann
OL Cole Sain
DL Brody Grebe
DL Paul Brott
LB McCade O’Reilly
LB Danny Uluilakepa
DB Andrew Powdrell
DB Rylan Ortt
P Brendan Hall

Montana State is an experienced group with a mix of young talent. Adam Jones was the runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award while senior Tommy Mellott is a top-three Walter Payton Award finalist. Brody Grebe leads the defense; he finished ninth in Buck Buchanan Award voting.