Great Falls Candidates: Ed Buttrey, Republican For HD21

Editors note: Candidates on the November 5 ballot for Great Falls/Cascade County HD21 are Republican Ed Buttrey and Democrat Lela Graham. Graham did not respond to our request for a candidate profile.

Personal Bio:

I am a 4th generation Montanan, born in Helena and raised in Great Falls.  I have a degree in Electrical Engineering, and formerly worked out of State as a weapon’s systems designer.  Thankfully, I was able to return to Montana, where I get to live, work, raise my family and realize the beauty of Montana every day. 

I have served in the Montana State House since 2019, and formerly served in the Montana Senate (2011-2018) where I have held leadership positions in each of my legislative sessions.  I served as a two-term Majority Whip in the Montana Senate and currently serve as the Chairman of the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee as well as a member of the House Rules Committee, the House Health and Human Services Committee and the State Broadband Committee.

I have also served as a member of many community boards, as a Fire Department Captain, Emergency Medical Technician, Search and Rescue Diver, Chairman of the Great Falls International Airport Authority, and as a varsity football coach and radio announcer.  This service is only due to the amazing support of my wife Jessica, daughters Kenzy, Macy, TayLee and mother Joan, all living locally in Great Falls. 

Reasons for Running for Office:

As an advocate for public service, I continually strive to find unique solutions and ways to help the people in our community and HD21.  Becoming a member of the Montana Legislature has been a great honor and has allowed me to learn more about the issues and needs of our State and the people who call it home.  The Legislature has offered a unique opportunity to enact policies in Economic Development, Healthcare, protecting our Military assets and families, and to promote for the well-being of Montana families.  I thoroughly enjoy finding solutions to help people and this is why I have run and continue to run for public office.   

Top Challenges:

In these trying political times, there are a number of challenges faced by our community and State that I hope to address in the upcoming Legislative session.  First of all, we are facing an economic crisis nationwide and statewide where the costs of living (food, fuel, housing, taxes) are providing challenges for everyone.  Through responsible budgeting, regulation relief, and tax reform we can ensure that Montanans are able to keep more of their hard-earned money.  I am working hard with others on a plan to finally implement a property tax system that is affordable, responsible and fair. 

We must also keep State and local government responsible and efficient, getting out of the way of business innovation and success, promoting housing development with regulation relief, and ensuring that we have a healthy and reliable workforce for our businesses.  Government can be part of the solution, and should help when needed, but more importantly should get out of the way to allow for individual responsibility and innovation, and to let our families and businesses succeed. 

Finally, we have critical issues with drug related crime and physical/mental health.  While some may choose to bury their heads in the sand and hope these issues go away, the truth is that these issues are impacting everyone in our Montana communities.  If re-elected, I will continue to work to ensure that resources are available to provide help for those that need it, want it and are willing to do the work.  Everyone deserves a chance to succeed, to be respected and to contribute to the success of our great State. 

Great Falls Candidates: Melissa Nikolakakos, Republican For HD20

Editors note: Candidates on the November 5 ballot for Great Falls/Cascade County HD20 are Republican Melissa Nikolakakos and Democrat Rina Moore. Moore did not respond to our request for a candidate profile.

Name: Melissa Nikolakakos
Office Sought: House District 20
Occupation: Teacher
Age: 41
Family: Husband (George) Daughters (Story, Reagan, Melody, Abigail)
Education: BA, University of Montana (Education)
Organizational affiliations: Girl Scouts (Unit Service Leader) Raising Readers (Board Member)

As an educator, 4th generation Montanan, mom of four, twenty-year military spouse, and involved community member I pride myself in serving others. I’m running for office to bring common-sense conservative solutions to Helena and create a better community for our kids and families. Born and raised in small-town Montana I want to ensure those time-tested values are at the front and center of our legislative process.

A quality education for our children with deep parental involvement is my passion. I’ve served as a pre-school president, led with the “Raising Readers” Program (since merged by First Lady Susan Gianforte with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library) serve as a Girl Scout Service Unit Leader, and have served countless times as a PTA president. I’m committed to giving back and serving our community and kids and will work tirelessly every day in Helena to that end. 

We face many challenges in today’s political climate. Property taxes, inflation, and out of control housing costs are driving families from their homes and real reform is needed now. Fiscal responsibility and low regulation are the centerpieces to a strong economy, the backbone of a healthy opportunity driven society. This next legislative session we must enact significant property tax reform that offers meaningful relief to primary residence home-owners, bolster career and technical education and the Teach Act, and return a significant portion of the budget surplus to taxpayers.  

There’s much more but the simple fact is that today both political parties are failing our people. It’s time to retire out of touch self-serving politicians and elect every-day Montanans who want to civilly solve problems rather than create constant conflict and chaos. I’m ready to bring real-world experience and Montana values to Helena to do just that. I look forward to visiting and hopefully earning your vote to serve our community to the best of my ability.

Great Falls Candidates: Kevin Leatherbarrow, Libertarian For HD23

Editors note: Today E-City Beat begins publishing the local candidate profiles provided by those who responded to our request.

Kevin’s life revolves around education, the outdoors and freedom. He moved his family to Great Falls later in 2016. He and his wife have a 6-year-old adopted boy.

Kevin and his wife Annie opened a family run tutoring center in 2017 where they school homeschoolers K-12, advocate for children who receiving Special Education services in public schools and after school tutoring.

Kevin has run for the State Senate 2018, State Superintendent of Public Instruction 2020 and Great Falls public School Board in 2021 and is currently running for HD23 in Great Falls.

Campaign Vision

“To establish a society where individual freedom and personal responsibility are paramount, and the role of government is strictly limited to protecting the rights and property of its citizens.”

Core Principles

  • Individual Liberty: Championing the rights of individuals to live their lives as they see fit, as long as they do not harm others.
  • Limited Government: Advocating for a minimal state role in personal and economic affairs, emphasizing that government’s primary function should be to protect individual rights and property. 
  • Free Market Economy: Promoting unfettered capitalism, deregulation, and free trade as the best means to achieve prosperity and innovation.
  • Property Rights: Asserting strong protections for private property as a cornerstone of freedom and economic development.
  • Self-Reliance and Personal Responsibility: Encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their own lives and welfare, rather than relying on government assistance.
  • Non-Interventionism: Opposing military interventions overseas and promoting a foreign policy based on trade and peaceful diplomacy.

Policy Platform

  • Economic Policies:
  • Comprehensive tax reform with significant reductions in personal and corporate tax rates.
  • Elimination of subsidies and government interventions that distort the free market.
  • Deregulation to remove unnecessary bureaucratic barriers to business and innovation.
  • Social Policies:
  • Protecting individual freedoms in personal and social matters, with minimal government interference.
  • Opposing government surveillance and any infringements on privacy rights.
  • Government Reform:
  • Reducing the size and scope of government, including cuts to unnecessary departments and agencies.
  • Implementing term limits for all elected officials to prevent career politicians.
  • Promoting transparency and accountability in government operations.
  • Justice and Public Safety:
  • Reforming the criminal justice system to focus on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.
  • Protecting the right to bear arms is a fundamental individual liberty.
  • Prioritizing community-based approaches to public safety over federal intervention.

School Freedom

“Empower families and educators to create and choose the best educational opportunities for their children, fostering innovation, excellence, and diversity in education.”

Core Principles

  • Educational Choice: Supporting the right of parents and guardians to choose the best educational setting for their children, whether it’s public, private, charter, homeschooling, or alternative learning models.
  • Decentralization: Advocating for the decentralization of educational governance, giving more control to local communities and reducing federal and state oversight.
  • Market-Based Solutions: Promoting competition among schools to improve quality and efficiency, using market principles to drive innovation and responsiveness to student and parent needs.
  • Deregulation: Reducing bureaucratic regulations that stifle educational innovation and creativity, enabling educators to tailor learning experiences to their students’ needs.
  • Funding Flexibility: Supporting funding mechanisms such as education savings accounts (ESAs), vouchers, and tax credits that allow public education funds to follow students to the schools or services that best meet their needs.

E-City Beat Requests Info From Candidates

Here are the local Great Falls candidates running for state legislature. Below the list is the email E-City Beat sent to all of the candidates requesting a profile, their reasons for running, and their priorities if elected. We’ll be publishing their responses in the coming weeks.

HD 19 (Open seat)
Jane Weber – D
Hannah Trebas – R

HD 20 (Open seat)
Melissa Nikolakakos – R
Rina Fontana Moore – D

HD 21
Ed Buttrey – R (Incumbent)
Lela Graham – D

HD 22
George Nikolakakos – R (Incumbent)
Ron Paulick – D

HD 23
Eric Tilleman – R (Incumbent)
Sandor Hopkins – D
Kevin Leatherbarrow – L

HD 25
Steve Gist – R (Incumbent)
James Rickley – D

Cascade County Commission (Open Seat)
Don Ryan – D
Eric Hinebauch – R

Greetings, candidates,

In order to help fully inform local voters about who our local candidates are and where they stand on the issues before the upcoming election, E-City Beat is requesting a candidate profile from each of you. We’re asking for you to provide our readers with a little personal bio and your reasons for running for office in the upcoming election.

We’d like you to also include the top two or three challenges you think our state and community are facing and how you would address those issues.
Include your profile pic also, if you’d like.

Please keep your submission to 600 words or less and send it in MS Word format to ecitybeat@straymoose.com by September 24, 2024. We will publish your submissions without edits or editorial comment.

Thank you and good luck in the upcoming election.

Philip Faccenda
ECB Editor/Publisher

Sheehy Increases Lead Over Tester, Mural For GF Slain Officer, And More

Jon Tester continues to fall behind Tim Sheehy in pivotal MT U.S. Senate race, which could determine Senate majority, from MTPR:
https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2024-09-06/tester-trails-sheehy-in-senate-race-according-to-aarp-poll

Memorial Mural for Great Falls police officer, Shane Chadwick, is revealed, from KRTV:
https://www.krtv.com/news/great-falls-news/shane-chadwick-memorial-mural-unveiled-in-great-falls

Missing boy found safe in Great Falls, from ABC/FOX NonStop Local:
https://www.montanarightnow.com/great-falls/boy-spotted-at-great-falls-gas-station-found-sunday-evening/article_7d611fbc-6c7e-11ef-aa68-e348bff5430a.html

MT Property Tax Rebate, Sheehy Up 6 On Tester, And More

Governors task force releases Montana property tax recommendations, from the AP:
https://apnews.com/us-news/montana-greg-gianforte-taxes-helena-general-news-9d41adc39c548dac5cb059f3e85ec894

Sheehy leads Tester by 6 points in Montana senate race, from ABC NonStop Local:
https://www.montanarightnow.com/elections/montana-political-show/new-poll-takes-a-look-at-how-montanans-feel-ahead-of-general-election/video_0ed57cf5-32b3-5a0b-b660-a9e461adb259.html

Property tax rebate available to apply for in Montana, from the Montana Free Press:
Homeowners have till Oct. 1 to apply for second Montana property tax rebate (montanafreepress.org)

Crime Stoppers Most Wanted, from the Great Falls Gazette:
CrimeStoppers Most Wanted – Coss, Dan Tanna – Great Falls Gazette ® (gfgazette.com)

Tester Doesn’t Vote For Kamala, Bozeman Trump Rally, And More

This weeks news roundup

Senator Tester only one of 25 Montana Democrat delegates to not vote for Harris as Dem nominee, from MTPR:
https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2024-08-06/tester-withholds-vote-for-harris-highlights-republican-support

Trump rally in Bozeman to support GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, from KRTV:
https://www.krtv.com/news/montana-and-regional-news/trump-supporters-excited-about-his-montana-visit

Big Lots stores closing in Great Falls and Helena, from ABC/Fox NonStop Local:
https://www.montanarightnow.com/great-falls/big-lots-to-close-two-montana-locations-in-helena-great-falls/article_c8dd718e-5342-11ef-a00a-7b1d04d09770.html

Letter To The Editor: Is it the State Fair or the State of the Fair?

Editors note: the opinions expressed in “Letters to the Editor” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of E-City Beat, our volunteer staff, or contributors. All letters to the editor are welcome and will be considered for publication.

If you plan to go to the Fair this year, be prepared. As the saying goes, “This ain’t your grandfathers fair.”

Why? Where do I begin? The food vendors. More on that later. At least 3 fewer rides (and they were the most thrill ones at that.) Fewer overall vendors. Empty spaces in both food and around the park circle. Most notably absent this year is the free acts on the 3 Rivers Stage. None this year. Zero. Zilch. Nada. The Big Goose Egg. What replaced them? Free bingo at the times you would have seen shows.

So. Is it the wonderful (I say that loosely) County Commissioners or the (again loosely) Fair Board? Seems that we have people who were once kids like all of us were, and enjoyed fairs and all that, but now are overlords and can set the terms for what is fun.

Now about the food vendors. What has worked for years is now no longer allowed. Despite a clean record, it seems we have “Der Kommissar” who found that in the Minnesota State Fair problems happened and new rules of engagement had to implemented. So a fair that is one of the largest is compared to one of the smallest. Apples to oranges anyone? Coke to Pepsi? Some vendors no longer have the little paper cups for condiments. After all, paper is flammable. All of these changes required the vendors to pay more money to have what is now ordered for the privilege of serving us at the fair.

Seems there is money to be made in the name of safety (notice money comes first?) We all know it is “All about the Benjamin’s.” On the GFFR site on July 5th, a record of the calls made on the 4th was posted. One very interesting one stands out from the others. A fire that was started by the City’s fireworks was listed. Did they fine themselves? I doubt it. So there is a double standard depending on who or what you are. Just as if a dangerous intersection exists somewhere, before a light is put up there has to be enough accidents first. So show us the record of incidents at the fair that warrants the changes. Comparing us to a large city is not enough. The number of incidents over the years in terms of percentage should count. In doing so, when a certain outcome is desired, the info to obtain that outcome is placed. So could we really trust what the overlords tell us?

Keith

Melania Trump: “…every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.”

Editors note: Here is full text of the letter Melania Trump wrote to America the day after her husband, former President Donald Trump, survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Melania Trump
July 14, 2024

I am thinking of you, now, my fellow Americans.

We have always been a unique union. America, the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, but our courage and common sense must ascend and bring us back together as one.

When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.

To the families of the innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I humbly offer my sincerest sympathy. Your need to summon your inner strength for such a terrible reason saddens me.

A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion – his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration. The core facets of my husband’s life – his human side – were buried below the political machine. Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.

Let us not forget that differing opinions, policy, and political games are inferior to love. Our personal, structural, and life commitment – until death – is at serious risk. Political concepts are simple when compared to us, human beings.

We are all humans, and fundamentally, instinctively, we want to help one another. American politics are only one vehicle that can uplift our communities. Love, compassion, kindness and empathy are necessities.

And let us remember that when the time comes to look beyond the left and the right, beyond the red and the blue, we all come from families with the passion to fight for a better life together, while we are here, in this earthly realm.

Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now.

This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence. We all want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends. We can realize this world again. Each of us must demand to get it back. We must insist that respect fills the cornerstone of our relationships again.

I am thinking of you, my fellow Americans.

The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide – thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.

Biden In Trouble, Tester Turns To Vodka, MT SOS And Abortion, And More

Jon Tester told Montana voters in 2023 that Joe Biden was “absolutely 100% with it” – then came the presidential debate in June…and vodka-cran for Senator Tester, from the Daily Caller:
https://dailycaller.com/2024/07/10/jon-tester-joe-biden-bistro-cacao-vodka-cranberry

MT Secretary of State Jacobsen claims some CI-128 signatures invalid, from the Missoula Current:
https://missoulacurrent.com/abortion-petition-signatures/

Great Falls indoor recreation center/pool now open to the public, from KRTV:
https://www.krtv.com/news/great-falls-news/aim-high-big-sky-recreation-center-opens-in-great-falls