Category: Montana

Donald J. Sterhan is the President and CEO of Mountain Plains Equity Group. He has previously served as Chairman of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, President of the Montana Chamber Foundation, on the White House Conference on Small Business, and as a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.

Rosendale’s plan will get Montana’s economy back on track

By Donald J. Sterhan

There’s no question that we’re facing unprecedented challenges in today’s economy.  From job losses and disruptions in education, to deferred payments, business closures and even bankruptcies, it’s clear we have a lagging economy that is stumbling along in uncertainty.  On that much, I think most all of us can agree.   But where we seem to disagree is in identifying the steps needed to set a new course and get us back on the pathway to economic recovery and growth. 

As a lifelong Montanan with a business career spanning over 35 years in the Treasure state, I must admit that I often see the health and welfare of our local business community as a good barometer of the opportunities available to our citizens.  If we are to achieve growth in our economy and stimulate tax revenues to fuel our schools and public services, then we must rely on a vibrant business community that promotes more jobs, better wages, and the spirit of entrepreneurship.  This result doesn’t happen by chance – it only happens with leadership. 

It is for this reason that I was pleased to see Matt Rosendale step forward this past week in a very public way to take the initiative and offer leadership in this debate over the next best steps.   Last week I participated in a roundtable discussion that Rosendale hosted with business leaders from around Montana, with a variety of industries represented including retail, construction, agriculture, healthcare, financial services, and tourism.  Rosendale convened the roundtable to listen to specific issues affecting each of our industries as a result of COVID-19, and to discuss any ways that we felt the federal government could make it easier on businesses during these challenging times.

Over the course of the conversation, it became clear to me that Rosendale draws on his own experience as a businessman, with much success to his credit in growing his family’s small business, creating jobs, and signing both sides of a paycheck.  But even more impressive is his willingness to listen – and it’s a refreshing quality.

This quality is evident in Matt Rosendale’s “Plan to Reignite Our Economy”.  I’ve reviewed this plan and believe it’s right on the mark. 

The plan that he released addresses many of the concerns we shared with him at the roundtable, from liability protections for businessowners, to incentivizing employees to return to work, to rolling back crushing federal regulations and taxes.  It’s apparent to me that Rosendale and his team have worked overtime to consolidate the various business issues and recommendations into an organized and bold plan to rebuild our economy, unleash growth, foster job creation, and promote innovation in Montana.  

Now that’s leadership.  Especially in these uncertain times, that’s the brand of leadership from our public officials that is critically important.   In Congress, in the legislature, and in local municipalities, we need leaders with a clear understanding of the challenges facing businesses.  Matt Rosendale has demonstrated to me that he is indeed that type of leader.

E-City Beat emailed local Montana legislative candidates who are in primaries requesting responses to three questions, which you’ll see below. Ballots for the June primary are currently arriving in mailboxes.

Today we are publishing responses from GOP candidates for SD 10, Steve Fitzpatrick and Jeni Dodd. Ms. Dodd didn’t include a photo with her response. Stay tuned this week for more candidate responses.

Steve Fitzpatrick

Why Are You Running for The Office?

I am running for reelection because I want to make Montana the best place to live, start a business, and raise a family. Montana is facing some serious challenges. We need leaders who have the experience and willingness to do the right thing to move Montana forward.

In politics today, we spend too much time asking whether a political party or special interest wins or loses. We need to stop that. I believe we should ask whether the people of Montana win or lose.

I believe in the importance of working together to find solutions to the challenges we face. In the 2019 session, I worked with a broad coalition of legislators to pass meaningful legislation to improve access to healthcare and to lower the cost of prescription drugs, to protect property and water rights, and to improve our business environment. In total, I sponsored and passed 31 pieces of legislation, the most of any legislator.

If reelected, I will continue to work with others to find solutions to the problems we face. You can count on me to represent you and put the interests of Montanans first.

Why are You Running as a Republican?

I am a Republican because I believe in the core values – limited government, improved economic opportunity, fiscally responsible government, and the belief in the dignity and worth of every individual — which have guided our party for over 150 years.

As your Senator, I have worked to eliminate unnecessary regulation, to improve opportunities for Montana businesses, and to encourage responsible natural resource development.

I believe in the importance of being a good steward of public resources. The Legislature should only spend for money for services we actually need and never tolerate any waste, fraud, or abuse in state government.

I believe in the importance of agriculture, property rights, and Second Amendment rights and in ensuring all Montanans have access to affordable, quality healthcare. As your Senator, I will continue to work to improve Montana and to ensure a better future for you and your family.

What Makes You the Best Candidate in the Race?

I am the candidate who will represent you, not the special interests or the party bosses. I have a conservative voting record and a proven record of working to find common sense solutions. As your Senator, I will do what is best for the people of Cascade County.

I have been named a Montana Chamber of Commerce Champion of Business, have an “A” rating from the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, and a 100% score with the Montana Family Foundation. However, this election is about more than voting records. It is about electing a person who represents the values of the district.

I believe in the importance of hard work, personal responsibility, and living within our means. I will support legislation which protects and enhances our community and the State of Montana. I will not support legislation that does otherwise. You can count of me to stand up for better jobs and a strong economy, improved access to healthcare, fiscally responsible government, and a better future for Montana.

Jeni Dodd

Why are you running for the office?

I’ve achieved some results as a local activist, but I believe I can accomplish more as a legislator helping form policy, rather than merely opposing or defending existing policy. What I hope to accomplish is legislation that will do the following: reduce government overreach, particularly that which affects small businesses/independent contractors; shrink government waste; protect and defend our inalienable rights; decrease the tax burden on Montana residents; and provide for private property rights protections, including protections from regulatory takings such as unreasonable restrictions and ordinances. I would also examine what is and isn’t working well for our state and push for change, but change that is consistent with our founding documents.

Why are you running as a Republican?

I’m running as a Republican because I share the values stated in our party’s platform and will uphold those values. I also believe that the Republican party is more aligned with our Constitutional Republic. Ben Franklin was right when he stated, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” The Republican party seems to want to “keep it.”

I’m also running because it’s been disappointing to me to see local members of our party, the “Solutions Caucus,” consistently vote against Republican and Constitutional values in the Montana Legislature. It seems to me that the Solutions Caucus, in joining with Democrats, have abandoned both critical thinking and the party platform. My opponent is a leading member of that caucus. Republicans that vote with Democrats and against the values our party holds dear—limited government, sanctity of life, inalienable rights enumerated in the Constitution, less taxes, etc.—are truly not Republicans.

The Democrat party didn’t run a candidate in Senate District 10, perhaps because they know they can count on my opponent, the incumbent, to vote with them.

What makes you the best candidate in the race?

More than a dozen political action committees have donated to my opponent. My campaign has received no PAC donations. I am funded by individuals and will represent the voters, not special interests. I’m endorsed by Montanans for Limited Government and Legistats. They know I’m the best candidate in this primary because I would more faithfully represent Republican and Constitutional values than my opponent.

Not too long ago, we wrote about Democratic gubernatorial candidate Whitney Williams’ massive fundraising efforts, and the fact that more than three quarters of her haul originates from big money donors outside of Montana.

Given the extreme disparity between Williams’ out-of-state donations compared to the other candidates, I decided to take a deeper dive into her campaign finances. The results were legitimately astounding.

All told, Williams’ C5 report stretches 92 pages in length, and it reads like a who’s who of American wealth and privilege. For every in-state donor, count four more from Hollywood, Silicon Valley, academia, and the Washington-New York political corridor.

Here are just some of the notables, keeping in mind that $710 is the maximum contribution amount allowed under Montana law:

• Ben Affleck, actor/director, Santa Monica, CA ($710 primary, $710 general)
• Larry David, Seinfeld co-creator, Los Angeles, CA ($200 primary)
• Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, Mountain View, CA ($710 primary, $710 general)
• Wendy Schmidt, Schmidt Family Foundation President, Palo Alto, CA ($710 primary, $710 general)

Two quick notes on the above:

1. Wikileaks exposed a close relationship between Schmidt (while Google CEO) and the Clintons, beginning around Hillary’s failed presidential bid in 2008. Williams worked for Mrs. Clinton as the first lady’s Trips Director, and then later on her 2008 campaign.
2. Whitney Williams obnoxiously took issue with Greg Gianforte for inviting Donald Trump, Jr. to a fundraiser:

https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyforMontana/posts/157066832363174

According to Forbes, Eric Schmidt is the 33rd richest person in the world, with a net worth of more than $16 billion. Williams can bluster all she wants, in vile nativist fashion, about out-of-state influence in this election, but according to her, it’s perfectly OK for a Silicon Valley mega-billionaire like Schmidt — who is worth many times more than all of the Trumps combined — to directly influence who governs Montana, because, well, he supports Williams.

Beyond these headliners, seemingly every pillar of American wealth and privilege has donated to Williams.

Big Tech certainly has:

• Steven Slupski, security manager (Amazon), Kirkland, WA ($100 primary)
• David Zapolski, attorney (Amazon), Seattle, WA ($710 primary, $710 general)
• Thomas Reardon, scientist (Facebook), New York, NY ($710 primary)
• Dustin Knievel, lead talent partner (GitHub), Seattle, WA ($250 primary)
• Alexandra Eital, manager (Google), Los Angeles, CA ($710 primary, $290 general)
• Jacquelline Fuller, technology (Google), Orinda, CA ($710 primary, $710 general)
• Hector Mujica, program manager (Google), Oakland, CA ($50 primary)
• Ileana Ovale, technology (Google), San Diego, CA ($100 primary)
• Polly Zuber, marketing (Google), Santa Monica, CA ($125 primary)
• Thomas Clark, program manager (Microsoft), Seattle, WA ($250 primary)
• Adam Zukor, communications (Microsoft), Seattle, WA ($250 primary)

Williams’ filing goes on and on like this.

Scores of other donations come from other entertainment grandees, UC-Berkeley faculty members, “woke” capitalist execs (Nike), along with countless CEOs, attorneys, and elites from tony San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Washington, et al.

You can see it all for yourself here (spoiler alert: you won’t see a whole lot from “Joe Six Pack” working a 9-5 in Silver Bow County):

WilliamsC5

Supporters of Williams will likely point to her experience and connections as a positive in all of this. They might even suggest that Williams (and only Wililams) could persuade a big fish to come to the Treasure State. The truth, however, is that her campaign finances just aren’t normal (and not in a good way). It all smacks of entitlement, and of an effort to solidify yet another political dynasty — one with, frankly, a relatively limited actual connection to Montana. (How much of her life has Williams spent in Montana? Was she even born here?)

Partisanship aside, and no matter what one might think about Mike Cooney or Greg Gianforte or anyone else, every candidate in this race but Williams has raised roughly 80% of their donations (if not more) from actual Montanans. Williams’ efforts to buy herself the governorship on the backs of wealthy coastal elites is next to unbelievable, and as far as I can tell, unprecedented in Montana political history.

Legislator Ed Buttrey, the incumbent in HD 21, will once again face a competitive primary.

Black Eagle resident Sally Tucker filed to run in HD 21 as a Republican today.

Buttrey trounced Republicans John Abarr and Rickey Linafelter (winning over 75% of the vote) in a three-way primary in 2018, before ultimately defeating Democrat Leesha Ford in the general election, 53-46.

You can view Tucker’s C1 here:

SallyTuckerC1

Montana Democrat and gubernatorial candidate Whitney Williams is a fundraising tour de force.

Williams, the daughter of former U.S. Representative Pat Williams and former Montana Senate Majority Leader Carol Williams, has amassed a campaign war chest that leads the Democratic field.

According to the Montana Free Press, Williams has raked in $431,768, but with only 24.2% of that total coming from Montana donors. (Mike Cooney comes in second among Democrats, at $399,375, with Casey Schreiner following with just over $80,000.)

Don Pogreba of The Montana Post expanded on the Montana Free Press’ reporting and created a chart detailing, among other things, the percentage of funds raised by each candidate from in-state donors.

Here is the breakdown, in descending order:

• Al Olszewski (R): 96.2%
• Reilly Neill (D): 90.0%
• Casey Schreiner (D): 84.9%
• Tim Fox (R): 84.3%
• Greg Gianforte (R): 79.7%
• Mike Cooney (D): 78.7%
• Whitney Williams (D): 24.2%

While some might chafe at Williams’ extreme reliance on outside money to influence our governor’s race, rest assured that Williams does not actually want out-of-staters telling us how to vote:

https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyforMontana/posts/157066832363174

See?

If an out-of-stater comes here to “tell” us how to vote, that’s bad. But if an out-of-stater wants to write her a check, that’s good.