Candidate Profile: Republican Fred Anderson

ECB Staff on September 26, 2022

Fred Anderson is the GOP candidate and incumbent running for the Montana State Legislature in Great Falls/Cascade County HD20. His opponent is Democrat Samantha Rispens:

My name is Fred Anderson.  I was raised on a Montana ranch where I developed a strong work ethic and a well-defined set of values from my family.  In that setting, I learned to respect and work with diverse groups of people and the value of integrity.  I earned a Bachelor’s degree from Northern Montana College.  My Master’s degree and my PhD are from Colorado State University. 

I am a partner in the family ranch, have owned a small business, worked construction, operated heavy equipment and have served as a public school educator for over forty years.  My wife Vicky and I have three adult sons.  We enjoy spending time with our family, outdoor activities, sports and classic cars.

I am the best candidate to represent H.D. 20 because I am experienced in the legislative process, having served in the Montana Legislature since 2017.  I listen to constituent concerns and attempt to provide common sense solutions to address their needs, while treating everyone with the dignity and respect they deserve.  I study all bills presented and attend all committee meetings and floor sessions.

I have a PhD in Administration and Supervision and have served in leadership positions at local, state, and national levels.  My diverse experience, combined with a strong education foundation, provides me the insight to quantify the challenges facing our state while developing fiscally sound solutions.

During past legislative sessions, I have sponsored and carried bills in the legislature which have been signed into law by the Governor. These bills remove barriers for work based education and facilitate partnerships between business and public schools, remove barriers to controlling noxious weeds on private property, enhance funding for students with disabilities, make vaping and electronic alternatives to tobacco illegal in schools, promote anti-littering signage on highways and improve opportunities for horse racing in Montana.

I have received the Champion of Business award from the State Chamber of Commerce, the Silver Windmill award from the Montana Farm Bureau for each legislative session served. I am currently serving as the Vice Chairperson of the Education Interim Committee and served as the Vice Chairman of the Education Committee during the last legislative session.  These experiences can only benefit Great Falls, Cascade County and Montana.

Two of the top challenges facing our state and community are affordable housing and economic development:

The affordable housing issue does not have a “silver bullet” solution.  I believe the legislature will need to work with MACO and cities to review zoning regulations.  I also believe that supply issues and work force shortages have to be addressed.

Economic development is critical to Cascade County and Great Falls.  Ultimately, County Commissioners and the City Commission have final say on new industry; however, the legislature needs to continue to work to reduce regulations and create a more welcoming climate for new businesses. Continued progress on work force development is also an essential part of this process.  I will continue to work to create more expedient processes for agricultural producers to sell directly to consumers.

Sandra Merchant: GOP Candidate For Cascade County Clerk & Recorder

ECB Staff on September 22, 2022

My name is Sandra Merchant and I am running for Cascade County Clerk & Recorder. I believe I can use my private sector experience to make this office more efficient, accountable, secure, and customer friendly.

With my experience being outside of government office, I can bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to make improvements to the operation and hope to engage the people.  I believe our country was designed for citizens to be active and involved in their local government, and elected officials are there to serve them.

I have many years of working with customers, organizing groups and events, as well as keeping and submitting records for those groups. I am currently in Civil Air Patrol, teaching Character Development to the cadets.

I am originally from upstate NY where I had a horse business. I still have a horse and like to ride; I also enjoy many outdoor sports, especially on the water.

I have been a Medical Coder for about 10 years, handling private information and a variety of projects. I have to be flexible and able to move from project to project, sometimes more than once in a day. I have to know and adjust to different rules for each individual project.

My son attends a local high school and his 4 siblings are grown and have their own homes and lives. I enjoy visiting and doing things with them as much as possible.

The people of Cascade County will always be welcome in my office; that’s what we are there for. I will do all I can to be sure that any questions are answered and that their voices are heard. I will make public records available and encourage active participation in local government offices.

Election security is a big topic right now. I will do all I can to be sure we have fair, accessible, honest, and accountable elections. I will recruit and be sure people are thoroughly trained to assist with elections, including workers from all parties represented.

The goal of the County Clerk office will be honesty, efficiency, and customer service, with the good of the citizens and the county at the center. I plan to be a public servant, not a politician!

Commissioner Tryon: FUMC Homeless Camp Update

Rick Tryon on September 15, 2022

In the last week I have received several communications and comments concerning the current situation at the First United Methodist Church.

Folks are concerned that the increasing number of transients and ‘unhoused’ individuals once again congregating on the FUMC property will result in the return of the tent/camper encampment, which was recently vacated from the parking lot there.

It is important to point out that the church grounds are private property and the church is not pursuing trespassing violations against the folks congregating there.

The City of Great Falls will not, and should not, seek to remove anyone from church property as long as they are not breaking any laws.

The tent encampment was an entirely different issue from a legal standpoint because the church was in clear violation of City zoning ordinances prohibiting camping in that zoning jurisdiction. That is why the City sought a legal remedy, which was ultimately unnecessary because the church voluntarily removed the encampment before the judge issued a ruling or the issue was litigated in court.

One of the concerns I have heard is that some of the folks hanging out on church property are also obstructing public sidewalks in the area. I relayed that concern to police chief Newton and he has responded that the patrol bureau is aware and that if an “…officer determines individuals to be actively and purposefully blocking sidewalks to impede its use in violation of section 12 of the City Code, we will require them to stop doing so.”

I hope this update and clarification is helpful for those who have questions.

Candidate Profile: Republican Lola Galloway

ECB Staff on September 13, 2022

Lola Galloway is the GOP candidate running for the Montana State Legislature in Great Falls/Cascade County HD22. Her opponents are Democrat Nick Henry and Libertarian Tony Rosales, here is her profile:

Lola Sheldon-Galloway

Personal:
Age 62, wife for 41 years, mother of six,
grandmother of 15, lifetime citizen of Cascade County, 4th generation Montanan,
PROUD to live in the greatest country on Earth, the USA.

Profession: entrepreneur/bookkeeper
Co-Owner of small businesses:
NSDQ, FFDQ, Great Falls Lumber/Do-it-Best Hardware and commercial/apartment landlord( received the Most improved apartment in Great Falls award in 2009-2010)

Community volunteer:
Great Falls 4th of July Parade committee since 2006
(co-chair 2016 to present)
Constitution Day Rally chair,
Citizens for Sun Prairie Park Improvements-treasurer, Sun Prairie Clean-up day committee, Family Promise, participate in neighborhood council #2, attend local water/sewer district meetings, church organist/pianist,
Support: Toby’s House, Rescue Mission, Lion’s Club, Walleyes Unlimited, NRA, MSSA, Echoz, 40 Days for Life, Save the Cowboy

Political history:
Republican state party Vice-chair since 2019, HD22 representative since 2017,
HD22-B precinct committee person since 2012, member of : pachyderm since 2010 receiving its highest award, the golden tusk in 2020, MTGOP Executive board, Republican National Convention Delegate 2020, MTFRW, CCRCC and CCRPAC.

2023 priority goals:

#1 represent the citizens HD22 needs:

  1. Strengthen state’s rights against the federal government overreach. As I study the USA and Montana Constitutions I’m finding ways to give the state back its original intended power over federal government. This will make our state sovereign,unique and sustain our Montana values.
  2. Lowering future taxes and returning tax surplus back to the citizens who pay taxes to the Montana Department of Revenue. Taxes are the citizens’ money being paid to government only because its concept is “we need government services and involvement”. When those requirements are met and there’s a surplus, like right now $1.8 billion, that money needs to be returned to the tax payers and tax percentages need to be reevaluated. Not creating new programs that’ll NEVER go away. With more money in YOUR pockets, you have the ability to live a life of freedom and independence, getting government OUT of your life instead of more entrenched.

  3. Session committees:
    2017 Judiciary, Education, Ag
    Law and Justice Interim
    2019 Tax, Health and Human Services
    Local Government Interim
    2021 Tax, Health and Human Services (vice-chair)
    State Tribal Relations Interim

I’ve attended over 23 tours and trainings. To name a few: energy resources, child protective services, tribal issues, Women’s health, county jails & state prison system, taxes and international trade.

I work hard, return phone calls (usually by text messages) and attend any meeting or training that will enhance my ability to better represent the citizens of HD22 and Montana statewide.

I have had the privilege and honor to be on, and I am a better person today because of this journey. Thank you for your continued support. As your representative this upcoming 68th session in Helena, I’ll continue to listen, learn and lead us to a brighter future in Great Falls, Cascade County and Montana. I ask for your vote November 8th.


Please contact me at (406)750-4721
LOLA4MONTANA@yahoo.

Great Falls Libertarian Running For HD22

ECB Staff on September 7, 2022

Several local candidates responded to E-City Beat’s request for profiles, and today we are starting to publish the profiles to help our readers become more informed voters.

Tony Rosales is running for the Montana State Legislature in HD22 as the only third party candidate in Great Falls. His opponents are Democrat Nick Henry and Republican Lola Galloway, here is his profile:

“I am the Libertarian candidate for House District 22 in the Montana State Legislature. This district represents the West-Side of Great Falls extending into the Greater Cascade County area including Sun Prairie.

As a brief background, I’m a 4th generation Montanan, born and raised in Great Falls, and I grew up in a Filipino-American household where my family instilled patriotism and love of neighbor. Like many young Montanans I left the state, and eventually earned a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame.

Currently, I work as a healthcare and medical consultant, where I have advised 5 of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies. Due to the pandemic, I work remotely allowing me to reestablish my residency in Great Falls.

Throughout my educational pursuits and establishing my career, I have maintained a commitment to the Great Falls community. Traveling on weekends during college, I worked as a nursing assistant at Benefis, primarily at Peace Hospice. Honoring my late father, I promote music scholarship and education for Great Falls students.

More recently, I’ve coached CMR High School’s speech and debate team and led four qualifying students to the National Championship this summer. I now want to serve the residents of Great Falls as a legislator and community leader.

I am encouraging Great Falls residents to “Vote Local, Vote Libertarian” with three main campaign ideas:

  • Local Governance: The ‘Separation of Powers’ is key to our republic and Montana deserves State Legislators who will hold the Federal Government accountable. I am the ONLY candidate in House District 22 who is championing the cause to return our liberties – not just leave them alone.
  • Independence: I will represent the interests of Great Falls and House District 22 not a political platform. Many other candidates also campaign on independence, but they eventually meet their party’s whip. As the Libertarian candidate, my agenda is YOUR agenda!
  • Community Leadership: I’m a different type of candidate, and I’m asking my community for the opportunity to show you what I can do, not only in the legislature, but also back home in Great Falls. Montana District 22 will have a representative and leader of the people.

The race in HD 22 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races in Montana for 2022. There will be little, if any, implication if a Republican or Democrat win this seat. Accusations of “voter-stealing” may have a place in presidential and state-wide offices, but when it comes to local politics and legislators, we need more options to truly represent the communities that elect us.

My candidacy gives the local community an opportunity to elect a representative based on principles and representation instead of “lesser of the two evils”. I hope the Great Falls community will take this first step in telling the establishment parties that their game of politics has no place in Montana.

Let’s make Montana history and elect the first Libertarian legislator!”

Great Falls Voters Should DEMAND Local Candidates Publicly Answer Abortion Question

ECB Staff on August 31, 2022

Last week E-City Beat emailed all Great Falls state legislative candidates requesting responses to three questions:

Question One – Which position on abortion most closely describes the kind of legislation you would support in the Montana state legislature? Please choose only one option and feel free to briefly explain or expand on your views.

  1. Abortion should be legal for any reason at any time during pregnancy, including up until birth, with no exceptions.
  2. Life begins at conception and abortion should not be legal at any time for any reason.
  3. Abortion should be illegal after 12-14 weeks into a pregnancy except in cases of rape, incest, or life threatening risk to the mother.

Question Two – Describe what you will do if elected to address the lack of affordable housing in Montana. What specific legislation would you put forward or support to tackle this issue?

Question Three – Describe in what way and on which issues you would ‘reach across the aisle’ to implement solutions for your constituents.

We asked that the responses be sent to ECB by September 23 so that we could publish them before ballots go out for the November 8 election.

Yesterday ECB received a response from a GOP candidate who didn’t answer any of the questions but included the following in the email:

“I’ve spoken to a couple of other legislators and I’d like to point out something here… From what I’ve noticed Democrat candidates overwhelmingly ignore the ECB submissions. This questionnaire is, therefore, effectively putting GOP candidates on the record in writing on the more than ever hot-button issue of abortion in a lose/lose fashion.

No matter how Republican candidates answer it will cost them votes and/or open themselves to attacks and negative mailers from the D’s.

Honestly, that’s all fine and well and a part of the business as long as the Democrats put themselves equally out there and go on the record as well. Unfortunately, they almost certainly will not.”

Fair enough. ECB will only be publishing responses to the abortion question if both (or all) ‘sides’ in any particular district race respond to that question.

In the meantime E-City Beat calls on ALL candidates to be forthright and honest in providing a complete answer to the abortion question in a transparent and public venue.

Voters deserve no less and should DEMAND it.

Great Falls Fantasy Football League For Local Charity

Rick Tryon on August 29, 2022

The NFL 2022 season is almost here!

Here’s your official invite to join the Great Falls Charity Fantasy Football League.

We need 8 more players for this charity league.

Click here to join…

…or contact me on Facebook for more info.

This is super fun and super easy. Good clean competition for a good cause.

If you’ve never played fantasy football don’t worry, it’s simple.

Nothing to do but join the league, draft your team and pick your weekly lineup. You can do it all on your phone or computer from anywhere.

  • 1/2 point ppr
  • $20 buy in
  • 10 teams – each representing a local charity/non-profit.

End of season, $100 goes to the winning team’s charity. $50 goes to the first place team ‘head coach’, $25 to second place, to keep or do with whatever they want.

I think there will also be some opportunities to raise more money for the charities with weekly team “wagers”.

Gotta hurry though, our remote draft is 1:00 PM on Sunday 9/4.

Abortion In Montana: Never, Anything Goes, Or Somewhere In Between?

ECB Staff on August 22, 2022

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade back in June of this year it sent the abortion issue back to the states.

The state legislatures, courts, and governors will now be held accountable by state voters for whatever abortion laws they pass and uphold in this new landscape.

State lawmakers in Cascade County and Great Falls are now faced with a question they probably didn’t anticipate having to answer when they filed for office in early 2022, but E-City Beat will be asking each of them that question, along with a couple of other local issue questions, in an email questionnaire later this week.

We look forward to receiving answers from local legislative candidates and providing those responses for our readers.

We’re posing the abortion question here as a poll question for our readers:

[poll id=”33″]

5 Tips for Managing Multi-State Living Arrangements With a Pet

Candace Sigmon on August 15, 2022

Owning multiple homes in the United States is a dream for millions of young Americans. You can enjoy multiple climates, geographical diversity, and various lifestyle choices when you own homes in Florida and Great Falls, Montana. But what if you own a pet and live in different states? Read on for tips to manage both.

1. Have Vets in Montana and Florida 

You must keep your pet healthy as you divide your time between Montana and Florida. After all, traveling between both states can be time-consuming and stressful. The best way to guarantee your pet remains healthy is to have vets in both states. You can reduce your vet costs by purchasing an excellent pet insurance policy. However, check pet insurance coverage and considerations and the reviews of insurance providers to search for the best deals before buying. Also, use pet sitters when you’re busy and check for fleas and ticks to guarantee your animal has no problems. 

2. Ensure Your Pet Stays Comfortable in Both Homes

When you have homes in multiple states, your pet can become overwhelmed — and this could become detrimental to their overall well-being. Ensure your pet remains comfortable by buying items for both homes, such as a quality bed or crate, a cat tree, and a harness. Although customer ratings can be a valuable resource when evaluating products, look for websites with product reviews from veterinarians. That way, you can feel confident you’re buying the best products for your pet. 

3. Save Money for Unexpected Costs 

Continuously moving between Florida and Montana can be expensive over time. You’ll want to budget to ensure you have disposable income for any unexpected issues. Try cutting costs such as choosing streaming options over cable, purchasing deep freeze items to store away, and limiting unnecessary outings. If you spend half of your time in Florida and half in Montana, you can save money by finding affordable auto and health insurance in either state. 

4. Give Your Pet Plenty of Exercise 

Ensure your pet has ample exercise when moving between states. For example, there are many excellent hikes near Great Falls, and Florida has one of the most desirable climates in the United States. Take your dog for a walk in nearby national parks and on local beaches. That way, your pet will feel as normal as possible despite moving around.

5. Use Organization Apps

One of the best ways to stay organized when you have multi-state homes is by using organization apps. ClickUp is one of the most popular organization apps. It allows you to boost your productivity, plan daily tasks, and set goals. For example, you can set yourself a checklist before you travel between Montana and Florida to ensure you don’t forget anything. 

Looking After Your Pet Doesn’t Need To Be Confusing

Living between Montana and Florida doesn’t need to be complicated when you have a pet. You can make the process seamless by following the tips in the article. Visit E-City Beat for information on life in Montana.

Great Falls Candidates Invited To Respond To ECB

ECB Staff on August 10, 2022

E-City Beat has invited local political candidates for legislature and county office to send us a profile and summary of their reasons for running. See email text below.

FRED ANDERSON (R) HD20 – anderson.for.legislature.hd20@gmail.com
SAMANTHA RISPENS (D) HD20 – srispens4mt@gmail.com

ED BUTTREY (R) HD21 – ed@buttrey4montana.com
LELA GRAHAM (D) HD21 – grahamhd21@gmail.com

NICK R. D. HENRY (D) HD22 – relativity98003@yahoo.com
TONY ROSALES (L) HD22 – trrosales@gmail.com
LOLA SHELDON-GALLOWAY (R) HD22 – Lola4Montana@yahoo.com

MELISSA SMITH (D) HD23 – MelissaSmith4HD23@gmail.com
SCOT KERNS (R) HD23 – ElectKerns@gmail.com

BARBARA BESSETTE (D) HD24 – bessette4montana@gmail.com
STEVEN GALLOWAY (R) HD24 – galloway4mt@yahoo.com

STEVE GIST (R) HD25 – Steve.Gist@mtleg.gov
JASMINE KROTKOV (D) HD25 – JasmineKrotkov4MT@gmail.com

GEORGE NIKOLAKAKOS (R) HD26 – george.niko@outlook.com
KARI ROSENLEAF (D) HD26 – rosenleaf4hd26@gmail.com

DANIEL EMRICH (R) SD11 – danielemrichforsenate@gmail.com
TOM JACOBSON (D) SD11 – tomjacobsonmt@gmail.com

JACOB BACHMEIER (D) SD12 – jdbrepresentsme@gmail.com
WENDY MCKAMEY (R) SD12 – WSGMCKAMEY@GMAIL.COM

CASEY SCHREINER (D) SD13 – casey@caseyformontana.com
JEREMY TREBAS (R) SD13 – trebasforsenate@gmail.com

DAVID GRUBICH – DISTRICT COURT JUDGE – judgegrubich@gmail.com
MICHELE R. LEVINE – DISTRICT COURT JUDGE – michelereinhart@gmail.com

RAE GRULKOWSKI (R) CASCADE COUNTY COMMISSION – raeforcascadecounty@3rivers.net
DON RYAN (D) CASCADE COUNTY COMMISSION – senatordonryan@icloud.com

CASCADE COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER/AUDITOR/SURVEYOR
SANDRA MERCHANT (R) – smerchantforcountyclerk@protonmail.com
RINA FONTANA MOORE (D) – moorerinaf@msn.com

Greetings, Cascade County candidates.

In order to help fully inform Great Falls/Cascade County voters about the candidates and issues in the upcoming November election, E-City Beat is requesting a brief profile from each candidate.

We’re asking for you to provide our readers with a little personal bio (job, family, hobbies etc.), why you’re the best candidate for position, and your reasons for running.

We’d like you to also include the top one or two challenges you intend to tackle if you’re elected and how you would address those issues.

You may also include a profile picture (jpg or png) if you like.

Please keep your submission to 500 words or less and send it in MS Word format to ecitybeat@straymoose.com by Friday, August 26th. We will publish your submissions without edits or editorial comment.

Thank you and good luck in the upcoming election.

Philip Faccenda
Editor/Publisher E-City Beat