Dennison's top ten legislative races...the first five...

by: Jay Stevens

Tue Oct 26, 2010 at 07:18:36 AM MST

House District 8 (central Kalispell): An open Democratic seat, this district always features a razor-close race, and this year has the added element of a third-party candidate. Bill Jones, a dentist and former Republican state legislator seen as a moderate, is running as an Independent, along with Democrat Bryan Schutt, a local architect, and Republican Steve Lavin, a Montana Highway Patrol officer.

LiTW has already spilled ink on this race. Schutt's our man. Donate. Volunteer. Contact.

HD20 (south Great Falls): Another open Democratic seat in a district that usually has close races. Republican Steve Fitzpatrick, an attorney, is squaring off against Democrat Donna Zook, an advocate for the mentally ill.

Again, another race mentioned here on LiTW. Donna Zook is our candidate, an early and steadfast opponent to the Highwood coal-fired plant.

Her Republican opponent, Steve Fitzpatrick, an attorney highly regarded by Gregg Smith at ECW, has wildly outraised Zook, cashing in on a whopping $25,965, according to the Great Falls Tribune, an obscene amount for a House race. What gives? Sadly he lacks a website, so we can't really check him out, but we can get a glimmer of an idea from the GFT profile of the HD20 race. In the questionnaire, this is how Fitzpatrick defines how he's different from Zook: "We need to bring new ideas and a new perspective to the Legislature. We can't continue to promote the same policies that have resulted in enormous debt and the highest level of joblessness since the Great Depression."

(A) The Montana state budget is not running a debt. (B) The policies that have led to high joblessness are free market policies: the deregulation of the financial industry. Are you telling me you're a progressive reformer, Fitzpatrick? I don't think so. What you have here is GOP electioneering bullsh*t, which challenges Gregg's characterization of the man as "honest."

Contact Zook, or donate.

HD36 (northeastern Montana corner): Rep. Julie French, D-Scobey, who knocked off a Republican incumbent four years ago in this rural district, now faces her own stiff challenge from Republican Austin Knudsen, a Culbertson attorney who grew up on a local farm and ranch.

This is what I wrote about French and HD36 before: "Scobey resident Julie French is our only incumbent in the battleground House races. Elected to the House first in 2006, she became the Democratic Majority whip in only her second term in office. She sits on the Human Services and Rules committees, and was vice chair of the Agriculture committee. In 2008, she was the primary sponsor of several bills, including an attempt to revise Montana's medical marijuana laws, which was killed by gross partisanship. Her opponent, Austin Knudsen, is a lawyer and big-business Republican running against health care reform."

Donate. Contact.

HD78 (East Helena): Two relatively well-known candidates are squaring off for this open seat, which Democrats have been winning by close margins in recent years. Democrat Joe Cohenour, a Highway Patrol trooper, is trying to succeed his wife, Jill, who can't run because of term limits. Republican Steve Gibson, a longtime administrator at the state Department of Corrections, lost a 2008 bid for the seat.

The Helena IR ran a good, in-depth profile of this race. Both candidates are well qualified for the seat, and Gibson's years of experience of public service tell me he recognizes the value of good government, and won't be voting to eliminate the HHS budget. Cohenour served on the Helena school board and supported the district's health and sex ed curriculum, and he's the pro-choice candidate in this race.

Really what it comes down to is if Gibson's really the moderate he paints himself to be. Can he resist the crushing pressure of the Republican caucus and vote against the interests of what has been a very radical bloc the last two sessions? Based on the experience of past Republican moderates - I'm guessing not. Cohenour, on the other hand, has a ringing endorsement from Montana Conservation Voters.  Admittedly he wasn't my first choice, but if we want to avoid letting the inmates run the asylum, he's your man. Donate. Contact.

Senate District 17 (Havre and portions of Hill, Blaine counties): House Speaker Bob Bergren, D-Havre, is trying to move up to the Senate by winning this open seat held by an outgoing Democrat. He faces a stiff challenge from Republican Rowlie Hutton, a well-known minister at a Christian Church in Havre.

This is what Yellowstone Kelly wrote about this race: "For the D's to have any shot at controlling the Senate, Bergren, the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, must hold this seat. Hutton is the pastor of one of those large Sunday warehouse churches. If Bergren commits himself to the task at hand, this seat should stay blue. Advantage at outset:Slightly Bergren."

Bob Bergren is our man here. There's not much out there on Rowlie Hutton, but what there is hints that this guy is going to be a pretty fierce social conservative. Take this GFT profile of SD17. This is what Hutton has to say (amidst egregious use of scare quotes) on the back end of the report: "The role of government is to help people lead quiet and tranquil lives. Voters want someone who is not part of the back-slapping culture, but will instead fight for the people rather than governing against them. I believe in the sanctity of life and limited government. The recent controversy in Helena surrounding the forced sex education curriculum is a good example of government out of touch with the people. This is not the first time this issue has reared its ugly head. A proposal was made in the last two sessions to make this a statewide effort. I would oppose this - my opponent voted for it."

The Helena sex ed and health curriculum was done legally, in the open, and with the input of the community; it is not an "example of government out of touch with the people," it's government representing the interest of the community. H*ll, anti-health-curriculum crusader Kristi Allen-Gailushas dropped her lawsuit against the program because she received no support from the community. Oh, and the legislature has no power over the curricula decided on by local school boards. In short, this is pure, unmitigated lying bullsh*t intended only to rile the base.

Donate to or contact Bob Bergren for volunteer work.

I'll get to the second half of Dennison's article later...

Bryan Schutt for HD8

by: Jay Stevens

Mon Oct 18, 2010 at 17:40:01 PM MST

Whatever. I won't be doing a hard push for fundraising like I did in '08. But I'm not throwing in the towel. JC had this to say, and he makes a good point:

I've seen almost no begs come across my inbox looking for help for dem candidates in Missoula County, or for McDonald. And I've got a 600 person listserve of activists and progressives I manage in the Missoula area. What gives? In 2008, I had many such requests. Enthusiasm for getting together and doing things is very low.

Interesting. Are candidates and their staffs suffering from an enthusiasm gap? Do they expect bad losses and are pulling into their shells and planning for 2012? Whatever - it takes votes to win, and it takes door-knocking to get out the vote. In the days leading up to the election, I'm going to push candidates who'll be in tight races across Montana. I'll give you contact info and websites when I can. And, hopefully, a few folks searching the Intertubes for info on their area candidates might be able to find some good information here that will help them decide who to vote for...

Without further ado, let's talk about Bryan Schutt. HD8 - Kalispell - is a swing district, see-sawing between Democrats and Republicans for several terms. Last term, Democrat Cheryl Steenson served the district. It's an interesting field, including Republican Steve Lavin and former Republican HD 9 representative, Bill Jones. Despite this being the GOP's turn at the seat, Jones' wildcard entry here could tip the race to Schutt.

Lavin, in the Flathead Beacon piece promised not to touch basic welfare programs like Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP - but his issues page is so bland and evasive, it's impossible to tell if he would go along with his party's recent attacks on CHIP or the HHS budget. The one issue that stands out is his call for a repeal of Montana's medicinal marijuana law. Jones was a supporter of the "13 mutineers," who solved the legislature's Scott-Sales-engineered budget impasse with Governor Schweitzer. He also was a supporter of CHIP expansion in 2007, and left the GOP over deep differences in the party's partisanship and direction. Jones is definitely someone who'll stand up for his personal beliefs and not let either party bully him. Still, he's no friend of the environment.

I've talked about Schutt before in the context of the primary, in which he was challenged by a Derek-Skees-like Tea Party conspiracy theorist. Schutt's a pro-union, pro-education, pro-environment Democrat, promising to work as a moderate in the House.

Here's an interesting quote from his website:

As an architect, I work with regulations every day.  I know we need regulations to function as a society. The Legislature can usually write rules that cover 90% of situations well.  But at the margins, we can find far too many examples where the cost of the regulation is higher than the benefit derived. As I help write new laws, I will work to include a sunset clause, so we can re-examine our work in several years. I will back variance processes for unforeseen conditions and hardship exemptions for those situations where a one-size-law-fits-all solution is not practical.

That, my friends, are the words of a good pragmatic progressive. It's not about big government or more government, it's about good government.

Kalispell's not far from Missoula, JC. He probably would appreciate some help on the doors.

Donate on Act Blue.

Volunteer.

Contact.

Bryan Schutt for HD 8

by: Jay Stevens

Fri May 21, 2010 at 19:33:20 PM MST

More? Okay. Check out the Missoulian Q&A with Schutt and Clark. Schutt answers the paper's questions seriously and soberly - on the budget and property taxes, Schutt would try to trim responsibly while looking out for the elderly and poor - while Clark's answers are patronizing, sarcastic. Asked about DUI law, Clark says, "My concern is with the drunken leadership of the state who are piloting it at high speeds toward a rocky shore..." On property taxes, Clark answers, "No, really, tax appraisals should continue to skyrocket even thought the real estate bubble has not fully delated..."  

Or take the Daily Interlake's Q&A with the two candidates. Asked about budget pressure, Schutt - quite reasonably - mentions careful appraisal of taxation, making taxes more fair, and praises Governor Schweitzer's budget-balancing. Dane? Rails against bureaucracy, says we should cut unnecessary positions - but doesn't mention any - wants to cut property taxes by 60 percent and to scuttle public education.

Clark's a fanboy of Alaska militia man, Schaeffer Cox and GOP House candidate, Mark French.

Schutt, on the other hand, is a Kalispell-based architect, a conservationist, wants to help develop a green economy to create jobs based on sustainable energy development, and would fight to preserve quality public education for Montana's children.

Clark...well...Clark's an ideologue, an extremist, and completely out of touch with mainstream America. He's Rand Paul writ small. To wit:

HD8: Tea Party Republican crosses party lines to challenge Bryan Schutt in primary

by: Jay Stevens

Thu Apr 29, 2010 at 08:35:15 AM MST

Democratic candidate for HD8, Dane Clark, of Kalispell was handing out tea party pamphlets, packin' heat (because rumors of agent provocateurs, it seemed prudent) and passing out campaign lit for Mark French, Republican primary congressional wingnut racist bigot from Sanders County.

James Conner:

In his cardboard box, Clark, an affable fellow, was packing DVDs of a speech by Alaskan militia leader Schaeffer Cox and a forum for candidates for Flathead County Sheriff, and a one-third page card for Mark French, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the Congressional seat now held by Denny Rehberg.

Until recently, Clark was a precinct committeeman for the Flathead Republican central committee. He's still listed as one, but a party official confirmed that Clark did resign, and that the party has been delinquent in updating the website.

Dan Testa makes note, too. Of course, Clark's website should be enough warning enough for any interested voter.

But good news, Flathead Democrats! There is someone to vote for in the Democratic primary: Bryan Schutt. Schutt's a Kalispell architect who's running as a pro-environment, pro-union, and pro-education Democrat.

And he's on Act Blue.

Consider this a ringing endorsement for the HD8 Democratic primary.

...and the Montana House races...

by: Yellowstone Kelly

Wed Mar 24, 2010 at 05:52:10 AM MST

For another, Robin Hamilton, former occupant of HD 92's seat, is a Democrat, not a Republican. The post also appeared to state that Bryce Bennett was a Republican, when, in fact, he is a Democrat. But the post was factual when it said he has a "D opponent," which is true. Bennett does have a Democratic opponent for the June primary.  -- JS]

The House of Representatives

The D's have the best chance since 1990 to win a majority of the 100 seats up for grabs in 2010.

Twenty years.

Came close in 2004 and 2008, when the best it could do was fifty seats.

Depending on how President Obama ("Change you can believe in") and the D's ("Just gimme a chance") do nationally on health care, financial institution reform, energy and climate change, this time could be different for D candidates.

Watch ten races:

HD 3. Columbia Falls and Hungry Horse. Dee Brown (R - termed). Contested R primary, Zac Perry (D) an  Independent and a Libertarian. D's won this seat in 2006 and, with such an array of candidates in the field, this one has to be on the radar as a possible pick up. Zac is one of a number of young D's, which bodes well for the party long term. He will need help. Advantage at outset: R.

HD 8. Kalispell. Cheryl Steenson (D - not running). Three R's in the primary and Bryan Schutt (D) and Bill Jones (I). This seat has gone back and forth between the D's and GOP since the late 1980's. As an open seat, the R's count on this seat as a pick up. Watch Bill Jones, a former R House Rep who hates the R's. If he choose to wage a positive campaign, he may draw off votes and help Schutt. Advantage at outset: R.

HD 12. Lake County. John Fleming (D - incumbent) and a contested R primary. This is Rick Jore country. Fleming ran a textbook campaign in 2008 against a weak opponent, but the R's have targeted this seat and will devote substantial resources to win it. If Dan Salomon wins the R primary, watch out. Advantage at outset: R.

HD 20. Great Falls. Deb Kottel (R - termed). Contested R and D primaries. While a coal plant has been shelved in favor a natural gas fired electrical generator, the scars remain and activists on both sides remember who was on which side. If the D's can't close ranks behind its nominee, the R's win this seat. Advantage at outset: D.

HD 24. Great Falls. Brian Hoven (R - incumbent) and Gary Lucero (D). D's lost this seat for the first time in recent memory in 2008 and want it back. Hoven is a lackluster GOP minion. Lucero is a longtime teacher-coach . Barnburner. Advantage at outset: D.

HD 38. Glendive and Dawson County. Dennis Getz (D) and a three-way R primary, including Ed Hilbert, who was elected in 2006, then sat out the 2008 election. Getz has a very conservative voting record. But, it may not be enough. If Hilbert prevails in the primary, R win the seat. Advantage at outset: R.

HD 78. East Helena. Jill Cohenour (D - termed). Contested R and D primaries. If Steve Gibson wins the R nomination and Joe Cohenour, Jill's spouse, win the D nomination, chalk up one for the R's. Joe ran a lackluster Senate race in 2006 and lost and most recently lost a local school board race, hardly a positive sign. Advantage at outset: R.

HD 92. Missoula. Robin Hamilton (D [Hamilton is, of course, a Democrat - JS] - not running). Contested R and D primaries and a Libertarian candidate. Bryce Bennett (D) is said to have an advantage over his D primary opponent. Normally a solid D district, R's are keen on this as a district it can win. Advantage at outset: Even.

HD 90. [Corrected from "HD 94." -- JS] Northern Ravalli County. Ray Hawk (R - termed). Edward Greef (R) and Wayne Stanford (D) and a Libertarian candidate. Who says term limits are all bad? Hawk's fossilized remains are done. Stanford served in the House back in the early 1990's. As a retired teacher (nearly 40 years), he likely taught many of the voters in the district. Still, this is R country. No D has served since the mid-1990's. Advantage starting out: R.

HD 100. Missoula. Bill Nooney (Foreclosure - Missoula). Champ Edmunds (R) and Willis Curdy (D). Nooney is sitting this one out. Evidently, the man who touted himself as capable business man, has more liabilities than assets. Curdy gave Nooney all he could handle in 2008 and, with this being an open seat, is given a very good opportunity to win. But, this is a tough district for D's. Advantage at outset: Even.

Not much room for error.

Many of the D's running in 2010 do not have the best progressive credentials or voting records. If you are alarmed by the prospect of some un-progressive D's being elected consider the alternative: A GOP majority with Tom McGillvray as Speaker of the House and Crayton Kerns as majority leader.

These two and their fellow-travelers not only voted wrong. They carried awful legislation. They epitomize the tea bag mentality. Rep. Kerns recently remarked at a dinner in eastern Montana that he does not believe in reaching across the aisle and working together. Instead, he said, he believes in reaching his hand out to slap some sense into those on the other side.

This year it looks like the R fortunes will change and Congress may turn red. Can you help make certain Montana avoids the same fate?