Democrats Running for Office Make Stop On Hi-Line

Several Democratic candidates running for office in Montana made a stop in Chinook last Wednesday at the Blaine County Library meeting room. Among those attending the meet and greet were Senator Jon Tester, Attorney General Candidate, Ben Alke, Lieutenant Governor candidate, Raph Graybill, candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Shannon O'Brien, and Clerk of the Supreme Court Candidate, Erin Farris-Olsen.

Candidates mingled with voters and guests introducing themselves and taking questions during the initial gathering before they each had a chance to speak.

Olson was first to address the voters, and talked about the importance of the position of Clerk of the Supreme Court to remain non-partisan while holding the office. Alke followed up with similar sentiment for the position of Attorney General. In his position as a lawyer, when taking on a case, such as same sex marriage, he said he would see what the law was, see what facts were, and take on the case, no matter who the client was. Alke gave examples of cases that prompted him to run for public office and the importance of following the law. "During my lifetime we have had several Attorney Generals who knew and followed the law," Alke stated. Mentioning past Republican and Democrat attorneys general as examples, he said, "I want a future for my children and all of our children."

That was a similar goal for Shannon O'Brien. "We want so much better for our kids. They are our future," O'Brien said. "Children are at an age where they are learning their role in our democracy." She also addressed the teacher shortage in the state and that it needed fixing. "Two thousand teachers left their position this past year, and 1000 more the year before," said O'Brien. Much of that was due to low pay and lack of housing.

Greybill focused his attention on the recent property tax hikes and how the Governor could have reduced them by lowering the percentage rate like past governors have done when there was an increase in property values. "With the additional money, he did not fix the teacher vacancies or eliminate the Social Security tax, instead he gave a 36 million dollar tax cut to NorthWestern Energy," said Graybill. He stated that he and Ryan Busse want to invest in quality education and early childhood education.

Tester started his comments by saying Chinook had the greatest mascot ever, praising the Sugarbeeter on main street. Tester grew up in Big Sandy. His wife Sharla also has ties to Chinook going to school here from 7th grade to the middle of her junior year, even being a cheerleader for the teams. Tester was most disappointed with the attack ads that fact checkers have proven to be false.

He brought up the bill he co-wrote to keep Chinese from buying up farm land in America, which passed the senate by a vote of 91-7. It sits waiting for the speaker of the house to take action on it, along with a disaster relief bill he sponsored which would help farmers on the Hi-Line with the St. Mary's Siphon failure, and the Fort Belknap Compact, another bill which would help with funding the siphon project. He also shared some of the Veteran bills he helped get passed including the PACT Act which provided medical treatment for veterans affected by Agent Orange.

A great deal of concern was on the Milk River Project which he said would impact the Hi-Line immensely if we lost the river. "Repairs should have been done 30 or 40 years ago, but now it is an emergency situation." He also added his agreement to Alke and the importance of the law, no matter who it is. "If a democrat is right, it's right. If a republican is right, it's right," said Tester.

The candidates visited a little bit more before heading to their next stop in Rocky Boy. The candidates had been in Fort Belknap prior to their Chinook stop, and they planned to wrap up the day with another meet and greet in Havre.