Local legislative races fill up

A familiar name won’t be on the ballot for Montana House of Representatives this year and the other Lincoln County incumbent will face an electoral challenge when voters go to the polls in November.

Rep. Jerry Bennett, who has represented Lincoln County’s House District 1 for the past eight years, has reached the end of his term limit this cycle. Three candidates, two Republicans and one Democrat, have filed to replace him in this year’s election. Incumbent Rep. Mike Cuffe, who represents House District 2, has filed for reelection this year and will be facing Democrat David B. McGarry.

District 1

Haarstick has filed for the House District 1 seat as a Democrat. He said the most important role of a legislator is to work for the people he would represent.

“My primary and most important role is listening to and working for the people of Lincoln County,” he said.

Steve Gunderson, who will face off with Bill Clark for the Republican nomination in a June primary, said legislators are public servants who have to be aware that while they represent their district, their decisions impact everyone in the state.

“The Montana Legislature is a “citizen legislature,” he said.” The members are ordinary citizens who are elected to serve the public part time, returning home at the end of a session. The role of the citizen legislator is to work directly with his/her constituents and represent them in Helena. The legislator not only represents his/her district but also must make decisions that affect all Montanans.”

Clark focused on the constitutional role of the legislature as its primary role.

“(The role of the legislature is to) provide legislative defense of the United States and Montana constitutions; provide legislative support for constitutionally sound and needed laws,” he said. “(It is to) provide constitutionally authorized oversight for state agencies and protect the public’s constitutional rights from governmental overreach and ensure the government’s required obigation to protect its citizens from all enemies both foreign and domestic. Additionally, to provide the citizenry open access to all governmental operations from all levels of government within the state of Montana.”

Clark said his experience in the military and law enforcement and his status as a concerned citizen qualify him to represent the citizens of Lincoln County.

“My qualifications are that I am a concerned citizen of the United States and the state of Montana and a former member of the United States military and peace officer,” he said. “I have taken an oath that had no expiration date on it to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America.”

Haarstick said his years of experience in complex negotiations provides him with the experience to do the job.

“During my working career of 40 years in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, I have been involved in complex negotiations working them through to a positive result,” he said.

Gunderson pointed to his deep Lincoln County roots and history as a citizen advocate.

“I have lived, worked and played in Libby since 1969,” he said. “I am a long-time business man who is affected directly by the issues along with each and every person I would represent if elected. I have been a vocal citizen advocate, bringing to bear direct public pressure on our federal agencies and congressional delegates as well as state, county and local government officials and agencies. I am known by most of the aforementioned folks as an informed, level-headed yet firm voice that has represented south Lincoln County in the quest to bring stable economic potential back to south Lincoln County.”

Gunderson said the most important issues facing the legislature are socioeconomic issues and the overreach of federal agencies and regulations.

“(The most important issues are) our local economy and our state economy, to ensure a balance of environmental reviews and controls with economic recovery, the socioeconomic ramifications of unvetted refugees, the burdensome mismanagement and control of federal public lands located in Montana and the overreach of federal agencies within Montana,” he said.

Clark shared Gunderson’s concern for environmental issues as they relate to property, but also expressed concern over education, privacy and border protection.

“(The most important issues are) privacy rights, environmental issues that impact both public and private property rights, education – more specifically Common Core and local control over education and private education funding access,” he said. “Additionally, the defense of our borders, both federal and state.”

Haarstick said the biggest issue is expanding the area’s economy.

“Economic development is a major concern in Lincoln County and we need jobs that will provide a liveable wage,” he said. “We need to have our public lands open for recreation and natural resource extraction.”

Haarstick said his goal is to help the residents of Lincoln County.

“My main goal is to help the residents of Lincoln County by listening to their needs and providing leadership with honor and integrity,” he said.

Gunderson said he is running in order to help his community.

“I have devoted my life to doing what I can to further the economic outlook of my home, south Lincoln County,” he said. “My core values reflect the same values as the people I seek to represent in Helena. I feel it is my civic duty to channel the enthusiasm and perseverance I have dedicated to helping my community and fellow man by running for a higher office. I understand and am mutually affected by the issues we all face in south Lincoln County and Montana.”

Clark said his intent is to change the direction of the state and the nation.

“Considering the condition of the United States and the several states, in that our federal government has federalized so many issues within the states; taking away states’ rights and thereby unconstitutionally intruding upon the private lives of its citizens has reached a critical point,” he said. “I hope I can offer my experience as a peace officer and former military enlisted man to reorient our state and nation to be consistent with our Constitution. I would hope to help solve problems citizens are having between themselves and the government at all levels and federal and state regulatory agencies.”

District 2

Candidate David McGarry did not return the questionnaire.

Incumbent Rep. Mike Cuffe said the primary role of a legislator is represent and assist the people of Lincoln County.

“(The primary role is) to represent the people of Lincoln County primarily in legislative matters, and to help them deal with state agencies, although frequently I take on federal regulations and international issues,” he said. “The number one responsibility is to develop and approve a two-year budget for our state government. I am proud that in 2015 I was part of the group that helped remove politics from school funding by delving into and approving the K-12 budget of $2 billion early in the session.”

Cuffe cited his experience in the House of Representatives as his primary qualification for reelection.

“I have served the people of Lincoln County and Montana as state representative for three terms,” he said. “I serve on the appropriations committee. This year I chaired the appropriations subcommittee for long-range planning and carried, or helped develop, bills that provided more than $200 million for infrastructure funding. In 2013, I chaired the appropriations subcommittee responsible for the budgets of the departments of natural resources, environmental quality, transportation, livestock, agriculture and Fish, Wildlife & Parks... My roots go deep in Lincoln County, and I work hard to serve the people of Montana. This is a humbling responsibility which I take very seriously.”

Cuffe said the most important issues facing the legislature are protecting the Constitution and liberty and promoting economic well-being.

“(The most important issues are:) protecing the Constitution plus individual and state rights; focusing on jobs and the economy; balancing budget demands with available revenue; fighting the war on coal while planning for the loss of major coal taxes in the future and eliminating unnecessary, job-killing regulations,” he said.

Cuffe said he is running for one final term in the House because he is an effective voice for the people of the county.

“I am an effective voice and booster for Lincoln County, and I have a running start on the challenges ahead,” he said. “I invited Lincoln County commissioners, mayors and economic development officials to meet in Helena with state officials who handle grant programs and it paid off. No other legislator ever did this... I have carried major legislation and I have stopped bad legislation. Sometimes the most important thing is to say no.”

The primary election is scheduled for June 7, 2016.