State Sen. Mike Cuffe offers candidate endorsements

To the editor:

Lincoln County has strong representation in the Montana State Legislature. Please vote to return state Rep. Steve Gunderson to House District 1 and state Rep. Neil Duram to House District 2. This is the first time I won’t appear on the ballot in 10 years, as I am a midterm holdover in the state Senate. The three of us make a good team.

Please strengthen our work through election of Greg Gianforte and Kristen Juras as governor and lieutenant governor. Our state definitely needs the business and congressional experience of Gianforte.

Keep Sen. Steve Daines in office. He is a strong proponent for our natural resource usage and public land access. His opponent has blocked mining and hurt our economy, along with his Department of Environmental Quality director, who has argued against some disbursement of asbestos cleanup money to local residents.

Vote for Matt Rosendale for Congress. He is a strong fiscal conservative with Montana values and a proven record of statewide public service. The difference between him and his opponent is vast — check out her legislative voting record on Second Amendment issues.

I personally know all of the Republican candidates on the ballot. I strongly endorse the following. Austin Knudsen for attorney general. He has twice served as our speaker of the house, and is an experienced private attorney and public prosecutor.

Christi Jacobsen for secretary of state. I worked with her regularly as deputy secretary of state.

Elsie Arntzen, for superintendent of public instruction, who did a super job her first term. Putting flags in every classroom is one current project. She also was a mentor to me in the legislator.

Troy Downing for auditor. He is the only candidate with a successful business background and military combat experience.

Jennifer Fielder, my senate seatmate this term, will make a great public service commissioner. I also served with her on consumer council committee, which deals with matters before Montana Public Service Commission. She is tenacious, thorough and smart.

We also have two county officials seeking reelection, and both have done well. I back Mark Peck for county commissioner and Tricia Brooks for clerk of court.

In the nonpartisan races, Laurie McKinnon served us well her first term, and I will vote for her, and also for Jim Shea, who has no opposition.

State Sen. Mike Cuffe

(R-Eureka)