Election 2012: Montana’s Clean Water, Wild Country at Stake
Montanans demand common-sense laws that protect clean water, public health, and access to public land. Some lawmakers and candidates ignore this Constitutional obligation to uphold our right to a “clean and healthful environment.” Our future depends on an informed electorate, poised to choose leaders who will stand up for our outdoor heritage.
Get ready – 2012 will be huge. Montanans choose a President, a new Governor, deliberate over the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House races, elect a Land Board, and will send a new mix of 125 of the 150 state legislators to Helena. Montana Conservation Voters will monitor and evaluate candidates – from County Commissions to Congress – and let you know where they stand on efforts to protect clean water, clean energy, and access to public land and water.
Candidate filing opens January 12th and closes March 12th. Primary election is June 5th, Election Day is November 6th.
Candidates in 2012: (Incumbents italicized)
U.S. Senate Sen. Jon Tester (D)
Cong. Dennis Rehberg (R)
Dennis Teske (R)
U.S. House of Representatives – open seat
Democrat: Kim Gillan, Billings
Melinda Gopher, Missoula
Diane Smith, Whitefish
Dave Strohmaier, Missoula
Rob Stutz, Helena
Jason Ward, Hardin
Franke Wilmer, Bozeman
Republican: Steve Daines, Bozeman
Governor – open seat
Democrat: Steve Bullock, Helena
Larry Jent, Bozeman
Republican: Jeff Essmann, Billings
Bob Fanning, Emigrant
Rick Hill, Helena
Neil Livingstone, Helena
Jim Lynch, Helena
Ken Miller, Laurel
James O’Hara, Fort Benton
Corey Stapleton, Billings
Drew Turiano, Helena
Independent: Robert Coate, Billings
Libertarian: Rob Vandevender, Cascade
Undisclosed Party: Ronald Lassle, Helena
Supreme Court (non-partisan) – 2 seats
1. Open Seat vacated by Justice Jim Nelson
Elizabeth Best, Great Falls
Laurie McKinnon, Choteau
Edward Sheehy, Missoula
2. Justice Brian Morris, Helena
“Tier B” (serve on State Board of Land Commissioners, chaired by Governor)
Attorney General – open seat
Democrat: Pam Bucy, Helena
Jesse Laslovich, Helena
Republican: Jim Shockley, Victor
Auditor - Monica Lindeen (D-Huntley)
Derek Skees (R-Whitefish)
Secretary of State - Linda McCulloch (D- Helena)
Brad Johnson (R-Helena)
Scott Aspenlieder (R-Helena)
Superintendent of Public Instruction - Denise Juneau (D-Helena)
Sandy Welch (R-Kalispell)
Public Service Commission District 2 - open
Democrat:
Lynda Moss, Billings
Chuck Tooley, Billings
Republican:
Al Garver, Billings
Kurt Bushman, Billings (not confirmed)
Public Service Commission District 3
John Vincent (D – Big Sky)
Mark Sweeney (D – Anaconda)
James (Jim) Brown (R – Helena)
Public Service Commission District 4
Gail Gutsche (D- Missoula)
Bob Lake (R – Hamilton)
Montana State Legislature
Montana House of Representatives: All 100 seats are up for election, of which seventeen are open due to term limits. (Open House Districts: 11, 14, 19, 31, 35, 37, 46, 50, 51, 53, 56, 76, 83, 85, 89, 95, 96)
Montana Senate: Twenty five of 50 seats are up for election, of which eight are open due to term limits
(Open Senate Districts: 19, 24, 26, 33, 34, 37, 45, 46)
This document includes the candidates we are aware of as of 2/2/2012 and may not be a complete list. Check out our website at www.mtvoters.org/2012 for updates.
Montana Conservation Voters | PO Box 63 - Billings, MT 59103 406.254.1593 | PO Box 9335 - Missoula, MT 59807 406/ 542.1055
