MCV endorses Democratic, Republican candidates in upcoming election

In an election year where “drill, baby, drill,” has become a battle cry for many Republicans, Montana Conservation Voters is working to promote candidates who support conservation issues, Democrat and Republican alike.

Montana Conservation Voters, which began in 1999 and boasts over 1200 members, works throughout the state to support candidates during elections, informing people about their stances on issues such as clean air and water, open spaces, wildlife and public health.

MCV is a bipartisan organization that, according to its Web site, has endorsed two Republican, two nonpartisan and 78 Democratic candidates for this year’s election.

In a race in which conservation issues such as energy use and climate change are becoming increasingly divisive among parties, MCV hopes to help people rally behind someone they can believe in.

“More and more, these conservation issues are transcending the levels of government and becoming increasingly important, as well as polarizing,” said Garrett Budds, head of the Missoula chapter of MCV. “We are right at the precipice and I think climate change is the driver for all of these conservation issues. We’ve supported candidates that take that threat seriously as well.”

Another important issue this year for MCV that may affect climate change in a big way is a switch to renewable energy sources.

Robin Saha, a Missoula chapter representative for MCV and professor of environmental studies at UM, said Montanans need to focus on creating new ideas instead of holding onto the past.

“The things that have gotten us into this trouble in the first place are not the things we should be doing more of,” Saha said. “I think what’s happening is there are these inevitable trends you can push against, but it’s like pushing against a tsunami—you’re going to get overwhelmed.”

A better choice, he added, would be to shift the demand of fuel sources to a more local production, instead of relying on foreign or decentralized producers.

“We need to move towards a new energy economy that provides jobs locally and that generates power within communities,” Saha said.

A recent study by Clean Edge, a clean-technology research firm, shows that the Pacific Northwest may be able to create up to 63,000 new jobs by 2025 in clean energy technologies, such as solar and wind power manufacturing and green building designs.
New employment opportunities may be able to boost an economic slump and revive a local job market, but there are other more immediate steps the state has already taken, Saha said.

“The governor has already taken some leadership in requiring that state agencies cut their energy consumption by 20 percent by 2020, and the university is already on the ball with that,” he said.
Since September of this year, UM has taken steps to reduce the campus’ energy consumption, including lowering the temperature in campus buildings at night, installing energy efficient lights and following energy efficient design standards.

Along with promoting local issues such as these, MCV is also providing some jobs to Montana residents as grassroots organizers in the upcoming election.

Peter Clavin, a graduate student in literature at UM, works for MCV, calling residents around Missoula and letting them know which candidates MCV is endorsing.

“I’m doing this because I’m pro-conservation,” Clavin said. “I’m definitely down with the spirit of the cause. We all need to protect what we have in Montana, and at least I can do that with Montana Conservation Voters.”

In recent years, MCV has increased the number of local candidates they’ve endorsed and will continue to look towards county governments to defend important conservation issues. David Tyler, who co-chairs the board of directors of MCV said that decisions about state lands and use of resources most often happen at a local level.

“City councils and local land boards make decisions every day that affect our lands and it’s important to get people elected to make good decisions,” Tyler said.

As more people around the country start to feel the effects of global climate change and begin to support more conservation issues, Tyler said, it’s especially important for Montanans to vote for candidates who care about preserving the state’s natural resources.

“Most Montana citizens really value the land,” he said. “Most of us live in Montana because we choose to appreciate the unique landscape and resources.

“We all enjoy it and want to protect it. Some people may not realize how easily these things are lost.”