Lobby gets grief over 2 endorsements
This item originally appeared in: Billings Gazette
The state’s leading business lobby has chosen to endorse both candidates in Montana’s contested Supreme Court race — and is getting some grief from one of the campaigns.
After the Montana Chamber of Commerce endorsed both Helena attorney Beth Baker and state District Judge Nels Swandal of Livingston on Aug. 19, the Swandal campaign issued a press release saying it was “puzzled” by the chamber’s inability to see differences between the two candidates.
Dustin Frost, senior adviser to Swandal’s campaign, said it was “more than just a little ironic” that the Chamber endorsed candidates in other races because of their opposition to environmental extremism, yet endorsed Baker, who has the support of the Montana Conservation Voters (MCV), a leading conservation/environmental group.
Baker also has been endorsed by two leading labor organizations, while Swandal has received support from several ag and business groups.
Swandal and Brown are running for the court seat being vacated by retiring Justice William Leaphart.
Webb Brown, president of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, says it may be the first time a candidate received an endorsement and then bad-mouthed the chamber, but that it doesn’t bother him.
“We don’t do (endorsements) for the candidate,” he said. “We do it for our members and the public. (The candidates) can use it however they want.“
Swandal also has said he didn’t seek or desire the endorsement of the labor groups or MCV, because he doesn’t really support their views and didn’t expect them to endorse him.
Theresa Keaveny, executive director of Montana Conservation Voters, said the group invited Swandal to talk to its endorsement committee several times, but he declined. Baker met with the MCV panel and impressed the group with her balanced approach, Keaveny said.
The Chamber’s endorsement of Swandal and Baker complimented both for their “extensive experience, pledges to uphold the law rather than make law, and their assurances to be an independent, unbiased justice for all parties before the court.”
