Legislative Democratic candidates stump in Havre

Democratic candidates for the state Legislature during a fundraiser Tuesday in Havre called for help and support to take seats in Helena.

Sen. Greg Jergeson, D-Havre, who faces the winner of the primary race between state Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, and Chester farmer Carl Mattson, said he and volunteers have been busy — they prepared 2,200 mailers to residents of Senate District 14 Monday alone.

“We can’t match the other side for money … ,” Jergeson said. “It’s those kind of volunteer efforts that are going to make the difference in the election this fall.”

He said he also has been busy with interim legislative work. He missed the meeting in Havre last week of the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education while he was in Helena for meetings of interim committees and was headed back Wednesday for his fourth committee meeting this month.

“Last winter I complained bitterly about all these fellow politicians who get themselves assigned to committees, and even assigned to the the chair positions of these committees, and then never show up because it interferes with their politics,” Jergeson said. “Well, the work of the Legislature goes on in those committees and that was my obligation on Friday. So if there was more politics to be made by skipping the meeting and being in Havre, that was my obligation as your state senator to be at that meeting doing the work that the Legislature is called upon to do.”

Democratic Havre City Council member Janet Trethewey, who faces Republican Stephanie Hess in the race for House District 28 that comprises Havre, said she decided she would run because Havre — and Montana — need to be represented by someone “who has lived here, has worked here, who has raised a family here, who knows Montana values and Montana expectations and appreciates the diversity in Montana.”

Trethewey, a retired Montana State University-Northern professor, said one key issue for her should be no surprise to anyone — education. She said one initiative she strongly supports is Gov. Steve Bullock’s push for a state funded pre-kindergarten education, as well as as a strong K-12 and higher education system.

“Education is critical for the Montana economy,” she said.

She said something else the state needs to pay attention to is access to quality health care. Whether people can’t access health care because of where they live or because they don’t have insurance, the state needs to help them.

“We need to take care of our neighbors and provide health care for all,” she said.

While Montana always has relied on extracting resources, that needs to be balanced with protecting the environment, Trethewey said.

We need some common sense and some people paying attention to make sure both sides are heard and do what’s best to keep Montana the last, best place,” she said.

Trethewey also said she wants to work in Helena to repair and replace the aging infrastructure in Havre that need upgrading and repairs.

“We need to find the dollars to do that, and we need to find the good solutions for that,” she said.

And, she said, like any relationship, the way to do that is to be able to compromise.

“I think most people in Montana are willing to give a little bit on ideology if we can work to put it together to get things done and move Montana forward,” she said.

Chester farmer Rob Laas, the Democrat in the race for House District 27 that runs from the Canadian border to just outside of Great Falls, spoke for about 11 minutes — and kept jokingly asking for more time.

He was told he had about four minutes at the start of his speech.

Laas will face the winner of the Republican primary between Rep. Roy Hollandsworth, R-Brady, and Hingham farmer Darrold Hutchinson.

He said all his Republican friends “get it.” Working poor need help, including with medical costs — medical expense is the number one cause of bankruptcy, he said. He added that he has personal experience. His 12-year-old son has cystic fibrosis, which is considered a pre-existing condition and wasn’t covered by insurance. He almost lost his third-generation farm due to hundreds of thousands in medical bills, Laas said.

He added that he can’t figure out why most farmers vote the way they do.

“Once every other year we vote Republican, but the rest of the time we act like Democrats,” he said to applause.

He said many issues face the area, including funding infrastructure repairs — with energy development likely to hit this area, too, he said — and education funding.

Laas said people need to remember the purpose of government.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret: It was designed to respond to peoples’ voices,” he said.

No matter who is speaking loudest, the people’s voice should be the loudest to all elected officials, Laas said.

“We need to get that voice back in there,” he added.

He said he decided to make his own campaign signs because “one of the burs under my saddle is Citizens United.”

He said he is not bashing Democrats who are buying advertising, but he made his own campaign sign rather than spending a huge amount of money from PACS: a smiley face labeled “Have a Nice Day” with Rob Laas, House District 27, and the cost — four cents — written on them. He added that the best thing is, after the election is over, he can use it for a target in shooting practice.

“Campaign spending is a symptom of the problem,” Laas said. “And the problem is the money that big industry is putting into our government. And we need to stop it. We absolutely need to stop it.”

Laas said that when Democrats win, some industries benefit. When Republicans win, other industries win.

“Right now, the companies want to drive the boat, and they are telling us to row,” he said.