Election 2014: House District 28: Stephanie Hess

Stephanie Hess is the Republican candidate in House District 28 in Tuesday's election.

Hess was born in Sterling, Illinois, in August 1972 and graduated from high school in 1990. She attended Olivet Nazarene University and received her bachelor's of science in social work in 1994.

Her work experience includes Northern Montana Care Center as a social worker, which she is doing currently, Family Outreach as the adults with disabilities case manager, Frances House as the group home director, The Terrace as the mental health director, and others.

She has also been a legislative aide to the Montana Senate in the 2007 and 2009 legislative sessions and was the military and overseas elections coordinator for Montana Secretary of State from 2007 to 2009.

She is active in Havre Abundant Life Ministries as the worship leader and council member.

Hess said she was unable to conduct an interview over the phone. The following is from an email response to interview questions.

Why should the voters vote for you?

"I love this state and this town," Hess wrote. "I have spent my career in service and I want to serve this community."

She wrote that she thinks that making the focus in government about out-maneuvering opponents is a mistake.

"Governing should be about looking for good ideas wherever they might come from," she wrote. "Whether that is a legislator from another political party or a voter who may or may not have voted for me, every person has value and brings something to the table. Governing should be about discussing the ideas with honor and honesty."

Medicaid expansion

Hess wrote that she believes the root of the problem with Obamacare is that it does not do anything about high health care costs. She wrote that Obamacare has people falling into a "donut hole" where their salaries at too high to qualify for Medicaid and not high enough to be able to use the exchange set up by the government.

"There are several entities, including the governor, who are looking at this issue and drafting proposals," she wrote. "I have not seen the details of these proposals yet but look forward to the discussion. I do think we should be looking for Montana solutions and not just what's been pushed at us from the Washington DC."

Early Edge Montana state-funded kindergarten

Hess wrote she has concerns about this.

"First, where are we going to put these kids?" she wrote. "Our classrooms are already full. Second, what are we going to have to cut to pay for this?"

State taking control of federal land

She wrote that there are "some indicators that the state may be able to manage lands currently held in trust better than Washington DC."

She continued to explain that since this is a new and complex issues, she needs more information about it.

"A quick decision on this issue would not be appropriate," Hess wrote.

No texting while driving law

"Texting and driving is a serious safety concern," Hess wrote. "Most Montana cities already have some sort of ordinance against texting and driving. I am open to the discussion of a state law against texting and driving."

Same-sex marriage

"The Montana voters have already spoken on this issue," Hess wrote. "Nearly 70% voted to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. I have no reason to believe that nearly 70% of the electorate has changed their minds."