HHS junior tapped as Dems vice chair

A 17-year-old Havre High School junior is now No. 2 in the Hill County Democratic party's hierarchy.

Jacob Bachmeier, who is active in speech and debate, student council and Leadership High School, was tapped to be vice chair of Hill County Democrats at the annual convention Tuesday night.

Party officials said they'd bet he was the youngest party official in Montana.

Chair Brenda Skornogoski, who was unanimously re-elected Tuesday night, praised Bachmeier for his eagerness and knowledge of politics.

Bachmeier said his great-grandfather was a Democratic state representative from Fairfield, and he grew up listening to his great-grandmother tell stories about the Helena sessions. He said he always followed politics, especially Montana politics, keeping tabs whenever the Montana Legislature met.

He became active in local politics after, in his part-time job at Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods, he carried out groceries for then-state Sen. Greg Jergeson.

The two became engaged in political talk, and the senator invited Bachmeier to a political event at the home of Havre City Councilman Jay Pyette, a Jergeson supporter. Bachmeier then jumped head-first into the campaign.

One of the prime goals, he said, should be an effort to reclaim Havre's state House seat that was won by Republican Stephanie Hess in the 2014 elections. Hess is expected to seek re-election in the 2016 elections in the district where Democrats hold a majority.

He said he was pleased with some actions taken by the Legislature, but was upset that legislators were unable to come to an agreement on an infrastructure program.

He said he has followed the issue and is distressed at how the nation's - and Montana's - infrastructure is decaying at a rapid rate.

Other officers elected Tuesday night are: Karen Datko was re-elected secretary; Kathy Brodeur is the new treasurer; Jack Trethewey and Janet Trethewey were elected state committeeman and committeewoman.

Four alternatives to the state convention if Skornogoski or the Tretheweys are unable to attend are: Datko, Joe Skornogoski, Debi Friede and Charles Gallus.