Favel vies for state Senate seat

In fewer than four weeks, the name Bobbi Jo Favel will appear on ballots from Box Elder to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

Favel, a Democrat, is hoping to be her party's standard bearer in the race for Senate District 16.

She is competing against former state Sen. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, and LeAnn Montes, attorney general for the Chippewa Cree Tribe, in the June 7 Democratic primary.

The winner will face freshman state Rep. Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder, in November's general election.

State Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, is term-limited and can't run for re-election. The veteran lawmaker will, instead, be running unopposed for the House District 32 seat now occupied by Meyers.

Favel was born and raised on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. She is an alumna of the University of Montana, where she earned a bachelor's degree in resource management and a law degree.

Favel has since worked in the field of economic development, managing projects for tribes throughout the state. She has done so both as an independent contractor and in roles with several organizations such as the Native American Corporation and as director of American Indian Consulting Services, both based in Billings.

She later returned to Rocky Boy and in 2014 made an unsuccessful run for the Chippewa Cree Business Committee.

Favel now works on a temporary basis for the tribe's employee benefits and risk management office.

She said that for years she considered running for office, but now, at age 40, is wading into state politics for the first time as a candidate.

Favel said she wants to take part in helping rehabilitate trust in government. She said she felt compelled to launch her campaign after watching several televised debates between Republican presidential primary candidates.

"I thought 'I just can't sit here and not do anything about that,'" Favel said.

She touts her experience working with tribes in Montana and the state government as assets.

Favel said the issues of education and protecting, as well as expanding upon gains in health care access, are the priorities at the top of her agenda.

Minimum wage

Favel said she is "definitely in favor" of raising Montana's minimum wage to $10 an hour.

Montana's minimum wage is $8.25, a dollar more than the federal minimum wage.

Favel said, given the high cost of living, it is difficult for people to make ends meet on that amount.

She said even though she would support the $1.75-per-hour increase, she would be interested in seeing and taking part in crafting a plan to hike the minimum wage even more over the course of five years.

Infrastructure

The Legislature failed to muster the votes needed last session to pass a bill that would make upgrades to the state's infrastructure.

Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, initially urged the Republican-led Legislature to greenlight $300 million to repair the state's roads and bridges and meet the state's other infrastructure needs.

That amount was later cut in half under a bipartisan package that would have paid for it by issuing state bonds.

Some Republicans argued that rather than borrowing the money, infrastructure spending should be paid for with money from the state's ending fund balance, also referred to as the state's rainy day fund.

In the end, a bipartisan proposal that would have paid for the improvements fell short of the 67 votes needed.

In recent weeks, the topic has gained renewed attention as the campaigns of both Bullock and Greg Gianforte, have started trading barbs on the issue.

Favel said repairs and improvements are badly needed, and the key is to put together a "well-balanced plan" with input from both the governor and Legislature.

"I think it is going to take a collaborative effort from both parties to put that together," she said.

Though it generates money for infrastructure improvements, Favel said she would oppose any proposal that would raise the state's 27.75 cent tax on gasoline.

"A rise in the gas tax, I think, would put a hardship on a lot of families, especially those who commute to work," Favel said.

State sales tax

Favel said she would be willing to look at replacing the state's income tax with a state sales tax.

Montana is now one of only five states that lacks a state sales tax,

She said she would like to look at how states that do have a sales tax have fared.

Favel said a sales tax could bring in more revenue to the state.

Public lands

In recent years, there has been a debate on whether the state should take a larger role in managing public lands.

Favel said she is opposed to selling off public lands to private interests. However, she said the state should collaborate with the federal government to form a plan to play a larger role in managing public lands.

"I think, when it comes to Montana, our state officials know what is best because we live here," Favel said.

Death penalty

In the 2015 legislative session, state lawmakers came close to passing legislation that would eliminate the death penalty in Montana, and replace it with life in prison without parole.

The measure was blocked by a 50-50 tie in the House.

Montana is one of 31 states with the death penalty.

The Death Penalty Information Center, a clearinghouse for data about capital punishment, reports there have been only three inmates executed in Montana since 1995.

Favel said she is against efforts to repeal the death penalty, saying it could serve as a deterrent for those thinking about committing murder.

"I think it is important to have it there so that people are aware that if they are committing a crime, especially a heinous crime, that the option is there," Favel said.

Marijuana legalization

Three contradictory petitions could well be on Montana ballots in November.

On its website, the Montana Secretary of State has three draft ballot initiatives that have been approved for signature gathering. One would repeal the Montana Marijuana Act, the state's voter-approved medical marijuana law and "require that drugs that are illegal under federal law are illegal under Montana law."

Another would allow individuals 21 and older to purchase or use limited amounts of marijuana for recreation. A third would liberalize medical marijuana laws.

Marijuana for medical use is now legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia, and for recreational use in four.

Marijuana possession remains illegal under federal law.

Favel said she supports medical marijuana, but not legalizing it for recreational use.

She said she worries legalization would encourage more young people to use it.

"When I was growing up the big thing was alcohol, don't drink, don't drive, stay away from alcohol, and now it is drugs," Favel said.

She said legalization would also create a regulation nightmare," given drug-free workplaces and worker safety.