Montes runs for state Senate

She has been a part of tribal government on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation for years, but LeAnn Montes hopes to enter the halls of state government in Helena as a lawmaker next year.

Montes, the attorney general for the Chippewa Cree Tribe, is competing against two other Democrats to be the party's nominee in the race for Senate District 16, Bobbi Jo Favel, also of Rocky Boy, and former state Sen. Frank Smith of Poplar.

The district spans from Box Elder to Fort Peck, consisting of rural communities, as well as the Fort Belknap, Fort Peck and Rocky Boy's Indian reservations.

The winner of the June 7 primary will then take on freshman state Rep. Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder in the fall.

State Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, who occupies the seat, is term limited and therefore unable to run for re-election.

Windy Boy is instead running for the House District 32 seat occupied by Meyers.

An enrolled member of the tribe, Montes was born and raised in Rocky Boy, and attended Box Elder schools.

She went on to the University of Montana, where in addition to her studies she played on the woman's basketball team.

Montes later graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration before returning to the reservation.

She then moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and earned a juris doctorate and Indian law certificate.

Following graduation, Montes returned to Rocky Boy in 2006, and briefly worked as assistant manager of the Chippewa Cree Development Corp.

After passing the Montana bar exam, she went on to serve as an attorney for the tribe, before becoming attorney general in about 2011.

She has a daughter, Dominique, and two sons, Julius and Tristen.

Montes touts her collaboration with the Montana Secretary of State's Office in creating a universal commercial code to help "foster economic development" on Rocky Boy, as one of her top accomplishments in her current position.

"I think my overall goal for this position is to seek the voice of the constituents in Senate District 16, understand their concerns, and identify, you know, how they could readily address them," Montes said.

There are still many issues she said that she has to educate herself on and that she will frequently be looking for input from her constituents.

She said she draws inspiration from several elected officials, such as Superintendent of Public Instruction and congressional candidate Denise Juneau, as well as Windy Boy.

Montes has received the backing of Windy Boy, who she called "a positive role model."

Though she has received his public backing in her bid to succeed him, Montes differs from Windy Boy on abortion rights.

During the 2015 legislative session, Windy Boy received just a 19 percent rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League.

"I support Roe v. Wade because I think it's a statement about the importance of women making this most difficult decision with support from whom they choose.," Montes said.

Death penalty

Last year, state lawmakers nearly passed legislation that would have eliminated the death penalty in Montana and replaced it with life in prison.

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

Montana is one of 31 states that has the death penalty.

The Death Penalty Information Center, a clearinghouse for data on capital punishment, reports that in the past 21 years three inmates have been executed in Montana.

Montes said that whether or not to eliminate the death penalty is "a difficult question."

She said that she would want to see the proposed legislation before deciding whether to do away with the death penalty.

Criminal justice reform

In addition to her duties as attorney general at Rocky Boy, Montes sits on the Montana State Sentencing Commission.

The 15-member commission, which includes state lawmakers, tribal officials, law enforcement and judges, among others, looks at potential flaws in the criminal justice system.

The commission studies, among other issues, recidivism, crime prevention programs, reducing the size of the prison population and racial disparities in sentencing.

Montes said that while she is a believer in the Montana system of criminal justice, there are areas where reform is needed.

Marijuana legalization

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

A page on the Montana Secretary of State's website reports that signatures are being gathered for three contradictory ballot initiatives that could go before voters in November.

One would repeal the Montana Marijuana Act, the state's voter-approved medical marijuana law and "requires that drugs are illegal under federal law are illegal under state law."

Another would allow individuals 21 and older to grow, purchase and use limited amounts of marijuana for recreational use.

Montes said that regardless, marijuana would still be illegal under federal law.

So someone using marijuana, whether it be for medical or recreational purposes could be doing something that is legal under state law but is illegal under federal law.

She said in such a situation people could still get arrested.

Montes said she thinks any changes should be made by first by the federal government, so as not to end up contracting federal law.

Infrastructure

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

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

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.

That amount was later cut in half under a bipartisan package that would have paid for it through a mix of cash on hand and bonding.

In the end, it fell short of the 67 votes needed in the house.

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.

Bullock in recent weeks, has called for $200 million in infrastructure spending.

Montes said that she would want to see specific legislation and learn more about the issue before taking a firm stand either way.

Though it is a key source of funding for infrastructure improvements, Montes said she would be reluctant to raise the state's 27.75 cent tax on gasoline.

Sales tax

Montes said she might be willing to look at the possibility of replacing the state's income tax with a sales tax.

Montana is now one of only five states that doesn't have a state sales tax.

Montes said she has lived under both systems. New Mexico, has a sales tax.

"That would be something I would probably have to look into a little bit more," Montes said.

Minimum wage

Montes said she supports raising the state's minimum wage to $10 an hour.

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

"Employees, they work hard and it's very difficult to financially support your family in this state, particularly how the economy is," Montes said. "And I think any increase in the minimum wage would be a positive thing for them."

She said that a hike in the minimum wage could help boost morale among workers and make them willing to work more.

Public lands

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

Montes said she would like a comprehensive study done to examine the economic and environmental impact of transferring federal lands to state control.

"I think there is a lot more that is going on there then 'yes, let's take over the federal lands for the state's control,' but I think the state really needs to figure out if they can afford it," Montes said.

She said the state and federal government should talk with Native American communities to open a discussion on the topic.

Montes said a land transfer could be expensive, but that the state should look into the possibility.