Bachmeier aims for first seat

This year, Jacob Bachmeier graduated from high school, began college and hopes to win election to the Montana House of Representatives.

Bachmeier, 18, is the Democratic candidate seeking to unseat incumbent state Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, in the race for House District 28.

The district includes all of Havre south of the Milk River and extends slightly east and west outside of the city limits.

Last year, he was elected Hill County Democratic Party vice-chair.

Bachmeier said he decided to mount a campaign for the state Legislature because he has always viewed public service as a great way

to help people.  

  He said was also inspired by the legacy of his great-grandfather state Rep. Rex Manuel of Fairfield, who served in the Montana House as House speaker pro tem.

"After hearing about all the great

things he has done for the state, I just really think that I have the opportunity to have a positive impact on people's lives," he said.   

Bachmeier, who was born and raised in Havre, said he would bring a different point of view to the Legislature.

"I know what it is like to be a student enrolled in college," he said. "I know what it is like to be a young person who wants to have his family in Montana and wants to have a career in Montana, and I think I bring a unique perspective."

Bachmeier said that if elected, the issues he would be most focused on would be protecting public lands, infrastructure funding and education.

He said that Hess has not done enough to champion those issues.

Revenue estimates for the next legislative session predict a decrease in money coming into the state. Bachmeier said the creation of good, high paying jobs would increase the number of people paying taxes and increase the amount of revenue coming into the state.

This can be achieved by ensuring that state taxes on small businesses remain low, he said, freeing up more money for wages.

"Here in Havre, just about every business is a small, local home-grown business," Bachmeier said.  

Bachmeier said he supports using a mix of state bonding and cash on hand to pay for infrastructure projects. In the last legislative session such a bill was taken up. It passed the Senate but in the House fell one vote shy of the two-thirds majority needed to approve state bonding.

Bachmeier said he supports bonding because bonding rates are currently low. Those low rates will allow the state to borrow money and pay it back at low interest rates.

Cash could be used from the state's rainy day fund to cover the cash on-hand portion of such a bill, he said.

Bachmeier said he would strongly oppose any move to transfer control or sell federal public lands within Montana. Such a move would likely block access to those lands by the public, he said.  

"Being born and raised in Montana, I understand that hunting and fishing access is important to every single one of us," Bachmeier said.

If elected, Bachmeier said, he wants to increase access to public lands He said that currently more than 2 million acres cannot be accessed.

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Jacob Bachmeier, Democrat

Date and place of birth: Jan. 29, 1998, Havre

Professional history: Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods on and off  2012- present

Education: Havre High School, 2016;, Montana State University-Northern, education major

Military service: None

Family/Significant others: Father and mother, Randy and Christine Bachmeier, one brother and four sisters.

Past political offices: Hill County Democratic Party vice-chair, 2015-present

Community affiliations: Hill County Democratic Party; Fifth Avenue Christian Church; Havre High School Speech and Debate team volunteer