Hess tries for second term

Two years after winning election to the Montana House of Representatives, state Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, is running for a second term.

Hess  holds the seat in House District 28, which includes all of Havre South of the Milk River and extends slightly east and west outside of the city limits.

She faces a challenge from Hill County Democratic Party Vice-Chair Jacob Bachmeier in November's general election.

An Illinois native, Hess said she wants to continue her service in the House because she loves the state of Montana and her adopted hometown of Havre, whose people, she said, are independent-minded.

Hess said she has nearly 17 years of experience in social work, background that she said taught her that every person has value.

Before she was elected, Hess served as a legislative aide in the 2007 and 2009 legislative sessions. She said the experience and knowledge she gained

gave her "a leg up" when she was elected in her own right.

"I felt a little bad for people who did not have that experience with the process, and so that was a huge benefit," she said.

Hess said one cause that is a priority for her is data privacy.

A long-term plan for the state's infrastructure will be a top priority in the coming legislative session, Hess said.

However, she said, just how much the state can do will be limited, as revenue estimates show the state is expected to take in less money.   

In the coming session, budgets will likely have to be leaner, she said, adding that lawmakers will also have to find ways to make government less costly and more efficient.

Hess said Montana's government does not have a revenue problem as much as it does a spending problem.

She said Montana has had budget surpluses throughout the last decade.

Montana should look toward developing its natural resources in a way that is clean and does not harm the environment, Hess said.

"Those are high-paying jobs that will stimulate the economy," she said.

Reducing regulations and fees would also encourage small businesses to expand, Hess said.

"When we get government out of the way, this is when our private sector can flourish," she said.

On the issue of repairing Montana's aging infrastructure, Hess said she is not a fan of using bonding to pay for infrastructure but would support doing so under the right circumstances.

She said that first, state lawmakers have to agree on how infrastructure should be defined.

"I think infrastructure should be roads, bridges, sewers, water treatment centers," Hess said.

She said she disagrees with some lawmakers that infrastructure also includes state-owned buildings. Though those buildings should be taken care of, they do not fall in the same category as infrastructure, Hess said.

Control of federal public lands within Montana's borders should not be transferred to the state or sold to private interests, Hess said. However, she said, the state should take a larger role in management of those lands.

"As a state we have to do a better job of working with the federal government managing those lands," Hess said.

---

Stephanie Hess, Republican

Date and place of birth: Aug 8, 1972, Sterling, Illinois

Education: Sterling High, 1990, Olivet Nazarene University, B.S in social work

Professional history: Montana Secretary of State's office, 2007-08;  legislative aide to state Senate minority Leader Corey Stapleton R-Billings, 2007, aide to Montana Senate President Bob Story, 2009, social worker, Northern Montana Care Center, 2009-2015, Computer tech at Bear Paw Technologies, 2015-present.

Military service: None

Family/significant other: None

Political offices held: Montana House of Representatives, House District 28, 2015-present

Community Affiliations: Worship leader and council member, Abundant Life Ministries; board member, Hi-Line Pregnancy Resource Center