Dems host Hillery-Hagener dinner Tuesday

Local Democrats are hosting their spring Pam Hillery-Toni Hagener fundraiser Tuesday at the Havre Eagles Club, with some local candidates to speak on their campaigns.

Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, who is facing a challenge from Havre Libertartian Conor Burns in November’s general election, said he and Senate District 14 Democratic candidate Paul Tuss will speak first at the fundraiser, set to start at 6 p.m., then pass the microphone off to Nancy Keenan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party,

Bachmeier said U.S. Sen Jon Tester, D-Mont., who faces challenges from four Republicans, two Green Party candidates and one Libertarian candidate, cannot attend, but his wife, Sharla Tester, will be up from their farm west of Big Sandy to act as master of ceremonies with Keenan.

Tickets for the event, which features a chicken cordon bleu dinner, are $30 and $20 for students.

The evening also features a play honoring Montana’s Jeanette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress. Rankin was first elected in 1916, before the 19th Constiitutional Amendment granted women the right to vote. Rankin was instrumental in the amendment’s passage.

People are invited to bring a dessert or silent auction item to the event.

They also are invited to donate online or at the door to the fundraiser, which will fund the Hill County Central Committee’s support of candidates.

The sponsors listed for the event are Sen. Jon and Sharla Tester, the Tuss family, Renelle Braatan, Penney Bergren, John Snider and Carol Ortman, Jacob Bachmeier and Hannah Pate, Doug and Darla Kaercher, Karen Alley and Randy Randolph.