Candidate celebrates birthday with campaign event

Paul Tuss, Democratic candidate for Montana Senate District 14, said Tuesday that there are important issues that are unable to be resolved due to the polarized parties in Montana Legislature and he wants to work to change that.

"We need to talk to each other," Tuss, the executive director of Bear Paw Development Corp., said during

his Birthday Barbecue Fundraiser hosted by Jay and Dana Pyette. " ... Before we are Democrats or before we are Republicans, we are Montanans."

Tuss, who lost a primary bid for Montana secretary of state in 2000, faces incumbent

Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, a former Liberty County Commissioner, in November's general election.

Tuss also introduced Havre City Clerk and Finance Director Doug Kaercher, Democratic candidate for Public Service Commission.

Kaercher faces Republican Randy Pinocci of Sun River in the general election.

Tuss, who was celebrating his 53rd birthday, told the crowd at the event that his campaign is going well and he is humbled by the support that he has received. He added that the campaign has already made more than 1,200 contacts, most in Havre, and that the campaign already has 250 contributors.

"That's pretty humbling," Tuss said.

He added that he also has support from some Republicans. Tom Patrick, owner of Patrick Construction, and Debi Rhines, who ran for a spot on the Hill County Commission in 2012 as a Republican, are both on Tuss' steering committee.

In an interview, Tuss said he wants to take that bipartisan element to the Legislature.

"There is a hyper-partisan environment at the state and national level," Tuss said, "I am fortunate, so when you have the opportunity to bring together people from both parties for the same purpose ... I'll take it."

Tuss said during his speech that he plans to campaign soon in Big Sandy and Chester.

Tuss said he is not worried about his campaign in Chester, Tempel's hometown.

"They're not going to be able to paint me as a liberal Democrat that people shouldn't support," Tuss said, saying he has worked in that community in his position with Bear Paw Development.

The Senior Center in Chester was a project Bear Paw Development worked on. Bear Paw also has worked on a lot of infrastructure projects in that area and has a good name there, he said.

Tuss added that his experience with infrastructure and working on the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education will help him if he is elected.

"It is pretty easy for me to talk to people about what my priorities are," Tuss said. "When I get elected to the state Senate, honestly, they are the priorities I've been working on for 25 years, issues that, unfortunately, all too often anymore, have become partisan. That's crazy to me."

"It's not like we are talking about big budget partisan issues. We are talking about bridges and roads and water and sewage systems," he added. "I want to go to Helena to change some of that."

Greg Jergeson, former state senator and chair of the Public Service Commission and now a commissioner on the Montana Transportation Commission, told the crowd he believes Tuss is running a great campaign.

"Talk to your family ... convince them to help Paul; it is desperately important that he has a well-funded campaign," Jergeson added. "Everybody can influence seven other people to agree with them on a political issue."

Tuss said it is important to elect Doug Kaercher to the Public Service Commission.

"When you talk about how lopsided the partisan makeup is in the Legislature, you couldn't be more lopsided, literally, than the Public Service Commission," Tuss said, adding that the five-person commission is all Republican.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to pick up a seat up here," Tuss said. "Doug has just received an endorsement of the Montana AFL-CIO. ... (He) has also received endorsement from Montana Chamber of Commerce. That's a good deal.You have the business community, the organized business community, that rarely ever endorses Democrats, endorsing Doug; you know that his opponent should not be serving on the Public Service Commission."

"Support me, support Doug and I think Montana will be a better place for it," Tuss added.

Jay Pyette said in an interview that he has known Tuss for more than a decade and that one of the first fundraisers he hosted at his house, for Gov. Steve Bullock, was organized by Tuss.

"I believe Paul is the best candidate, not just because our political views align, he is simply the best candidate for the community," Pyette said. "Anybody who knows Paul should know what he's done, not just for Havre but for this entire region for the state. He's been actively involved, he's done so much good through Bear Paw Development and he's just a good man. He's trustworthy, he's honest, he's hard-working, so I don't care what side of the aisle people are on, they should know that if Paul is in that spot he's going to do a great job and he's going to do what is right for everyone."