Local candidates campaign at Havre fundraiser

Several local candidates campaigned at the Hill County Democratic Party's Pasma-Peck fundraising dinner Sunday, following a speech by U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.

Tester is campaigning for re-election and is challenged by Republican Montana Auditor Matt Rosendale and Libertarian Rick Breckenridge.

Hill County Democratic Party Chair Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, who is campaigning for reelection himself, was master of ceremonies at the event.

Bachmeier, who is facing Libertarian Conor Burns of Havre and independent candidate Bob Sivertsen, also of Havre, in his campaign for re-election in House District 28, thanked his family, friends and significant other, Hannah Pate, for their support over the years.

Democratic candidate Paul Tuss of Havre, who is facing off against Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, in this November's election for the seat in Senate District 14, said the seat he is campaigning for is Tester's former state Senate seat.

Over the past few years, it has been red and, hopefully, after November the seat can be turned blue, Tuss said.

He said he has been talking non-stop with people about the importance of this race, and when he talks to people he asks what are the priorities of the voters. The response, Tuss said, are the priorities of the Democratic party. They are public education, higher education, infrastructure, supporting small businesses and all the things that the party has been working to address.

"What's crazy to me, and it's crazy to them ... is these are items that used to be bipartisan," Tuss said.

"The hyperpartisanship that, unfortunately, Jon has to experience every single day in Washington, D.C.," Tuss said, "unfortunately has seeped down to Helena, to the Montana state Legislature, and we need to do something about that."   

Tuss said the 277 days he has been campaigning is in the rearview mirror and now everyone has to look forward to the last 22 days until the election.

"I want to echo what Sen. Tester ended his conversation with us tonight about," Tuss said. "If you think you've done everything that you can for me, or for Sen. Tester, or for Jacob Bachmeier, or for Doug Kaercher or for anybody on the Democratic ticket, I want to ask you to one more time.

"If you are exhausted because you did so many doors, do one more block," he said, "if you just can't phone anybody else, please make one more phone call. It really makes a difference."

Doug Kaercher

Kaercher, who is facing Sun River Republican Randy Pinocci in the race for Public Service Commission's District 1 seat, said he is thankful to everyone for their support and all the work that the volunteers have done. He said he understands that knocking on

doors are not the most exciting, fun, thing to spend their time on but with his campaign some can be.

"You go out to the door," Kaercher said, "and you say, 'Hi I'm Doug Kaercher running for Public Service Commission,' or you say, 'I'm here for Doug Kaercher who is running for Public Service Commission," and usually their first question is, 'Well who are you running against?' and I tell them that and their face goes, 'Oh my goodness how can I help you."

This race is not really about him, Kaercher said, it is about the community, the consumers.

He added the ability of the PSC is to supply people with fair and affordable rates which are safe and secure and sustainable services for the public.

He said that with Colstrip 1 and 2 planning to close in 2022, Montana is missing an opportunity to supply good paying jobs for the communities. Building up renewable energy, renewable resources and building up the technology would provide those jobs, he said.

"So we have that ability to replace that coal when that future comes, when it is no longer available to us," Kaercher said.

He said he has been in public service for 30 years and that makes him a strong candidate for this position. He will consider consumers first and make Montana one of the best states out there if he is elected, he said.

Kaercher added he also wanted to thank his wife, Darla, who has been with him every step of the way during his campaign.

Jonathan Windy Boy

Bachmeier said the next speaker was one of his favorite colleagues, state Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, who knows how to bring important bills to being passed.

"Jonathan is kind of a master of the Legislature and it is really interesting to watch him work his magic," Bachmeier said.

Windy Boy is facing challenger Republican G. Bruce Meyers in in his bid for re-election in state House District 32.

Windy Boy said Bachmeier, in his time working in the Legislature, has really impressed him and he will nominate Bachmeier to be the next Democratic leader in the Legislature.

Once you learn the tricks of the trade, Windy Boy said, sometimes it takes cutting the funding for a bill in order for it to be passed.

"Especially when your a Democrat in a Republican-controlled House, a Republican-controlled Senate," he said, "you learn to find out who the allies are."

He said when he ran for re-election in 2012 he went to a principal at a high school and asked what he could do, rather than saying what Windy Boy could do the principal said, "Let me show you what I'm against."

The principle then pulled out a file of 23 students who been expelled, Windy Boy said, then pulled out another file of 33 students and told Windy Boy that those were the students who were on their way toward being expelled.

Windy Boy said the state has a 75 percent graduation rating, with the a large percent of those who don't graduate in Native American schools.

He said he understands charter schools is a dirty word to the party, but that a bill he proposed to change how charter schools are regulated in Montana was specific to Montana, to help students at risk. He added that it is important to take that message to Helena and get people to fix the problems rather than "trying to reinvent the wheel."

Windy Boy said during his time in the Legislature he has learned to work with everybody. He added that in the past year the reservations have seen a large increase in voter registration, which is a good sign of people wanting to be involved.

Barbara Bessette

After Windy Boy spoke, Bachmeier introduced a special guest at the dinner, candidate for state House District 24 out of Great Falls, Barbara Bessette, 34, who is facing off against Republican Mike McNamara. She said Bachmeier was the first person who she talked to about her campaign and she was very happy to be at the event.

Hannah Pate

Hannah Pate with Forward Montana Foundation spoke at the event as well, discussing the importance of the Six Mill Levy.

In an interview she said the Six Mill Levy is not a new tax. It has been passed every ten years since 948. This money goes to help with college tuition and is an important part of the higher education system, Pate added.

"It's a Montana tradition," she added.