Montana Democrats introduced during Pepin Park barbecue

Editor's Note: Profiles on Attorney General candidates Kimberly Dudik and Raph Graybill; Secretary of State candidate Bryce Bennett; and State Auditor candidate Shane Morigeau can be found in tomorrow's edition of the Havre Daily News.

Nine Democratic candidates from across the state gathered in Pepin Park Saturday to pitch their talking points as the Hill County Democratic Party and Big Sky Democrats held a campaign event to prepare for the 2020 election season.

"It is early in the political season, but I feel very fortunate that we have so many incredible candidates that are invested in getting to know the people of our community," Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, said. "I think it shows their commitment to hearing the hearts of our constituents."

The Hill County Democratic Party had previously held summer barbecues in 2016 and 2017, both having a different theme, he said. This year's event focused on honoring working Montana families.

"No matter who comes out of the primaries, we should consider ourselves very grateful to have everyday Montanans running for office," he said.

Governor race

A number of candidates have already announced their intentions to run for the governor's office this year, including Republicans state Sen. Al Olszewski, R-Kalispell, Attorney General Tim Fox and U.S. Sen. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont. Democrats Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, House Minority Leader state Rep. Casey Schreiner, D-Great Falls, and former Rep. Reilly Neill, D-Livingston, have also announced their candidacies.

Cooney and Schreiner attended the event Saturday. Neill was unable to attend due to other obligations.

Mike Cooney

Cooney said in an interview that when he was brought on as the lieutenant governor in 2014, under Gov. Steve Bullock, he had no intention to run for the office. But after consideration, he feels it is the best way to keep Montana moving in the right direction.

"The race for the governor is probably going to be the most important race," he said at the barbecue.

Cooney said the Republican Party understands the significance of the office and is desperate to win the election.

In recent years, the Democrats have been able to secure some major policies in areas such as education, health care and public lands, he said. He added that these policies are critical to improving the state, but there is still work to do.

"Our friends on the other side, they don't always believe that they want to change it," he said. "... The Republicans want to come in and they want to change all of those things, they want to take Montana in a totally different direction."

Medicaid expansion was a major policy in the last legislative session, Cooney said, and he and Bullock worked hard to assure health care was provided to Montana. But the fight is not over.

"That's a good start, but we still have to make sure that parts of Montana have access to health care, that they have access to affordable health care," he said. "And that we don't let Republicans take women's rights away from making their own health care decisions."

Cooney said public land access and economic success are also important topics for his campaign.

He said people have to look toward the education system and prepare to fill vacant jobs to help improve the economy. And although the state's economy is doing well, certain areas are struggling such as rural Montana and Indian Country.

Casey Schreiner

Schreiner said at the event that he comes from a 'blue-collar' family and understands the life of everyday Montanans, which makes him uniquely qualified for the governor's office.

"Montana deserves a governor who knows what it's like to live like the rest of us, that's willing to be a real fighter for everyday Montanans," he said. "... I'm going to be that fighter because I am an everyday Montanan."

He added in an interview that if the wrong person is elected to office, the state may decline very quickly.

While serving in the state Legislature as the House minority leader, he has worked to assure several policies for the well-being of the state, he said at the event. He said he also kept several of his promises to improve the educational system, health care and the economy.

"These are not just talking points," he said.

As a father of three, one of whom is a child with disabilities, he understands how critical health care is for families, he said. He added that he also lost his father a year ago as a result of the high cost of prescription drugs.

"No Montanan deserves to go bankrupt because they get sick," Schreiner said.

He added that he also looks toward working on job creation for the state.

"Every politician says good jobs, but good paying jobs require credentials, training, education," he said.

Schreiner said Montana needs focus on bettering the education system. High quality education should be seen by the state, as an investment into the economy.

As a former teacher and an individual who has college debts himself, he said he understands the stress debt can cause. He aims to work toward policies to help invest in students so they can succeed.

Schreiner said he also aims to take a focused and fearless approach to address climate change.

"I think it's something that we can do a better job at," he said.

U.S. Senate race

U.S. Navy veteran John Mues of Loma and Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins are both running as Democrats in the U.S. Senate race against incumbent Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., Mues was the only Democratic candidate to speak at the event.

John Mues

Mues said he grew up, in part, on the Hi-Line, living in Wolf Point, Deer Lodge and Helena, before going into the U.S. Navy. While in the Navy he served in numerous missions during the Iraq War, including Operation Iraqi Freedom. After leaving the military he became a teacher in Hays-Lodge Pole High School as part of the Troops to Teachers program before becoming a senior engineer, working on a number of renewable energy projects.

He added that his unique set of skills and life experience will provide vital insight into being a senator and help address some of the biggest problems which face the state and the nation.

Mues said the nation is facing a high level of economic inequality, which has a corrosive impact on the democratic system, allowing the economic elite to take the reins of public policy and leverage it in their favor. He said the federal government should treat multinational companies fairly but also provide tax breaks for smaller and mid-size companies to stimulate economic improvement.

He added that the country also needs to look to invest in vocational and trade school programs because education is the key to improving the economy.

"It's easy to take someone from a lot of privilege and have them go and be successful," he said at the event.

Montana also needs someone who understands the needs of everyone, particularly rural counties, Mues said. The trade war has hurt many farmers, ranchers and railroaders across the state, who are some of the biggest contributors to the state's economy. And although countries, such as China, need to be held accountable for their actions, the trade war has no end goal and has hurt Montana's economy.

"We need all folks from the Hi-Line, independent of political party, to come out and vote, and make sure that we are going to put somebody in office this time who actually helps all Montanans," Mues said.

U.S. House of Representatives race

After Greg Gianforte announced his candidacy for governor earlier this year, several Republicans and Democrats have announced their campaigns for the vacant house seat. Republicans Secretary of State Corey Stapleton, State Auditor Matt Rosendale, Lewis and Clark County GOP Central Committee Chairman Joe Dooling of Helena Valley and Corvallis Public Schools Superintendent Tim Johnson, as well as Democrats former state Rep. Kathleen Williams, D-Bozeman, state Rep. Tom Winter, D-Missoula, and U.S. Army veteran and rancher Matt Rains have all announced or filed for candidacy.

Williams and Winter spoke at Saturday's event.

Kathleen Williams

Williams, who ran against incumbent Gianforte in the 2018 election, has returned, attempting once again to win the House seat.

She said at the event that she is one of the few candidates with the experience and the temperament to build relationships across the aisle and be effective in a hyper-partisan legislative environment. Serving three terms as a state legislator and 36 years working in natural resources, she has the experience to bring people together and find creative, long-term solutions to complicated issues, she said.

"That's what we need in Washington," she said.

She added in an interview that Congress is broken and the country needs to elect people who can work together and put parties aside for the benefit of the country.

"We need to run into that burning building, look for survivors, look for some remaining structural integrity and start rebuilding," Williams said. "That takes experience, it takes the ability to build relationships, it takes temperament and it takes strategy."

In reference, to the recent 50th anniversary of man stepping foot on the moon, Williams said anything is possible if Americans put their minds to it.

The country needs to apply a can-do attitude to protecting outdoor heritage, creating a clear, but compassionate imigration policy, formulating health care policies and handing down a livable planet to future generations.

She said that during her campaign she wants to hear from Montanans about what their biggest concerns are and see how the state and the nation wish to address the issues.

She added in an interview that some of the concerns she has already heard since she started campaigning are centered on health care. It is critical that Montanans have affordable and accessible health care for both physical and mental health, she said.

Tom Winter

Winter is a first-year legislator from Missoula, but his ability to work with his constituents and work across the aisle is an important quality needed in Congress, he said in an interview. He added that he feels like the country is running out of time to find solutions and people need to work together, regardless of party affiliation.

"If we really want to make a change in people's lives, we have to do what we think is right as quickly as possible," he said.

He added that health care has been a big debate for the last decade and plays a large role in how some people define freedom in America.

"We care about freedom, but not the freedom to live without illness," he said, adding that people who have debilitating illnesses and disabilities are not able to have the same freedoms as everyone else.

Winter said the issue with health care was one of the primary reasons he became involved in politics, after his younger sister was diagnosed with a chronic illness. He added that when he first ran for office, his district was primarily Republican. Because he was willing to reach across party lines, though, people were then also willing to vote across party lines.

The same state which voted primarily for Donald Trump was also the same state which elected and re-elected Steve Bullock, Winter said.

"What I found is, although we might disagree on some small differences, what we cared about was a functioning government," he said.

Winter added that many issues can be traced to the frustration of the middle class. People who are working hard are still struggling to make ends meet and don't feel safe or secure.

"What we have here are our values," he said, "our Montana values which transcend parties. I want to take that to Washington."