Williams, Winter face off in Democratic U.S. House primary: Kathleen Williams

Former state Rep. Kathleen Williams of Bozeman and State Rep. Tom Winter of Missoula are facing off in the Democratic primary to advance to the general election for a seat in the U.S. House.

"I'm running to bring true, real independent representation for Montana U.S. House, representing all Montana, not special interests," Williams said. 

She said she thinks she has made a career of trying to connect with Montanans - their hopes, struggles and dreams, and be that "true representative" in her three terms in the state Legislature.

She added that she is a problem solver and that brings diverse interests of people of all political stripes together to find creative long-term solutions.

"I think that's exactly what we need in Congress," Williams said. "We needed it before the pandemic and we're certainly going to need it as we come out of it," Williams said.

She said the pandemic has drawn everyone's attention to the fact the federal government has a role in emergencies like this.

She said she has been talking about the need for testing and the role of the federal government should be a coordinated role during this time. 

"I  think we need a coordinated, organized effort that helps get the appropriate, both science and resources, out to states in a coordinated manner," she added. "The idea that states are competing against each other to buy personal protective equipment, that's just an example of the last thing that we should be doing as we respond. We need coordinated leadership and certain aspects from at the federal level."

The COVID-19 relief is driving up the federal deficit and debt, but Williams said that a "revenue giveaway" passed in 2017 that significantly drove up the federal deficit when the economy was already recovering and it wasn't a necessary stimulus at the time.

She said that kind of policy should be saved for emergencies and downturns in the economy.

"We need to continue to provide relief at the federal level to soften the land of the economy and help people get back in a safe manner that ensures that the sacrifices we made to ask people to stay at home are capitalized on and built on in Montana," Williams said. "I just want to make sure that the assistance at the federal level is going to the businesses and people who need it the most, and I think we need transparency from the Small Business Administration, we need people in office that are demanding to ensure accountability and excellent use of public dollars like that to make sure the people and the businesses that really need it, can get it and got it, so I'm not sure that's the case, and I think we need to dig a little deeper on that.

"I just want to (say) that both the tribal communities in Montana and our agriculture communities in Montana will have a champion in me in Congress," she added. "I look forward to ensuring that we meet the needs and address the needs of those communities and all of Montana as I serve in Congress."