Candidate forum set for Monday in Havre

Candidates in some local contested races have agree to participate in a candidate forum Monday starting at 5 p.m. in Hensler Auditorium.

A candidate who has to travel a fair distance to the forum and be on the road early Tuesday requested the 5 p.m. start time.

The Havre Democrats have announced they will stream the forum live on their Facebook page and it should be available there for people to watch later, as well.

For Senate District 14 that includes Havre and western Hill County, Liberty County, Chouteau County and the northeast tip of Cascade County, incumbent Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, and Democrat Dave Brewer of Havre have said they will participate in the debate and will start the forum.

That will be followed with House District 28, essentially containing the city of Havre, with Democrat Paul Tuss of Havre agreeing to participate.

Incumbent Rep. Ed Hill, R-Havre, notified Havre Daily Thursday he will not be participating.

Some new action has happened in that race, with Havre Education Association announcing it is endorsing Tuss.

“Tuss has proven his commitment to public education during the time he served on the Board of Regents supporting (Montana State University)-Northern as well as being a vocal supporter of Montana K-12 Public Schools,” a release announcing the endorsement said. “Paul will work to promote policies in the legislature that support all students, staff, and adequately fund public education across Montana. HEA encourages those who care about supporting public education to vote for Paul Tuss.”

Tuss also received the endorsement of the Teamster local representing railway employees, Local No. 0016 of The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, as well as Montana State AFL-CIO, as well as the Montana Federation of Public Employees.

All three Hill County Commission candidates, incumbent Republican Diane McLean, Democrat Sheri Williams and independent Les Odegard, have said they will participate.

Havre Daily News had an error in a story about a hearing on the proposed marijuana tax that printed on Wednesday’s Page 1 involving two of those candidates. A graphic misattributed a statement “If we just say ‘mental health,’ well what is that?” to Williams when that question was asked by McLean.

Full coverage of the forum will be in Havre Daily News.

The Secretary of State website says Oct. 14, next Friday, is the date by which ballots are mailed to voters on the absentee list.