Pasma-Peck Dinner set for Sunday

Hill County Democrats will be holding their annual Pasma-Peck Fundraising Dinner to raise money for their candidates and boost enthusiasm for the upcoming election at the Eagles Club at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Hill County Democrat Central Committiee Chair Lindsey Ratliff said the dinner is named in memory of long-time Hill County Democrat Jim Pasma, known as “Mr. Democrat,” who was very active in levels of government, and Ray Peck, a long-serving state legislator who convinced U.S. Sen. Jon Tester to run for the state Legislature years ago.

Ratliff said the party is hoping to rally this year after a rough 2020, that brought not only a global pandemic, but a slew of liberal defeats at the state level.

She said the party is trying to regroup after 2020 and prepare to win back some positions this year and in 2024 as they look for a new headquarters.

She said the featured speaker at the event is Penny Ronning, a Democrat running against incumbent Republican Matt Rosendale and independent Gary Buchanan for the eastern district of Montana’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ratliff said local candidates Paul Tuss, who’s running against incumbent Republican Ed Hill for Montana House District 28, and Dave Brewer, running against incumbent Republican Russ Tempel for Montana Senate District 14, will also be there.

She said she’s also hoping Sheri Williams, a Democrat running against incumbent Republican Diane McLean and independant Les Odegard for a seat on the Hill County Commission, will be able to attend as well.

She said Tuss’ race is particularly important this year as it may help prevent a Republican supermajority in the house, which she said would be a threat to Montanans’ constitutional rights to privacy and a healthy environment.

Ratliff said there will also be speakers who will talk about the dinner’s namesakes, as well as what it means to be a rural Democrat, because the party cannot exist without its supporters.

Ratliff said the event will feature a silent auction which includes a vintage Mondale-Ferraro Poster, as well as the “Republican Raffle,” a game where “everyone pays in and only one person wins.”

Tickets to the event are $40 per person, with $10 off for students.

Cocktails begin at 5 p.m. with the prime rib dinner beginning at 6 p.m.

Ratliff said anyone interested in donating items to the raffle or auction can get in touch with the party via email at 406dems@gmail.com or on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hill.co.dems .