Pasma-Peck Dinner draws Democratic candidates to speak

Hill County Democrats held their annual Pasma-Peck Dinner Sunday evening, after years away due to COVID-19.

The event comes on the heels of significant Democratic losses in 2020, and Hill County Democratic Central Committee Chair Lindsey Ratliff said they are hoping to rally this year, taking back some influence and, on the state level, prevent a Republican supermajority in the Montana Legislature and maintain the state's constitution.

At the meeting local, state and national level Democratic candidates showed up to speak, including Penny Ronning, who's running against incumbent Republican Matt Rodendale and independent Gary Buchanan for Eastern Montana's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ronning said this is an incredibly important election, with the national GOP poised to further restrict abortion rights, access to education and much more.

Bear Paw Development Corp. Executive Director Paul Tuss, running as a Democrat against incumbent Republican Ed Hill for Montana House District 28 also spoke, saying he will protect Montanan's right to privacy, support Montana State University-Northern, and oust an embarrassing representative in his opponent.

Another Democrat running for a Montana House seat, Jordan Ophus, running against incumbent Republican Casey Knudsen in District 33, talked about his time in the military and how it's prepared him for public service as well as the danger of letting established and entrenched political bodies hold too much power for too long.

Montana Senate District 14 Democratic candidate Dave Brewer, running against incumbent Republican Russ Tempel, also talked at the event, primarily about the threat Republicans pose to the state's constitution, and while he believes his opponent is an honest and honorable man, the party he's loyal to is not and is, in fact, increasingly dangerous.

On the local level, Sheri Williams, a Democrat and Hill County Commission executive assistant, running for a seat on the commission against incumbent Republican Diane McLean and independent Les Odegard, spoke as well.

Williams said she's Hill County born and raised and believes she can bring positive change to the county and, in her capacity as a county employee, has already built a rapport with the community and the courthouse.

See more on what the candidates said and about the dinner in Tuesday's edition of Havre Daily News.