Vote!

As the campaign season winds down and we cast our ballots, I want to thank the residents of House District 28 for the kindness they have shown me over the past several months as I have listened to their hopes and ideas for a better Montana.  It’s energizing and hopeful discussing the future of our state as I’ve taken my campaign to the porches, driveways, garages and lawns of folks in and around Havre.

If there’s one resounding, consistent message I’ve heard over and over again from people of every political persuasion, it’s that they are tired of the intense partisan bickering and want their elected representatives to find common sense solutions to our most pressing problems.  Instead of assigning blame, people want our public officials to work together toward solutions that most often come through compromise and understanding that not one person or political party has a lock on good ideas.

Common-sense solutions has been the theme of my campaign since the beginning.  If elected, my commitment is to work with both sides of the aisle to develop public policy that will benefit Havre and northern Montana.  By doing that, we can do what’s possible to properly fund public education, support law enforcement, ensure access to public lands, promote the success and growth of small businesses and rehabilitate our aging infrastructure.

Rural Montana deserves a fair shot in the Montana Legislature, as well as people in Helena who are willing to stand up to make sure our interests are not overlooked.  That’s precisely what I have worked to do for over two decades for the economic and community development of our region.  That’s also what I’ll do as your voice in the Montana House of Representatives.

This has been a spirited and robust campaign, as they should be.  The residents of House District 28 have been given two very different views of how government should operate and how our elected representative will work to solve problems and find solutions.  I am hopeful I have earned your support this year and that your choice on Election Day is to vote to send common sense to the Montana Legislature.

I would be honored to represent our community in the Montana House of Representatives.  Above all, however, and regardless of who you support, please remember to exercise your right to vote this election.

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Paul Tuss is the Democratic nominee for House District 28, serves as executive director of Bear Paw Development Corp., is past president of the Montana Economic Developers Association and former chair of the Montana Board of Regents.