I realize now that I’m a naive, 65 year old, fiscally conservative, socially responsible, Republican.
I was present for the hearing on SB305 while the Secretary of State, who personally voted by mail, railed about the hazards of mail ballots yet didn’t have the presence of mind to take the lead from Montana’s clerk and recorders about why and how to run this special election by mail as allowed by SB305.
Meanwhile the Republican chairman of the committee ignored input from the majority of Republican and/or Democrat commissioners around the state about the effectiveness and openness of mail-in ballot elections. This treatment by the Republican Party claiming local control is best control. If I felt alone, these county officials had to feel naked, alone and unrepresented by the majority members of the Judiciary Committee. The Republican members didn’t have the wisdom to fully consult and consider the advice of the state’s clerk and recorders detailing the mail-in ballot process. Only after the public chatted “ask the clerks” did members of this committee ask for a clarification from our own Regina Plettenberg, Clerk and Recorder, regarding the mail-in election process. In addition the chairman disallowed a former Republican legislator and present commissioner of Lewis & Clark county from answering questions about the mail-in ballots of SB305. The majority Republican members of this committee should be ashamed of their undocumented claims against using this one-time special election mail-in ballot process, their lack for respect for bipartisan support for SB305 from 54 out of 56 counties, and their inability to set aside their party politics to support SB305 for the common good of Montana.
Archie L. Thomas
Corvallis
Rich Bell says
I agree with the comments, they hold true for the Flathead Valley as well. However when election time comes around, voters seem to take the same position and vote for their party’s candidate rather than the person. As was said no Democrat has been elected to the house for 27 yrs, so what do they have to fear. No term limits. Reelection is assured because of those who cast votes, voting for representatives who do not represent Montana’s best interest. Party first, ignore performance. Watch it play out this way on May 25th.