By Corrine Gantt, Chair, Nancy Neal, Linda Weber, Rich Morrisey, Skip Kowalski, Linda Schmitt, Mary Blankenbaker, Ravalli County Democratic Central Committee
Call us naive, or idealistic, but we have always believed that there is a basic agreement that, when people agree to run for an office to serve their fellow citizens, they are who they say they are. Whether or not there is a consensus among the electorate as to the beliefs of the candidate, there must be the baseline understanding that that candidate is honestly presenting himself.
On Tuesday, once the dust settled and the candidates had officially filed with the Montana Secretary of State, we were able to see who is willing to represent the ideals and philosophies of their parties. It’s how politics works.
Unfortunately, the honesty of some candidates who filed has come under question.
Two members of a local Ravalli County family, who have indulged in questionable political identities in the past, have again filed under false pretenses. John Gibney, after having filed as a Green Party candidate in 2018 and being denounced by that party, has again filed, this time as a candidate for the US House of Representatives. His son, Timothy Gibney, has taken it upon himself to primary a real Democrat for the Montana Senate seat for District 44.
We honestly have no idea what drives this family to be so publicly dishonest, but we, as informed voters, must call them out for their dishonesty. Our political system depends on people being honest about who they say they are.
Truth matters.