by David Leslie, Corvallis
Our Founding Fathers created the United States as a Constitutional Republic, a system of government wherein the people elect leaders to represent their interests.
With the 2024 election just days away, those of us lucky enough to live in Montana need to decide who we will send to Washington, D.C., and Helena. For me, the decision is easy – those who understand our middle-class needs and share our middle-class culture. The correct candidate choice is not difficult.
Jon Tester understands us because he is one of us. A third-generation farmer, he knows the joys and challenges of hard work, whether in the fields of his farm near Big Sandy or the less dusty labor in the halls of the US Senate where he votes for the interests of Montanans, particularly veterans.
His opponent, Tim Sheehy, a recent newcomer to the Big Sky State, lied about coming from a rural background, misrepresented how he received a bullet in his forearm, claims to have created a successful business although his aerial fire-fighting business is awash in red ink, and denies making controversial statements despite the existence of audio proof. He cannot understand the challenges of living on a limited income in Montana.
Candidate for U.S. House District One, Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, one of 10 children. Like Tester, she understands the value of hard work in a challenging environment. She used that work ethic to become an Olympic rowing champion and ultimately an attorney specializing in utility and energy issues, taking Northwestern Energy to the Supreme Court, saving ratepayers $10 million. She successfully represented Montana ranchers when out-of-state billionaires cast greedy eyes on their acreage.
Her opponent, Ryan Zinke, is an ethically challenged landlord who divides his time between California, Washington, D.C., and Montana. Donald Trump forced him out of his short-term position as Interior Secretary after federal officials launched 18 investigations into his self-serving land deals.
That brings us to Ryan Busse running for Montana governor. He was raised on a family cattle ranch and wheat farm in western Kansas. His public high school had a graduating class of 16 students. He has lived most of his adult life in the Flathead Valley where he and his wife Sara raised their two sons, hunting, fishing, and cherishing public lands that belong to us all. For more than 25 years, he worked his way up in the executive structure of Kimber Firearms Company until he became disillusioned with the irresponsible extremism of the firearms industry. He wrote a book, Gunfight, detailing his experience and dedication to promoting responsible gun ownership while respecting the Second Amendment. As governor, he has vowed to confront soaring property taxes that have made life hard for many Montanans and will work to lower the cost of owning a home.
Then there’s his opponent, incumbent governor Greg Gianforte, born in California and educated in New Jersey. The day before a special election in May 2017, he attacked a reporter in his Bozeman campaign office and pleaded guilty to assault. A news team recorded the incident on audio tape for all to hear. He is a multimillionaire who commutes to work in a private jet, owns four mansions and managed to enjoy a property tax cut while most Montana homeowners experienced the opposite. Gianforte has no concept of the everyday problems and challenges faced by his middle-class constituents.
Jon Tester, Monica Tranel and Ryan Busse are the best choices to represent us because they are us. Please vote for your own best interests on or before Nov. 5.