By Dan Griffin, SFC, U.S. Army (retired), Hamilton
Return David Bedey to the Montana Legislature!
As an Army retiree and a 30-year member of the U.S. Armed Forces, I believe I can speak on behalf of the Veterans in Ravalli County, if not for those in the entire state of Montana.
This past legislative session, I observed the efforts of one of Ravalli County’s state representatives as he carried legislation to increase access to Veterans’ services for all Montana Veterans. Representative David Bedey got the job done.
Even before being elected to office in November 2018, Dave took the initiative to gain a detailed understanding of problems Montana Veterans face in getting the VA benefits they have earned. A Veteran himself, Dave worked with leaders at our county’s Valley Veterans Service Center to craft a bill to encourage the creation of more county Veterans’ service offices across the state. He then devised a legislative strategy for overcoming opposition that had killed a similar bill in 2017.
Invited to Helena to speak on behalf of the Veterans’ bill, I saw firsthand how effective Dave is at presenting legislation, defending it against naysayers, and negotiating with various stakeholders to get it across the finish line. The record shows that he brought these abilities to bear not just on this Veterans’ bill but also on all the other legislation that he sponsored.
All politicians voice support for Veterans. Dave Bedey delivered results that will, in time, benefit Veterans across the state.
David Bedey is a man of integrity who is committed to doing his duty for his constituents and for the state of Montana. I strongly urge you to vote to return him to the Montana Legislature.