Republican group backs Democrat

Three losing candidates in June's Republican primary for Flathead County commissioner are part of a political action committee that's committed, in the short term, to electing a Democrat.

John Hinchey, Paul Holland and Allen "Chuck" Sieler are listed as officers for Republicans for the Flathead.

As the Nov. 2 election nears, Hinchey said the group supports Joe Brenneman, the Democratic candidate.

Denise Cofer is the Republican nominee.

The move formalizes a split - between GOP centrists and those who take a harder right-wing line - that's been evident in at least the last two county commissioner races.

"We're a bunch of Republicans, what we consider good Republicans, who are concerned about the way the Republican Party seems to be being hijacked by the extreme right," said Hinchey, who is listed as the group's treasurer.

Cofer disputed that characterization of her and her campaign.

"I don't feel I'm that way at all," she said. "I've worked with a lot of people and worked well with a lot of people. I'm ready to have an open door and be open to everyone."

Cofer won the June primary race with 4,974 votes, or 42.4 percent. Hinchey had 3,826 votes (32.7 percent), Holland had 1,376 votes (11.7 percent) and Sieler received 1,039 votes (8.9 percent). A fifth candidate, Gail "Windy Mountain" Seavy-Miles, got 503 votes.

Though Cofer won the race handily, Hinchey, Holland and Sieler's combined votes totaled 6,241, or 52 percent of primary votes cast.

Sieler and Hinchey have criticized a flier from the Flathead County Republican Assembly endorsing Cofer that was distributed shortly before the primary. They said it was designed to look like an endorsement from the Republican Party, which does not endorse candidates in the primary.

Hinchey also was attacked as a RINO, or "Republican in name only."

The Assembly is a lobbying group that bills itself as "the Republican wing of the Republican Party."

The Flathead chapter was organized by former Commissioner Dale Williams, who lost a primary race to current Commissioner Gary Hall in 2002. Williams then mounted an unsuccessful write-in campaign in that year's general election.

Cofer is an Assembly member, as are many other local Republicans.

"I feel, personally, that it cost me the election," Hinchey said of the flier. "These people with their devious tactics are getting their way."

Since Brenneman was unopposed in the Democratic primary, there was also a push for Democrats to vote for Hinchey in the GOP contest. Montana has an open primary, which means a voter doesn't have to be a member to vote in a party's primary.

Hinchey insisted that the new campaign effort isn't sour grapes.

"It's more than just the three of us," he said of Republicans for the Flathead. There are a dozen people who meet regularly, and overall membership is 16 to 18 people.

The group filed its registration papers with the Commissioner of Political Practices in mid-September but is only now starting its advertising push, which organizers hope will rapidly double or triple membership.

Hinchey said the most important issues in the campaign are planning and intergovernmental cooperation. He cited what he called "the inability of the extremes to work with the cities," calling it a "my way or no way" attitude.

He also pointed to Cofer's published comments praising current county planning efforts.

"With planning, there's all sorts of degrees," he said. "You could have a developer plan for us, which is what's happening now … They think the planning board is doing a great job. I think we would respectfully disagree with that."

Democratic candidate Brenneman said he has heard from "a surprising number" of Republicans who plan to give him their vote.

"There have been a number of Republicans who've told me they're supporting me," he said. "I don't know if it's one vote or if it's an organized thing … They aren't happy with the candidate for their party."

How many are unhappy remains to be seen, however.

And by taking on Cofer, the new political action committee is up against a well-organized campaign that has the backing of many prominent Republicans, including much of the county's legislative delegation.

"It disappoints me," Cofer said of the new organization. "But we'll all work together afterward."

Reporter Alan Choate may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at achoate@dailyinterlake.com