Election season promises fireworks

Monday marks the grand opening for Montana's 2006 election season, and there is perhaps more than the usual potential for political fireworks and change.

The official filing period for elective offices at all levels in Montana is from Jan. 23 through March 23, and it will be a season of opportunity for individuals who want to make a difference and for the political parties to make gains.

Democrats have a chance to continue shifting Montana from a "red state" to a "blue state," but they should expect stiff opposition, particularly here in the Flathead.

There is a chance for Democrats to solidify their hold on the Legislature, with certain focus to be placed on the House of Representatives, which is currently divided 50-50. Democrats will surely benefit from the presence of Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who has been indisputably popular in recent polls, but they can expect a fight from Republicans, who are bound to concentrate their efforts on the state's ongoing school funding saga.

Democrats pledged to solve the "quality" education issue in the 2004 elections, but it is far from solved, and Republicans are proposing reform-minded remedies as an alternative to shoveling more money into a broken funding system.

Already, Flathead Democrats have organized a series of candidates for local legislative seats, but nearly all of those seats have been held by Republicans for more than a decade.

So far, that Republican dominance is also reflected in the race for a single open county commissioner seat: Five Republicans have announced their intention to join the race so far - but no Democrats. Like past commissioner races, this one could boil down to a primary cat fight with some candidates proclaiming themselves to be the "real" Republicans while calling opponents RINOS (Republicans in Name Only). We certainly hope not. A county commissioner race should be all about character, qualifications and competence.

The same goes for the first county sheriff's election in four years, a race that has already attracted three candidates.

In Montana's hot potato U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican Conrad Burns may be vulnerable, plagued by his associations with indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But Burns has incumbency, a campaign war chest and nearly a full year to defend himself. Up first will be a face-off between challenging Democrats John Morrison and Jon Tester in the June primary elections. That contest will dent the financial resources of the winner, who goes on to face Burns in November. And money will matter in that race.

By the time the elections are over, the face of Montana politics will be changed. The question is, how much different will it look?