Flathead legislators take lead in Helena

Every state senator and several House members in the Flathead Valley’s legislative delegation landed key chairman positions in committee assignments that were announced Wednesday.

That’s news for voters to be aware of, since all legislation first is tested in committees and the chairs set committee agendas.

The 2011 legislative session gets under way in Helena at noon on Jan. 3.

Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell, was elected Senate President Pro Tempore by his caucus and he will be chairman of the Senate Taxation Committee.

He also will sit on the Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee, the Highways and Transportation Committee and the Rules Committee.

Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish, will be chairman of the Education and Cultural Resources Committee and will serve on the Finance and Claims and Highways and Transportation committees.

After serving in the House for several years, freshman Sen. Jon Sonju, R-Kalispell, was picked to chair the Local Government Committee, in addition to serving as vice chairman of the Highways and Transportation Committee and having a seat on the Finance and Claims Committee.

Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell, will be vice chairman of the Business, Labor and Economic Affairs and the Energy and Telecommunications committees. He will also sit on the Natural Resources Committee.

In the House, Rep. Mark Blasdel, R-Somers, will be chairman of the Taxation Committee and will sit on the Education Committee.

Rep. Scott Reichner, R-Bigfork, will be chairman of the Education Committee and sit on the Business and Labor Committee.

Rep. Bill Beck, R-Whitefish, will be chairman of the Joint General Government Committee, and vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, will be vice chairman of the Federal Relations, Energy and Telecommunications Committee. He also will sit on the Judiciary, Ethics and Legislative Administration committees.

Rep. Derek Skees, R-Whitefish, will sit on the Local Government, State Administration and Federal Relations, Energy and Telecommunications committees.

Rep. Steve Lavin, R-Kalispell, will sit on the Local Government, Rules, Transportation and Taxation committees.

Skees and Lavin are new to the Legislature.

Rep. Jerry O’Neil, R-Columbia Falls, will sit on the Rules, Transportation and Taxation committees.

O’Neil is returning to the Legislature after previously serving as a state senator from 2003 to 2008.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.