Former state Senate leader running again

Former Montana Senate President Bob Keenan is jumping back into politics, filing as a candidate for Senate District 5 and setting up an apparent Republican primary contest with Bigfork Rep. Scott Reichner.

Keenan filed on Feb. 21 after eight years away from the Legislature because of term limit requirements. During that time, he has served on the Flathead County Planning Board, the Bigfork Water and Sewer District board and has been involved with the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork.

“I’ve been keeping busy but that led to some frustration because some issues [with those boards] require legislative solutions and I haven’t been able to get help,” said Keenan, who also is running because he likes the legislative process.

“I enjoyed it and I felt like I was very competent at it,” said Keenan, who owns and operates the Bigfork Inn. “I got some things done and I can represent this district well from Yellow Bay to the hospital.”

Keenan served in the Montana House from 1995 through 1998 and in the Senate from 1999 through 2006. He served as chairman of the Finance and Claims Committee during the 2001 session, was president of the Senate in 2003 and was the Senate minority leader in 2005.

Senate District 5 is currently represented by Sen. Verdell Jackson, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits. Reichner filed as a candidate for the seat on Jan. 10.