Zinke's personal wealth tops Lewis's

HELENA (AP) — Recent financial disclosure statements show Republican U.S. House candidate Ryan Zinke’s personal wealth is more than several times that of his Democratic opponent John Lewis.

Lee Newspapers of Montana reports Zinke recently listed assets ranging from $1.1 million to $2.5 million in value. Those assets include bank accounts, homes and property in Whitefish and Kalispell, household goods and art. The 52-year-old Zinke is a retired Navy SEAL and is now in private business. 

Lewis reported personal assets worth between $66,000 and $165,000, mostly in a retirement savings plan. The 36-year-old worked as a top aide to Sen. Max Baucus for 12 years.

Federal law requires candidates for the U.S. House and Senate to file financial disclosure forms. The forms require reporting of assets and liabilities and a range of the value. 

Zinke listed from $215,000 to $550,000 in liabilities, which include mortgages on two homes in Whitefish and a loan on a Chevy truck. 

Lewis’ liabilities totaled between $30,000 and $45,000. He said they included a personal loan and balances on two credit cards.

Zinke reported $215,000 in income in 2013, which included a $24,000 salary that his wife, Lola Zinke, earned for her family’s Hand Trust. Zinke made $85,000 as his fee as a director for STWA, a Santa Barbara, California, company that develops and sells commercial flow assurance solutions designed to benefit the global energy industry. He was paid a $52,000 salary by On Point Montana, a security consulting firm where he has been CEO, and $40,000 in salary from Continental Divide International, a business development company where he has been CEO.

Lewis reported his wife, Melissa, who has a Helena lobbying firm, has earned $20,000 so far in 2014 after making $100,000 the previous year. He did not list a salary for himself, but an earlier report showed he made $58,000 as an aide to Baucus before leaving late last summer. He also made $5,833 working for Friends of Max Baucus, Baucus’ campaign organization, in 2013.

Libertarian Mike Fellows of Missoula also is in the House race but hasn’t filed financial disclosure statements.