Contested races likely for legislative leadership
HELENA — Legislators have begun scrambling for party leadership positions within their respective caucuses, including presiding officers of the Senate and House.
Republicans have maintained their control of both the Senate and House and will elect their top leaders Nov. 12. Democrats then will pick the minority leaders in both chambers.
Contested races appear likely for the presiding officers of the Senate and House.
Sen. Debby Barrett, R-Dillon, said she announced her candidacy for Senate president last summer and intends to pursue it. She was Senate president pro tempore in 2013.
“I just want to pull our caucus, our party, together,” said Barrett, a rancher, referring to the split among Senate Republicans in 2013. “I want to have smooth sailing, have unity and identify our Republican priorities.”
Barrett said she was disappointed that Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed a number of bills that would have benefited the entire state. The bills Bullock signed into law mostly helped state government and state employees, she said.
Sen. Rick Ripley, R-Wolf Creek, a rancher and retired educator, was mentioned by some as a potential Senate president candidate. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
In the House, a three-way race for the top job of speaker is underway. Current speaker Mark Blasdel of Somers is moving to the Senate.
Rep. Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, said he wants to promote natural resource development and perhaps some tax reductions and reforms if he’s elected speaker. Knudsen, an attorney, was House speaker pro tempore in 2013.
He said it’s premature to say whether House Republicans will face the same internal spit between moderates and conservatives as they did in 2013. Knudsen said he wants to extend the olive branch to moderates and get House Republicans working together again.
Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, said he is seeking the speaker’s post.
“I think my pitch is we need to heal the party,” said Fitzpatrick, an attorney. “We had a lot of infighting. I’m one of the few people in the caucus who has relationships with everyone. I think I’m the one person who can bring everybody together.”
Rep. Randy Brodehl, R-Kalispell, said he is running for speaker because he has experience in administration as former chief officer of the municipal fire service in Flathead County and Corvallis, Ore. He also owns a cabinet shop.
“I’ve got the administrative background, the budget background, and I’ve got a lot of people-management background, so I can do this,” Brodehl said.
Here’s a look at others interested in some of the top jobs or being mentioned for them:
Senate majority leader: Sen. Fred Thomas, R-Stevensville, said he has had people approach him to run and is “very interested in the caucus’ consideration of that.”
Another name being mentioned is that of Sen. Matt Rosendale, R-Glendive, a real estate developer. He didn’t confirm that he’s running for majority leader, but said he developed the skill to work with media during his unsuccessful primary race for the U.S. House.
“I want to see people in the roles where they can be the most effective act, and that’s across the entire Legislature,” he said.
Senate minority leader: Sen. Jon Sesso, D-Butte, who held that same post in 2013, said, “I think from a continuity standpoint, I’m willing to carry on and do the work, and I think my colleagues would see that there’s value in having that continuation so we can hit the ground faster in January.”
It was unclear if Sesso, who is planning director for Butte-Silver Bow County, will face any challenges for Senate minority leader.
House majority leader: At least two Republicans are looking at that post.
“I want to be part of the leadership,” said Rep. Ron Ehli, R-Hamilton, a small business owner.
Rep. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, a small business owner and retired teacher, said he’s looking at party unity and the “conservative Republican principles that Montanans want.”
Rep.-elect Art Wittich, R-Bozeman, an attorney, said some people have suggested he run for leadership. However, he said he hasn’t talked to enough people to see where he fits in. He was Senate majority leader in 2013.
House minority leader: Rep. Chuck Hunter, D-Helena, said he is running again to be the House minority leader and was unaware of any opposition.
“We really did have a lot of working across the aisle with moderates and others that enabled us to have a majority on those issues that matters,” Hunter said of the 2013 session. “Last session was a good road map for us again this session.”
He is a small business owner and retired state employee.
Distributed by MCT Information Services