Longtime legislator censured

The Flathead County Republican Central Committee has unanimously censured veteran state Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell, for misconduct and undermining the credibility of local Republicans.

The committee accused Tutvedt of attacking GOP candidates in Flathead County and statewide “using deceptive, inflammatory and unethical allegations.” He did so through his personal and financial involvement with Montanans for Responsible Leadership political action committee and MT BASE PAC, the resolution said.

It said that Tutvedt, at a Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal meeting on May 14, solicited and accepted a $22,000 donation for the Montanans for Responsible Leadership PAC. The resolution said Tutvedt assured tribal leaders he had a slate of candidates he believed would vote to ratify the water compact in 2015. That money was used against some fellow Republicans in the June primary, the resolution said.

Tutvedt is one of the Legislature’s self-described “responsible Republicans” who at times in 2013 voted with Democrats to pass bills over the objections of more conservative Republicans. He has been active in helping Republicans with similar philosophies in GOP primaries against conservative opponents.

In a written response, Tutvedt disputed the allegations in the Nov. 13 censure, saying he had done nothing wrong and consulted an attorney over his legal options over the resolution.

“The initial determination by the attorney was that none of my actions were in any way illegal or justified (as) the basis for any form of censure,” he wrote. “In fact, the attorney suggested that the documents generated by the Flathead Republican Central Committee could be libelous.”

Tutvedt said the censure misrepresents his actions and maligns his character.

“On a personal note, as an individual of strong conviction, I find it disconcerting that the Flathead County Central Committee would take steps to intimidate me, an elected official, from holding an opinion and taking actions I believe best represent the majority of my constituents’ needs,” Tutvedt wrote.

“It is my hope that this unjustified action soon fades into nothingness, thus allowing all of us to get back to doing the work we were elected to do.”

He said the political action committees “followed the letter of the law,” which is why the state political practices commissioner has dismissed all the complaints filed against the PACs and him.

The resolution, Tutvedt said, takes a snippet from a one-hour meeting with tribal officials.

Tutvedt was a strong supporter of the ratification of the treaty in 2013, but it failed to pass. He said he has “skin in the game” on the treaty issue because he’s “the largest irrigator in Flathead County.”

The senator said he didn’t attend the central committee meeting because he wasn’t told in advance about censure resolution against him.

Term-limited Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell, who serves on the central committee as a precinct member, said the censure of Tutvedt amounts to “a slap on the wrist or a scolding.”

“He has taken the position that he’s the solid Republican and the rest of us are extremists, Tea Party members,” Jackson said.

“I would say if the shoe fits, wear it,” Tutvedt said in response Tuesday. He has described himself as a Reagan Republican who works to find solutions that help the majority of people in his district.

Jayson Peters, chairman of the Flathead County Republican Central Committee, said in a statement: “The only process available to us as a central committee was censure, an official statement of strong disapproval. The decision was not taken lightly. It was a tough decision, but a necessary one to preserve the integrity of the Republican Party.”

Tutvedt defeated Peters and Rollan Roberts II in a Republican primary for the Senate seat in 2012. Peters had withdrawn from the race but his name remained on the ballot.