LETTER: Vote Skees for House District 11

I have known Derek Skees for roughly 10 years. He and his wife have been two of our staunchest allies in the fight to protect the rights of those most vulnerable in our human family — the unborn, disabled, and elderly.

He has been a stalwart supporter of the Personhood Amendment designed to codify what is obvious to most of us: that the right to life begins at conception and continues to natural death. He has testified, lobbied, rallied, and signed petitions for the Personhood Amendment.

He was a key individual who worked with others to successfully stop bills to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Montana. I marvel at Derek Skees’ knowledge of U.S. history, especially its foundation. If the principles behind the founding of this nation (especially the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the inaugural addresses and farewell address of our first president George Washington) were followed, we would not have the social and economic crises we find today, would not have the burgeoning government bureaucracy encroaching upon our freedoms … Nor would we be in endless wars of aggression that have killed millions of innocent men women, and children.

Listening to his opponent in the primary makes it clear: Sadly, she is clueless regarding the legislative process in Helena; equally clueless regarding the basis for our right to life and liberty. In contrast, Derek Skees lives and breathes these foundational principles, and his voting record when he represented House District 4 in 2011 bears witness to that. I urge you to vote for Derek Skees for House District 11.

—Annie Bukacek, Bigfork