Ryan Zinke earned my vote

With personal knowledge of candidates running for Congress from Western Montana, Ryan Zinke is hands down the best choice. Al Olszewski and Mary Todd, who ran against him in the Republican primary, have publicly endorsed Ryan Zinke.

Liberal opposition throws mud at him. They fear the power his voice holds for natural resources, military affairs and commonsense spending.

When I chaired Legislature’s Administrative Committee for Montana Consumer Counsel, I came to know Monica Tranel. I met her in meetings and received feedback from legislators and Public Service Commissioners about her, some good, some not so good. The negative was mostly on her style and personality. Before I checked, she resigned as staff attorney for Montana Consumer Counsel.

Today, Tranel is hellbent on trashing the reputation of the man who dodged bullets and bombs to defend her right to free speech. She relishes nasty, sleazy, snakey words and exaggerated claims. That says more about her than him.

She has a lot to learn about the public’s tolerance for ugly ads. If she gets to D.C., she will wander in as a green rookie with a nasty vocabulary, a background in power rates and courtrooms, and nine months experience of saying she approves snakey commercials. She would vote ditto with Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden every time.

Ryan Zinke drained the D.C. swamp by moving land and water managers west, where they should be. His actions as Secretary of Interior had America energy independent. He managed huge tracts of public land for public use and benefit, including hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, mining, grazing, drilling and forestry. Zinke had the courage to challenge extreme and frivolous enviro positions. He gained funding for national park maintenance.

Ryan Zinke served honorably as a commander of elite Navy SEALs, 23-year veteran, Montana state senator, congressman, and member of Donald Trump’s Cabinet. He shoots straight, talks square, and understands Western Montana. He will re-enter Congress as a third-term, seasoned professional.

When Zinke was promoted to Secretary of Interior, liberal D.C. insiders and Democrats targeted him with all sorts of allegations. Lots of mud throwing and wasted effort. Eighteen investigations but never found guilty of crime. He’s pretty clean.

I served with Ryan Zinke in the 2011 Montana Legislature and worked with him in D.C. and Montana.

Sen. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka.