A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
Former Democratic legislator and current Deputy State Auditor Jesse Laslovich today announced his candidacy for the office of Montana Auditor, which current Auditor Monica Lindeen must vacate after 2016 because of term limits.
In 2012, Laslovich narrowly lost the Democratic primary for attorney general to Pam Bucy. He piled up huge margins in his home base of Silver Bow and Deer Lodge Counties, but lost to Bucy by wide margins in Missoula, Gallatin, and other large counties.
Bucy undoubtedly benefited from a gender identity vote in the primary. She lost to Republican Tim Fox 252,916 to 218,228 in the general election. Laslovich probably would have been a stronger general election candidate than Bucy. Whether he would have been strong enough to beat Fox is a question for which no answer exists.
Montana’s State Auditor is actually Montana’s insurance commissioner, but attempts to amend the state’s constitution to comport with reality have been defeated twice by the voters in the last ten years, most recently in the 2014 general election.
Laslovich, who was born to be a prosecutor, is running for Auditor on a law and order platform, promising to crack down on fraud and white collar crime. That’s consistent with the job description for the office he seeks, and with his history of being tough on crime. He’s also running to keep public lands safe (the Auditor is a member of Montana’s public lands board).
He announced his candidacy now both to start serious fundraising and to try to dissuade a serious challenge to his candidacy. But he’ll welcome a minor primary challenger for fund raising purposes.