A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
Jonathan Motl was confirmed today as Montana’s commissioner of political practices by a 29–21 vote in the MT Senate.
All 21 Democrats voted to confirm Motl, as did eight Republicans: Duane Ankney, John Brenden, Taylor Brown, Edward Buttrey, Pat Connell, Llew Jones, Rick Ripley, and Kalispell’s Bruce Tutvedt. They also voted to rid Montana politics of dark money.
Motl’s done a good job. He’s been a smart, no-nonsense commissioner who doesn’t play favorites, rules quickly and fairly, and has worked hard to reduce the backlog of complaints.
Some Republicans think he’s a Democratic partisan who puts his thumb on the scales, but that’s just the grousing of hacks who got their knuckles rapped for violating laws designed to ensure fair elections.