A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
Republican Rep. Keith Regier, currently majority leader in the Montana House of Representatives, wants to be the state senator representing SD-3 (map), which encompasses Whitefish and points west. He filed his C-1 statement with Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices on 19 October. This allows him to form a campaign committee and begin raising money. His treasurer is Katie Bollweg of Whitefish.
This is not a surprise to students of Flathead politics.
Regier now finishing his fourth term in the House, currently represents HD-4 (map), a deeply conservative rural district south of Columbia Falls. Due to term limits he cannot run for another term in the state house.
Republican Sen. Bruce Tutvedt currently represents SD-3, but because of term limits cannot seek a third term in the state senate.
Tutvedt is no liberal, but compared to Regier he glows subversive pink. Tutvedt voted to expand Medicaid and approve the CSKT water compact. Regier voted against both measures, and from time-to-time writes letters-to-the-editor and opeds making a long discredited argument that Medicaid is dangerous to one’s health. He’s also a fierce opponent of abortion, and known for using earthy language when discussing women’s issues.
Updated. Regier chairs the legislature’s interim committee on energy and telecommunications. Before becoming a legislator, he served as a trustee on the board of Kalispell’s School District 5, and once taught for the Evergreen school district.
Regier will lose HD-5 (map), but probably win by a landside in HD-6, which is represented by ultra conservative Republican Carl Glimm.
Tutvedt could run for HD-4, but he would have to survive a certain primary challenge from a tea partier. Even with crossover help from Democrats, it’s doubtful he could win the primary.
The other open legislative seats in the Flathead are HD-5, where incumbent Democrat Ed Lieser is retiring, and HD-11 (map), which Republican incumbent Albert Olszewski is vacating to run for SD-6 (map).
In HD-5, David Fern, long time Whitefish school board trustee, is running to replace Lieser. No Democrats have filed C-1s for SD-3, HD-4, or HD-11.
