8 October 2016

Voter registration, missing Cooper C-5, young GOP guns

New voter registrations totaled 3,055 for the first week of October. Twenty-three percent of the new registrations were in Gallatin County, 15 percent in Missoula County, which suggests successful voter registration drives among college-age voters. Montana now has 671,713 registered voters. That’s an increase of 22,949 from the 2016 primary, but still 9,895 fewer than on election day in 2012. Regular voter registration closes at the end of business on Tuesday.

Independent PSC candidate Caron Cooper’s end of September C-5 campaign finance report is still missing from the MTCOPP’s website. I’ve searched for it several different ways, but without success. Her opponents, Democrat Pat Noonan and Republican Roger Koopman, filed their reports on time. It’s possible she filed on time, but the report was lost in the system. As time passes, however, that explanation seems less likely.

Flathead Beacon examines Taylor Rose’s right wing connections. Rose, the Republican nominee for House District 3, which now is represented by Democrat Zac Perry, has a colorful past that was not revealed by his answers to the Beacon’s issue questionnaire for legislative candidates. Scott’s report provides voters with useful information about Rose’s philosophy, accomplishments, and character.

Scott also profiled House District 5 teenage candidate, Republican Chet Billi, who’s running against sixtysomething Democrat David Fern in a district that leans Democratic. Unfortunately, Scott did not report that Billi gave a political speech at a 2nd Amendment rally while costumed in camouflage with a civilian genre assault rifle slung over his shoulder.