One Nation, Under God
On Tuesday, June 7, the primary nomination election will be held in Montana. In Montana's Senate District 17, there are two Republican candidates running for the Republican nomination which are Mike Lang and Wayne Stahl. The position is currently held by long-term Senator John Brenden who has termed-out and unable to run for reelection.
Senate District 17 spans the north central and eastern portions of Montana and includes constituents in Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Roosevelt and Sheridan counties. What follows are the same four questions posed to both candidates, answered in their own words (listed alphabetically.)
Mike Lang
Tell us about yourself.
I was raised on a farm west of Loring and educated in Malta schools. I attended Carroll College and graduated from Eastern Montana College in Billings, with a bachelor of science in business in 1971. I have been a certified crop adviser for 25 years.
Married for 43 years, Lorna (Anderson) and I have lived in Loring, Malta, Zortman, Wolf Point and Miles City and throughout those experiences, gained a great knowledge and appreciation of eastern Montana. Our three children (Micah, Lisa and Lindsay) were raised and educated in Malta. We enjoy four wonderful grandchildren.
Lorna and I established Northern Ag Service in 1981 at its original location in downtown Malta. The business expanded to a site east of Malta and grew to 10 dedicated employees. Providing agriculture expertise along with fertilizer, chemicals, cattle feed, supplies and equipment to farmers and ranchers and northeast Montana, it became a mainstay in the industry and was sold in 2007.
What is your motivation for running for office?
I have served in the 2013 & 2015 MT House of Representatives, serving Montana in HD 35 & 33, which are the western half of MT Senate District 17.
I WANT to be your Senator from SD 17. This comes with twice the territory and the responsibility. My peers in the legislature have selected me as a committee chairman.
I am up for the challenge and have a proven voting record which represents my constituent base.
I wish to move government policy in the direction that citizens will become involved and overcome their apathy about government. I am committed to limiting government in scope and to making our communities strong and healthy.
What issues concern you in the position you are running for?
To me the biggest issue is representing the 20,000 Montana citizens that live in Senate District 17. I will strive to maintain our standard of living without excessive financial and governmental controls.
We are all different. We all have our biases. We are all part of Montana, its changing and challenging geography; the open air working conditions which are driven by our natural resources and their development; this is all included in the free spirit and individualism which is a Montanan.
As your legislator, it is my responsibility to work through the processes of legislation and administrative rule such that we will have progress, derived from common sense, that is beneficial to the people.
There is a need to prioritize the issues and then prioritize within the issue. I feel the four top issues of the state are: energy revenues, infrastructure definition, infrastructural financing and medical costs.
We will balance the Montana budget. I feel that Montana can be comfortable with a $180 million ending fund balance. We should come in $175M over this ending fund budget and therefore fund infrastructure of highways and bridges with cash. Infrastructure funding for potable and waste water projects should be cost shared by the receiving entity. The governor has either vetoed or stopped our legislative infrastructure plans and then would not compromise to an infrastructure solution. The present budget surplus was created by the legislative branch.
Energy revenues will be lower next biennium. Therefore, there will be needed cuts in appropriations. Fund the necessities not the extras. Colstrip 1 & 2 power plants are owned by out of state interests. Oregon and Washington businesses want less carbon emission electricity. We need to make an agreement to supply some renewable power through the Colstrip transmission lines and in return have cooperation from Washington to support the shipping of Montana coal to foreign countries. Montana coal will reduce emissions by 30% and continued sales will contribute to the financial wellbeing of the State.
Medical costs have eaten up any prosperity for the individual. Our local rural medical facilities are operated economically, when you consider the census numbers. However, on the larger scale, I feel that the medical industry, hospitals, drug manufactures and insurance companies, have not worked together to lower medical costs. Tort reform needs to be included also.
What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?
In my second legislative session, I needed to become more active in the process. I am older than most legislators and have endured and experienced many more business and life experiences. My priorities are to be involved and lead so my constituents will be respected. I feel I have gained the respect of my fellow legislators.
These attributes have been developed the past 66 years through my family, friends, teachers, eastern Montana culture, acceptance of mother nature, business associates and community involvement. I believe in seeking advice, as this helps form sound judgment. I am responsible enough to make the tough vote. I am humbled to have been elected by you, my peers, to serve in the Montana legislature and I want to be your Senator for District 17. I need your vote to accomplish this.
Wayne Stahl
Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Glasgow, grew up, lived and worked almost all of my life in Phillips and Valley counties. I have two children and five grandchildren. I currently operate the family farms in Phillips and Valley counties. I previously owned and operated a café, a tavern and a small construction company.
What is your motivation for running for office?
Having served in the Montana House of Representatives for 8 years I have a keen interest in continuing to further legislation that is fairer to rural schools, rural taxpayers, agriculture and rural small businesses.
What issues concern you in the position you are running for?
I have always been involved in issues of taxation and local government. The recent reappraisal by the Montana Department of Revenue was approached with bias toward eastern Montana. The instructions to the appraisers in eastern and northeastern Montana were to increase the values of the property in those areas. Those instructions definitely skewed the supposed unbiased requirement of a fair appraisal. I will see that this bias is dealt with properly and demand a reappraisal. The growth of the size of state government and the cost is out of hand. The number of state employees has increased rapidly and needs to be dealt with.
What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?
I have served as a councilman, a mayor, a county commissioner, and as state representative. I have always fought very hard to help protect rural Montana form the political forces that try to take advantage of us. Most of the time I have been very effective. Since I have been active in farming, ranching, small business and government I believe I can best serve Senate District 17.
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