A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

26 May 2016

Meet Ken Miller’s picks for the PSC and legislature

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Ken Miller, former Republican legislator, former candidate for governor, and a leader among Montana’s conservatives, recently distributed an email letter identifying his picks for the legislature and Montana’s Public Service Commission. Miller began his message with “please share,” so I’m happy to help him out.

In PSC District 2, he’s supporting insurgent Republican Tonny O’Donnell against incumbent Republican Kirk Bushman, who has angered liberal and conservative alike with his rubber-stamp-like approach to requests for utility rate increases.

PSC Race In South Eastern Montana

Some will disagree with my pick of candidates, but I hope if you do that it is done based on the issues and not on friendships. At the end of this email I will list candidates across the state that Peggy and I support. But first I want to talk about the office that gets the least amount of attention and should get the most. The Public Service Commission affects our lives every single day. We support Tony O’Donnell for the PSC. The PSC, among other things, is responsible for setting rates that monopoly utility companies can charge. The companies are allowed a 10% profit, which is not unreasonable, but can promote waste and mismanagement. The more they can drive up operating costs, the higher the total profit. Example: If the operating costs to do business are $100,000 a 10% profit is $10,000, if the costs are $1,000,000 the profit is $100,000. Which do you think the big utility companies strive for? Our protection against that is the PSC.

When a utility company like Northwestern Energy makes an $8.2 million operating error, they should not be allowed to include that in their cost and then receive profit on it. Tony’s opponent, which I consider a friend, stood with the company’s lobbyist and voted to give them that windfall, driving up our utility costs month after month. Gazette Opinion.

Tony’s opponent has a wonderful wife and family so I understand the desire to not be away from them, but the job pays more than $100,000 and the people in this PSC district deserves a full time commissioner attending all the meetings possible in person, not just 60% of them. It can be difficult when two friends are vying for the same job, but for me I take the emotion out and look at who will do the best job. Some say we should not have primaries and Republicans should not run against other Republicans, but that isn’t how a Republic should work. No one owns the seat and should re-apply to the people every election. Tony O’Donnell will be a committed, hardworking PSC commissioner placing consumers first while doing what he can to protect the natural resource jobs here in Montana. Read this letter from Tony explaining why he is running for the PSC: Tony’s Letter.

Other Primary Races Around Montana We Need To Support

Supreme Court Justice #3: Kristen Juras — Kristenjuras@gmail.com www.Jurasforjustice.com

Yellowstone County Commissioner Denis Pitman — www.DenisPitman.com dpitman1@aol.com

Yellowstone County Clerk of Court Terry Halpin https://www.facebook.com/terryhalpinforclerkofdistrictcourt/

Senate District 03 Keith Regier Kalispell — Keithregier@gmail.com www.Regier-sd3.com

Senate District 07 Jennifer Fielder Thompson Falls — Getitright@montana.com www.Jenniferfielder.us

Senate District 10 J.C. Kantorowicz Great Falls — Huskyandhatz@gmail.com

Senate District 15 Ryan Osmundson 1394 South Buffalo Canyon Road Buffalo, MT 59418

Senate District 17 Mike L Lang Malta — Nasml@itstriangle.com

Senate District 18 Steve Hinebauch Wibaux — Stevehinebauch@midrivers.com

Senate District 26 Joshua Rich Kotter Billings — Jrkotter@joshuakotter.com www.Joshuakotter.com

Senate District 28 Mark Morse Lockwood-Laurel-Huntley — Morse4mt@gmail.com

Senate District 36 Dale Stewart – Dillon — Ccbible@3rivers.net

House District 11 Derek Skees Kalispell — Derekskees@gmail.com

House District 18 Ann Morren Conrad — Morrenforhouse@gmail.com

House District 19 Randy Pinocci Sun River — Pinocci@3rivers.net

House District 20 Sheridan Buck — Great Falls — Sheridanbuck1@gmail.com

House District 22 Lola Sheldon-Galloway — Great Falls — Lola4montana@yahoo.com

House District 35 Scott Staffanson — Sidney, MT 59270 406-480-0467

House District 36 Alan Doane Bloomfield – www.Alandoane.com

House District 40 Barry Usher Billings — Barry4montana@gmail.com

House District 44 Dale Mortensen Billings — Dlm644@bresnan.net

House District 45 Daniel Zolnikov Billings — Danielzolnikov@gmail.com www.Danielzolnikov.com

House District 67 Tom Burnett Bozeman — Burnett.tom@gmail.com

House District 68 Art Wittich Bozeman — Wittichhd68@gmail.com

House District 69 Phil Olson Belgrade — Pnoslo34@gmail.com

House District 71 Robert Wagner Harrison — Bobwagner4leg@yahoo.com

House District 72 Brooke Erb Dillon — Erbbrooke@gmail.com

House District 84 Kit Johnson East Helena — Kitjohnson.64@gmail.com

House District 85 Theresa Manzella Hamilton — Theresa@manzellaformontana.com

I apologize to any conservatives I may have missed. There are a few races in which I don’t know all of the candidates. Please do your own research and feel free to contact me to discuss details of each candidate.