26 May 2016
Meet Ken Miller’s picks for the PSC and legislature
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.