This past week, a total of 60 local elected officials all from Yellowstone County signed on to a letter endorsing Tim Sheehy for United States Senate over current Senator Jon Tester. The list of names includes current and former state representatives, county commissioners, Billings City Council members, former district judges, party leaders and former Billings mayor Tom Hanel.
The number of names continued to grow dramatically as on Thursday, August 22 at 29 and as of the morning of Wednesday, August 28 the list reached 60 names.
The letter expresses concern for several issues on which Jon Tester has negatively impacted Montanans. They cite his F-rating from the NRA, his vote to kill the Keystone XL pipeline, and his support of the current administration’s failure at the border, causing increased crime and drug trafficking. They also express fear that if Tester wins, and the Democrats thus retain a majority in the U.S. Senate there will be attempts to pack the Supreme Court and to give Puerto Rico and D.C. statehood, essentially giving Democrats four more senators.
The letter praises Tim Sheehy for his military service and his founding of Bridger Aerospace, which has created over 200 jobs for Montanans.
According to Pam Purinton, the Chair of the Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee, this number of local endorsements is unprecedented in Yellowstone County, as local legislators are often afraid of alienating independent voters in their own elections. However, she believes that independent and moderate voters are ready for a change from Tester. Specifically, she cited union workers, who are facing a job shortage, as part of a voting class that is ready to stop voting for Jon Tester and start supporting Tim Sheehy. With the economy being a focal point of Montana politics, Tester’s support of the current administration’s inflation-causing spending bills and vote to kill the Keystone XL pipeline do not sit well with many moderate voters. Purinton also admitted that she had originally hoped U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale would be the Republican nominee. However, after having met with Tim Sheehy, she is fully in support of him and his policy goals.
The list includes the following:
Duane Ankney, Former State Representative HD 20
John Armstrong, Past North Park Task Force Chair
Pam Anderson, Finance Chair-YCRCC
Tom Berry, Former State Representative HD 45
Will Boone, Vice Chair-YCRCC
Kim Brown, President Yellowstone County Republican Women
Roy Brown, Former State Senator SD 25
Taylor Brown, Former State Senator SD 22
Larry Brewster, Representative HD 44
Rick Cebull, Former District Judge
Ernie Dutton, Former State Representative HD 56
Brenda Dugas, State Committeewoman-YCRCC
Sherry Essmann, State Representative HD 50
Jodee Etchart, State Representative HD 48
Russ Fagg, Former District Judge, State Representative HD 89
Tom Hanel, Former City of Billings Mayor
Naarah Hastings, State Representative HD 49
Jonathan McNiven, Former State Representative HD 56
Kim Hauptman, Yellowstone County Republican Women Executive Board
Dennis Himmelberger, Former State Representative HD 47
Don Jones, Yellowstone County Commissioner
Doug Kary, Former State Representative HD 48
Krayton Kerns, Former State Representative HD 58
Greg Kmetz, State Representative HD 38
David Knobel, State Committeeman, YCRCC
Jeff Laszloffy, Former State Representative HD 22
Sarah Laszloffy, Former State Representative HD 57
Brandon Ler, State Representative-Majority Whip HD 35
Betty Lilleberg, Yellowstone County Republican Women Executive Board
Margaret McGillvray, Secretary Yellowstone County Republican Women
Tom McGillvray, State Senator-Majority Whip SD 23
Terry Moore, State Representative HD 54
Mark Morse, Yellowstone County Commissioner
Andrea Nemitz, School District 2 Trustee
Nelly Nicol, State Representative HD 53
Elaine O’Donnell, Yellowstone County Republican Women Executive Board
Tony O’Donnell, Public Service Commission District 2
Greg Oblander, Representative HD 40
John Ostlund, Yellowstone County Commissioner
Jennifer Owen, Billings City Council
Scott Aspenlieder, Billings City Council
Gary Parry, State Representative HD 39
Jimmy Patelis, Former State Representative HD 52
Pam Purinton, Chair-YCRCC
Don Roberts, Former State Representative HD 56
Rande Roth, Former State Representative HD 96
Vince Ricci, Former State Representative HD 55 (candidate SD 27)
Barbara Scheppele, Secretary-YCRCC
Mike Scheppele, Treasurer-YCRCC
Kerri Seekins-Crowe, Representative HD 43
Cary Smith, Former State Representative HD 55
Dan Tidswell, Billings City Council
Barry Usher, State Senator-Majority Whip SD 20
Sue Vinton, State Representative-Majority Leader HD 58
John Vonlangen, School District 2 Trustee
Brooke Wagner, School District 2 Trustee
Dan Walker, Former Fish & Game Commission Chair
Mike Waters, Yellowstone County Commissioner elect
Jim Wilson, Congressional Committeeman-YCRCC
Nancy Wilson, Congressional Committeewoman-YCRCC
