Candidates to highlight GOP dinner

Hill and Blaine County Republicans will kick off the campaign season with their annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner Sunday, Feb. 21.

Andrew Brekke, chair of the Hill County Republicans, said the event serves to celebrate the party’s victories and rally the faithful ahead of the 2016 elections.

The dinner will be held at the Best Western Havre Inn and Suites with cocktails at 5 p.m. A barbeque buffet dinner will be served at 6 p.m.

There will be silent and live auctions, where attendees can bid on items. Proceeds will go to the Blaine and Hill county Republican party organizations.

Tickets can be purchased for $50 each either at the door or ahead of the event from Brekke, Brad Lotton, the party’s finance director, or party treasurer Barbara Salerno.

Party activists and luminaries from across the Hi-Line and state will be there, Brekke said.

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and Republican candidate for governor Greg Gianforte will be this year’s featured keynote speakers.

Gianforte is looking to oust Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, this fall.

Zinke, a first term congressman and the state’s only member of the U.S House of Representatives, is looking to fend off a challenge from the Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau.

Also expected is state Senate Majority Leader Matthew Rosendale, R-Glendive, who two weeks ago declared his candidacy for state auditor. Others expected to attend include former state Sen. Corey Stapleton, R-Billings, and state Sen. Elsie Arntzen, R-Billings, are making bids for Secretary of State and Superintendent of Public Instruction respectively.

Republican state Sen. Kris Hansen and state Rep. Stephanie Hess, both of Havre, will be there, as will state Rep. Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder, who is forgoing the chance to run for a second term to run for the state Senate.

Hill County Republicans are optimistic about their chances in November’s elections.

Brekke said that with the exception of House District 32 now held by Republican state Rep. Bruce Meyers who is running for state Senate, the party has at least one candidate running in all of the region’s legislative districts.

He said local Republicans are talking with someone considering a run in that district too.

“A month out from the filing deadline, I couldn’t ask for a better place to be in,” Brekke said.