Urge legislators to support mail ballot in special election

A highlight this week during session was visiting with administration and staff from Montana State University-Northern and Montana State University in Bozeman. We were presented with their past accomplishments, future goals, and building ideas. A number of Northern Stock Growers Club members also were in to visit with the senators from north-central Montana. I’m proud to see how far Northern has advanced since my college days, but so have many other things.

This week was Montana Association of Counties’ time in Helena for their mid-winter meeting. Liberty County was honored with a safety award; I was invited to share in the presentation. This was an enjoyable bright spot for the week as I participated in MACo during my 18 years as a Liberty County commissioner and served on the board for a number of those years. Getting to see and thank the folks that voted to put me here was the best.

A big issue is the upcoming election for the U.S. House seat. Most county commissioners from my district, including Liberty, Hill, and Cascade discussed the mail ballot for this special election, so I would like to include some clarification. As I understand it, the Mail Ballot Bill (SB 305) is a cost-saving measure as the counties are over-budget on elections. If the state would allow a mail ballot election for this special election, they could save at least 35 percent, and maybe more. If you know legislators from other districts, give them a call, send them an email, and get on them to vote for this. You can believe I will be voting for this bill. On the table also this week was a new bill for a gas tax increase of 8 cents. The counties are not happy with how the tax will be allocated.

I look forward to updating on the bills my committees have been dealing with next week.

——

Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, can be reached at [email protected].