By Tim Leeds/Havre Daily News/tleeds@havredailynews.com
Democratic incumbents won strong victories in Hill County's three House districts, which were altered by redistricting after the 2000 census.
Unofficial results show Democrat Bob Bergren easily defeating Kenneth Wilson in HD 33. Two-term Democrat John Musgrove of Havre defeated Alan Brekke of Harlem in HD 34, and Democrat Jonathan Windy Boy of Rocky Boy beat Glasgow Republican Jeff Pattison in HD 32. Both Windy Boy and Pattison were incumbents seeking another term.
In House District 28, which includes parts of Chouteau, Liberty and Toole counties, three-term incumbent John Witt of Carter soundly defeated Democratic challenger Garvey Wood of Loma.
Bergren, a Havre firefighter, won a second term in the Legislature by defeating Havre farmer and businessman Kenneth Wilson with 69 percent of the votes, 2,415 to 1,108. The district includes part of Havre and western Hill County.
Neither candidate could be reached for comment.
Unofficial results show Musgrove beat Brekke with 60 percent of the votes, 2,087 to 1,366 votes. The district includes part of Havre and western Hill County and northern Blaine County.
Musgrove said he appreciated the clean campaign Brekke ran. It likely will be another difficult session, he said.
"Montana's needs are so great and we still have a budget that isn't going to cover everything that is needed, so there will be some tough choices," he said.
He said he is pleased that Montana elected Democrat Brian Schweitzer as governor.
"It's time Montana is swinging back that way again," he said.
Brekke could not be reached for comment this morning.
Unofficial results show Windy Boy winning with 59 percent of the vote, 1,968 to Pattison's 1,364.
HD 32 includes parts of Chouteau, Hill, Blaine, Phillips and Valley counties and contains Rocky Boy's and the Fort Belknap Indian reservations and part of Havre.
In Phillips and Valley counties, including Glasgow, Pattison won 750-185. In Hill, Blaine and Chouteau counties, Windy Boy won 1,773 to 614.
Pattison said he doesn't think his political career is over, and that he may run for local or state government again.
Windy Boy said he will try to thank the voters in the district by serving all of his constituents across the five counties to the best of his ability. He said he wants to now create a think tank involving leaders from all areas of the district to get community involvement in the decision-making process.
Both candidates said they wanted to thank the other for running clean campaigns.
"He stood up to his bargain (to run a clean campaign) and I respect him and applaud him for that," Windy Boy said.
Unofficial results show Witt won with 67 percent of the vote, 3,049 to 1,526,
Wood, a 20-year school board member and volunteer fire department chief, said he can't think of anything he could have done differently in the campaign. He said he doubts he will run for state office again.
Witt said he appreciated the clean campaign Wood ran. He said his main concern now is the possible shift of the control of the Legislature.
