Hill leases with Martz administration may pose conflict

HELENA (AP) — Old emails indicate former congressman Rick Hill's agreements to lease office space to the state could have benefited from his wife's position in former Gov. Judy Martz' office.

An Associated Press analysis of emails originally received in a 2002 records request on another matter help shed light on a competitor's allegation that the front-runner in the Republican primary for governor got a "sweetheart deal."

Several email conversations show Betti Hill used a state email account to discuss leases with other state officials and help arrange meetings on the issue.

Corey Stapleton is a former state senator running against Hill in the primary. He says the lease dealings smell bad.

The Hill campaign says there was nothing wrong with the meetings, and the leases were negotiated at or below market value.