HD 33 candidates Q&A

On Tuesday, June 7, the primary nomination election will be held in Montana. In Montana's 33rd House District, there are two Republican candidates running for the Republican nomination which are Michael Burns and Casey Knudsen. The position is currently held by Rep. Mike Lang who is running for the Senate District 17 seat soon to be vacated by long-term Senator John Brenden who has termed-out.

What follows are the same four questions posed to both candidates, answered in their own words (listed alphabetically.)

Michael Burns

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Michael Burns. I live in Glasgow, Montana. I come from a long line of people who have served our nation and our communities and a desire to continue that heritage. I have a strong passion for my family, friends and community. I volunteer at my local church and also a local car club, Blockheads, that repairs cars for free for people in need. I am a member of the Montana Farm Bureau and the NRA. I am a conservative republican hoping for a future reflecting those values along with protecting our legacy our forefathers built with the constitution.

What is your motivation for running for office?

Montana is my home and I see it as a great state with endless potential. We could be at the intersections of many revolutionary booms between our national resources and technological opportunities. With such great prospects, we still have numerous issues I feel that we must address to ensure a more prosperous future. My whole life I have always placed myself in areas of need and this is no different. Our future is great and we, myself included, must always be vigilant to fight for it.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

We are at a moral crossroads in our state. The coal industry is in jeopardy; carrying thousands of Montanan jobs on its shoulders. We must protect it. It is a crucial mechanism that generates billions in revenue and over 100 million dollars in taxes. The federal government wishes to eliminate it but they do not have the constitutional means to force us to comply to Obama's clean energy policies. Coal is the cheapest source of energy and this problem would affect everyone, not just workers in the coal industry. It is estimated that electricity prices would double if coal was eradicated. I also want to stop the advancement of free-roaming bison in our state. It is a risk to all farmers and ranchers and should not be tolerated. I am a defender of Second Amendment rights and think that such things as gun-free zones on college campuses are counterintuitive. They should be eliminated because of their lack of common sense and danger they push upon those who attend our state's universities. I want to keep Montana's budget balanced along with low taxes to promote the enjoyment of the freedoms we have in our great state for recreation and business opportunity.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

First and foremost, I think character and integrity are central to any figure who wants to lead. I believe I have those characteristics. Along with that, I am passionate about this opportunity. I want to serve the people of Montana with everything that I have. I have previous political experience, I have worked for a preceding representative and I learned a lot. This is something I truly care about. I also have held leadership positions in previous organizations, obtained my bachelor's degree, done postgraduate work and always have been involved in some sort of community service. I think we need a legislature filled with principled people not afraid to go after what they know is right with conviction - and I know that is what I will do.

Casey Knudsen

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Casey Knudsen, and I am running for the Montana House of Representatives seat for District 33. I am a 25-year-old, fifth generation Montanan, and I believe it is my responsibility to stand up for eastern and rural Montana. I graduated from Malta High in 2009, after which I attended Montana State University to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, with a minor in Aerospace. After graduating from MSU in 2014, I returned home to work on my family ranch, as well as to start a business in engineering design and prototyping. I am a Volunteer firefighter and EMT, as well as a member of the Stockgrowers Association, the inaugural Stockgrowers Leadership Class, the Farm Bureau, and the NRA. I am the son of Jim and Janice Knudsen, I have one sister, Bobbi Knudsen, and I am currently engaged to Shyla Gairrett.

What is your motivation for running for office?

I believe that if a person has the time and capacity, it is their duty to serve our community, and I believe that our district needs a representative that knows our area, the people, and the problems many of us face. I have a great desire to serve the communities on the Hi-Line, not only at the local level, but at the state level as well. I believe that if a person is not content with the way things are going, they must get involved and attempt to change things from the inside, which is what I hope to do.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

I am concerned with the encroachment of organizations such as the American Prairie Reserve on our communities. People tend to get tunnel vision when the topic of bison comes up, believing that if we can put a stop to that one particular animal from moving back into our farms and grasslands, then we have won. In reality, it is not about the bison, or the sage grouse, or the wolves, or whatever other animal these groups decide to use as a face for their cause. The root of the problem we are facing is a combination of the collusion between federal and state agencies and non-profit organizations, and the blatant lies these non-profits tell their donors in order to get their support. As a staunch supporter of landowner rights, I believe that if a person owns or has interest in a piece of land, they should be able to do with that land as they see fit, within the bounds of the law. To put a stop to these groups, we must not give up our own rights as landowners to attempt to take away theirs. We must, however, absolutely not bend to the will of fringe environmental groups. Preventing these radical groups from further eroding our rights is the only way to maintain our landowner rights and way of life. I would also like to focus on infrastructure in our area. Many highways in this district have not been improved to account for higher volumes of traffic in certain areas, and I believe, for safety's sake, this needs to be addressed. Our beautiful state's natural resources also need attention. Be it the forests, water, minerals, or oil and natural gas, we must take advantage of the resources available to us in order to stay competitive economically.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

I deeply care about the people in this district, and will do everything in my power to fight outside influence from taking away the rights we hold dear here in rural Montana. Other than my time in Bozeman, I have lived my entire life on the Hi-Line, and I know the people, I know the area, and I know who to contact with regards to bills that affect us and our way of life in eastern Montana. I hold many of the same values that are so universal in our area; hard work, perseverance, dedication, and integrity. I have always been very interested in policy, and my ability to take in a great deal of information, and make an informed decision based on that information, will allow me to weed through the high volume of bills that come though Helena every session. Because of this, I believe I am the right candidate for our district.