Malta Chamber hosts talk with candidates

Nearly 40 people attended the Malta Area Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting last Tuesday at Westside Café, many turning out to hear candidates running for a Phillips County Commissioner, Montana House District 33 and Montana Senate District 17.

Chamber of Commerce President Travis Rhoads and Executive Dina Meneely hosted the informal gathering and spent just over an hour asking questions that the various candidates fielded and answered.

The Phillips County Commissioner position voters will be asked to decide on following long-time commissioner Lesley Robinson’s announcement in March that she had accepted gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte’s request to join him as his running mate. County Commissioner candidates in attendance at last Tuesday’s chamber meeting were (alphabetically) Jenifer Anderson, John F. Carnahan and Donald C. Green. Candidate David Crasco was unable to attend the meeting and Trenton Dovre announced two weeks ago in the PCN that he was withdrawing from the race.

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. Both candidates were in attendance at the meeting.

In Montana's Senate District 17, there are two Republican candidates running for the Republican nomination which are Mike Lang and Wayne Stahl.

Senate District 17 spans the north central and eastern portions of Montana and includes constituents in Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Roosevelt and Sheridan counties. Both Lang and Stahl were in attendance at the meeting.

All of the candidates were asked to elaborate on how Phillips County and surrounding areas will be able to grow economically, their experiences with technology and how they would use it if elected, dealing with the federal government, how law enforcement can be assisted as well as recent property tax hikes and how to lower them.

The complete audio of the meeting can be heard at the Phillips County News website by clicking on the story Malta Chamber hosts talk with candidates or at https://youtu.be/oJ_s08kdmxU.