By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
On Monday night, the same day that regular voter registration closed, candidates in local elections gathered in The Wilson Hotel to answer questions in front of a Big Sky crowd.
With 28 days until Nov. 5, candidates traveled across Gallatin County to meet voters and answer hot-button questions. Community Week’s Vote Big Sky event invited all candidates to join, and 10 participated in-person, with two providing statements in their absence.
Explore Big Sky’s Hoary Marmot Podcast hosts Joe and Michelle Borden emceed the forum and started with a written statement from Monica Tranel who had to cancel her attendance after the passing of her mother. Tranel is up against current Rep. Ryan Zinke for U.S. House Seat in Montana’s Western district.
Afterward, Kenneth Lavender read a statement from Secretary of State candidate Jesse James Mullen as his campaign manager and coordinator. Mullen is facing incumbent Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen in the November election.
Moving into the in-person portion of the evening, Joe and Michelle advised candidates that they would have three minutes to respond to each question, and State Senate District 30 candidate Cora Neumann answered questions before State House District 60 candidates Alanah Griffith and Jerry Johnson responded to inquiries.
Candidates for the Madison County Commission and the Gallatin County Commission, Duke Gilman and Scott MacFarlane, respectively, discussed education and housing. A moment of humor occurred when Joe asked Gilman about his pickleball skills after finding a Madisonian newspaper clip connecting Gilman to pickleball courts. Gilman said he has never actually played.
Lastly, Gallatin County Government Study Commission candidates, Ted Barkley, Jackie Haines, Donald Seifert, Andrew Epple and Jeff Krauss took the stage. Gallatin County voters will decide on seven candidates to be involved in the study commission; currently over a dozen candidates are filed to run for the position. Vote Big Sky hosted five of these candidates.
Vote Big Sky served as a way to help Big Sky voters know who and what they were voting for come November. Attendees shook hands and mingled with candidates as the event concluded.
Explore Big Sky live streamed Vote Big Sky on its YouTube channel.
Time guide:
29:40 U.S. House District 1 candidate Monica Tranel written statement
33:20 Kenneth Lavender delivering written statement by Montana Secretary of State candidate Jesse James Mullen
37:10 Responses by State Senate District 30 candidate Cora Neumann
48:20 State House District 60 candidates Alanah Griffith and Jerry Johnson
1:08:50 Madison County Commission candidate Duke Gilman and Gallatin County Commission candidate Scott MacFarlane.
1:27:40 Gallatin County Government Study Commission candidates Ted Barkley, Jackie Haines, Donald Seifert, Andrew Epple and Jeff Krauss
