Vol. 31  No. 11        NOVEMBER  2002

 

HIGHLIGHTS—INSIDE THIS ISSUE

 

LOBBYING RULES

 

COMMISSIONER ELECTION RESULTS

 

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION - FREE SERVICES

 

EASTERN  MONTANA  NATIONAL FORESTS

 

COAL BOARD GRANTS

 

NACo STEERING COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

    

 

ELECTION  RESULTS

SPECIAL LEVIES

          The array of proposals placed on the ballot for county voters ranged from health and safety to economic development and recreation.  Of the 21 special votes across the state, 14 of them passed.  The closest vote came in Yellowstone County for its health and safety levy.  The proposal for additional health services funding passed by 28 votes (23,149 to 23,121). 

            In Sanders County, voters were given the chance to repeal the County Resolution which had formed the planning board.  The vote to repeal the resolution, and consequently the planning board, was successful.

            Library levies passed in Beaverhead County and Anaconda-Deer Lodge.  Anaconda-Deer Lodge voters also passed funding for elderly activities and for senior citizens / disabled programs.  Hospital/nursing home levies did not fare as well.  The levy proposal passed in Liberty County, but was defeated in Glacier County and Granite County.

            Ambulance and fire truck funding was approved in both Wheatland County and Teton County.  The levy for the fire district passed in Beaverhead County, as did the public safety proposal in Roosevelt County.  However, the jail bond vote in Glacier County failed. 

            Recreation or park districts were defeated in Missoula County and Jefferson County, but passed in Ravalli County.  A weed district was defeated in Mineral County but the weed levy passed in Jefferson County.

            Valley County looked favorably on its economic development proposal.

COUNTY OFFICIALS

            Turnover in county elected positions  was steady between 17% to 19%, except for county school superintendents and sheriffs, who endured a 25% change. 

County Office                      New Officials

County Commissioners                      31

County Attorneys                                10

Clerks and Recorders                                    10

Justices of Peace                               11

County School Superintendents           8

Sheriffs                                                14

County Treasurers                                9

JoAnn Johnson was re-elected as the Chouteau County Clerk and Recorder and Jo Anne Johnson was elected as the new Ravalli County Treasurer. 

            Two sets of spouses were uncontested in their bids for re-election.  In Powell County, Cele Pohle was re-elected as Assessor with 2,051 votes and her husband, John, was re-elected as Coroner by 2,070 votes.  In Sheridan County, Milt Hoveland was re-elected as Clerk and Recorder with 1,549 votes and his wife, Shirley, was re-elected as Treasurer with 1,524 votes.   

            Kelly Gebhardt, Musselshell County, was elected to the Montana Senate.  Sam Samson, Jefferson County, was unsuccessful in his bid for election to the Montana House of Representatives.

            A full listing of successful candidates is found on the website at http://maco.cog.mt.us.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

NOVEMBER

November 5             Election Day  (State holiday)

November 7             Stakeholders Advisory meeting; Capitol

November 11           Veteran’s Day Holiday

November 14-15     Sheriff and Peace Officers Assoc.; Kalispell

November 15           District Court Council

November 18-22     Magistrates Association; Whitefish

November 19-21   MACo Board Retreat; MACo Conf. Room

November 25        JPIA Bond Working Group; MACo; 10:00 am

November 27           Thanksgiving Day Holiday

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 3-5       Joint JPA/JPIA Trustees Retreat

December 5-6         Attorneys Association; Billings

December 9          MACo Board of Directors; Colonial; 4:00 pm

December 9-11     Elected Officials Conference; Colonial Hotel

December 16        JPIA Bond Working Group; MACo; 10:00 am

January 6                58th LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS

January 14-16       Loss Control Conference; MACo Office

January 29-30         BOS Joint Workforce Council; Helena

February 5-7           County Superintendents of Schools; Helena

February 19-21     Midwinter / DES Conference; Colonial Hotel

February 28-Mar. 4 NACo Legislative Conference; Washington DC

April                         GASB Training-Management & Analysis

April 7-10                County Road Supervisors; Fairmont

April 28-May 2         Magistrates Association, Lewistown

May 5-23                MACo District Meetings

May 14-15               BOS Joint Workforce Council; Great Falls

May 28-31               Western Interstate Region (WIR); Reno

June                        GASB Training-Reports; Supplementary Info.

July 11-15               NACo Annual Conference; Milwaukee

 

 

FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

GORDON MORRIS

Lobbying Rules

As you can see by reading the memo from Commissioner of Political Practices Linda Vaughey on page 3, she will require “elected local public officials” to register.  But, she recognizes the fact that the legislature will be asked to change the law as it affects local elected officials, and as a consequence she will be delaying the fee payments to March 1st.  This means that if MACo Resolution 2002-18 is successful, no fee would be assessed.  She is avoiding the need to refund fees collected under the old law.  I think this is an acceptable outcome to the situation.  I would like to thank Commissioner Vaughey for taking the lead in this regard and working with us to get suitable legislation passed early in the session.

I would re-emphasize that every county should file a “Principal Authorization Statement” (L-2). This does not mean that you would have to report expenses except in the case where you actually employ a lobbyist.  Local elected officials should also get a license.  Finally, county employees are not exempt under the proposed law change.  They will need to register and pay the fee. This could be an administrator, road supervisor, sanitarian, weed supervisor, etc. This does not constitute a change, but rather the application of the law as it was originally written.

 Upcoming Legislative Session

            Resolutions Committee Chair Mike Murray has been working closely with MACo staff preparing for the session. I am pleased to report that as of this writing 19 bills are already drafted or are in the process.  We have only 14 more to go.  I would like to see the bills all drafted by early December and be able to circulate them for review.

            We will be using the Internet and the MACo web site for more and more information during this session.  I point this out to both alert everyone and ask those without Internet access to let us know, so we can take other steps to keep you up-to-date. We will have a link on our web page to our bills and a link to the list of all bills pertinent to county government. 

            The session is going to be an interesting one and a very difficult one because of the budget crunch. We will need to very closely monitor the state budget process for departmental and program budgets. In my estimation, one budget, in particular, that will be interesting, will be for the Supreme Court and the district court expenses for the new biennium.

Training for Elected Officials

            I want to call everyone’s attention to the MACo orientation for “newly elected officials.” This orientation is scheduled for December 9 –11, 2002, at the West Coast Colonial Hotel in Helena. Our

records indicate that there are over 80 newly elected officials.  It will be a large group and they will all be encouraged to attend. I ask you to help in getting the word out and encouraging attendance.

            We have a great program planned and it will be very worthwhile. With that in mind, there will be a registration fee and per diem costs that counties should be prepared to reimburse. It is an advantage to everyone, current elected officials and taxpayers, to see that all of the newly elected officials start off on the “right” foot. MACo intends to see that happen with a little help from our allied associations—treasurers, clerks and recorders, and so on. Anyone interested in the agenda can call the MACo office and we will forward it immediately. They were mailed out on October 7 to all counties, but I know it is probably buried on the desk. I appreciate your interest in this effort. Thank you for helping inform the new officials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMISSIONER OF POLITICAL PRACTICES

RULES ON LOBBYING FEES

 

(Commissioner Vaughey asked that this information be circulated.  She is attempting to avoid the circumstance of refunding fees, which would be an inordinately time consuming and expensive process.)

 

            Montana Code Annotated 5-7-102 (6)(a) provides that the definition of “lobbying” means:  the practice of promoting or opposing the introduction or enactment of              legislation before the legislature or the members of the legislature by                     a person other than a member of the legislature or a public official;                                           (emphasis applied)

 

MCA 5-7-102 (13) defines “public official” as:  An individual, elected or appointed, acting in his official capacity for the          good of state government.          (emphasis applied)

 

            As you are aware, there will be a bill introduced in the upcoming Legislative Session that, if passed, would extend to elected public officials an exemption from lobbyist registration, similar to that which is applied to elected state public officials.  It is my understanding that such legislation would be effective upon passage and approval and might be retroactively

effective January 1, 2003.

 

            In anticipation of the latter, and in order to save the potential costs to city, county and state governments of processing payments and subsequent refunds of lobbyist license

registration fees, we are notifying you of our intention to revise the due date of lobbyist license fees for elected public officials.

 

            I have no authority to suspend lobbyist registration in anticipation of potential

legislation; so it will be necessary:  1) for elected local public officials intending to lobby during the 2003 Legislative Session to register with my office by filing form L-1, Lobbyist License

Application; and  2) for the city, town, or county represented by the public official to file a form L-2, Principal Authorization Statement.  License fees for elected local public officials will be due March 1, 2003, unless otherwise directed by legislative action.

 

            November 15:  Revised forms, L-1 Lobbyist License Application and L-2 Principal Authorization Statements, will be available and may be downloaded from our website  at www.state.mt.us/cpp.  It will be important for lobbyists and their principals to provide e-mail addresses in the spaces provided on the forms.

 

 

WE GIVE THANKS

For our fellow county officials and employees

For our family and friends

For our State of Montana

For our United States of America

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

COMMISSIONER ELECTION RESULTS

      R = Republican     D = Democrat     NP = Non-partisan     I = Independent     G = Green

COUNTY

INCUMBENT

CANDIDATES

ELECTED

ANACONDA-DEER LODGE

#4   Paul Chirico                   NP

#5  Wayne Ternes                 NP

#4        Paul Chirico-NP                   Connie T. Daniels-NP

#5       Wayne Ternes-NP

#4  Connie Ternes Daniels   NP

#5  Wayne Ternes                 NP

BEAVERHEAD

Donna Sevalstad                     R

Donna Sevalstad-R            

Donna Sevalstad                     R

BIG HORN

John Pretty on Top               NP

John Pretty on Top-NP      

John Pretty on Top               NP

BLAINE

M. Delores Plumage                D

M. Delores Plumage-D       

M. Delores Plumage                D

BROADWATER

James V. Hohn                      NP

James V. Hohn-NPTimothy Ravndal-NP

James V. Hohn                      NP

BUTTE-SILVER BOW

#1  Mike Kerns                       NP

#2  Pam Haxby Cote              NP

#7  Ellen LaBreche                NP

#9  Bill Melvin                        NP

#10  Mike Sheehy                  NP

#11  David Palmer                 NP

#1          Mike Kerns-NP

#2           Joe Lee -NP

Bob Worley-NP

#7         Bud Walker-NP

#9    Laura Lee Dunlap-NP

Andy Burton-NP

#10       Mike Sheehy-NP

Katherine Ogrin-NP

#11         Ted Bury-NP

David Palmer-NP

#1  Mike Kerns                      NP

#2  Joe Lee                            NP

#7  Bud Walker                      NP

#9  Laura Lee Dunlap           NP

#10  Mike Sheehy                  NP

#11  Ted Bury                        NP

CARBON

Albert Brown                         NP

Albert Brown-NP

Albert Brown                         NP

CARTER

John Kerr                                 R

John Kerr-R

John Kerr                                 R

CASCADE

Gayle Morris                            D

John T. Rosenbaum-D

Lance Olson-R

Paul Stephens-G

Lance Olson                            R

CHOUTEAU

Harvey Worrall                         R

Harvey Worrall-R

Timothy L. Pegar-D

Harvey Worrall                        R

CUSTER

#1  Duane Mathison              NP

#2  Dan Connors                   NP

#1      Duane Mathison-NP

#2       Curtis T. Almy-NP

Milo Huber-NP

#1  Duane Mathison              NP

#2  Milo Huber                       NP

DANIELS

C. William Tande                     R

C. William Tande-R

C. William Tande                     R

DAWSON

#1  Kathleen Alley                   D

#3  Bill LaBree                         R

#1        Kathleen Alley-D

Jim Skillestad-R

#3          Bill LaBree-R

Harold Skartved-D

James Skillestad                     R

Bill LaBree                               R

FALLON

William Duffield                       R        

Deb Ranum-R

Steve Gonsioroski-D

William Duffield-write in

Deb Ranum                              R

FERGUS

Joe Spika                               NP

William D. Fry-NP

Kenneth W. Ronish-NP

Kenneth Wayne Ronish       NP

FLATHEAD

Dale Williams                           R

Gary D. Hall-R

Karen Reeves-D

Dale Williams-write in

Gary Hall                                  R

GALLATIN

Bill Murdock                            R

Bill Murdock-R

Bill Murdock                            R

GARFIELD

Julie Jordan                             R

Julie Jordan-R

Julie Jordan                             R

GLACIER

Allan Lowry                              D

John Wesley Ray-D

John Wesley Ray                    D

GOLDEN VALLEY

Edgar Lewis                             R

David Paugh-R

David Paugh                            R

GRANITE

Scotty Morrison                       R

Clifford G. Nelson-R

Clifford G. Nelson                   R

HILL

Douglas Kaercher                   D

Douglas Kaercher-D

Byron Welter-R

Douglas Kaercher                   D

JEFFERSON

Sam Samson                         NP

Chuck Notbohm-NP

David H. Kirsch-NP

Chuck Notbohm                    NP

JUDITH BASIN

Henry Vaskey                          R

Jerome Kolar-R

Jerome Kolar                           R

LAKE

Mike Hutchin                            R

Mike Hutchin-R

Pat Erickson-D

Mike Hutchin                           R

 

LEWIS AND CLARK

Karolin Loendorf                     R

Steve Mandeville-R

Ed Tinsley-D

Ed Tinsley                                D

LIBERTY

Loyd Boyer                              D

Kenneth Gagnon-R

Don Marble-D

Don Marble                              D

LINCOLN

Rita Windom                            R

Rita Windom-R

Gary Huntsberger-D

Rita Windom                            R

MADISON

#2  Frank Nelson                    NP

#3 C. Ted Coffman                 NP

#2        Frank Nelson-NP

#3      C. Ted Coffman-NP

Jerry Welsh-NP

#2  Frank Nelson                   NP

 

#3  Ted Coffman                    NP

McCONE

Connie Eissinger                     D

Connie Eissinger-D

Beryl Zahn-R

Connie Eissinger                     D

MEAGHER

Jamie Doggett                          R

Jamie Doggett-R

Jamie Doggett                          R

MINERAL

Judy Stang                               D

Judy Stang-D

Tony Pearson-R

Judy Stang                               D

MISSOULA

Barbara Evans                          R

Barbara Evans-R

Phoebe Patterson-D

Barbara Evans                          R

MUSSELSHELL

Kelly Gebhardt                           I

Larry Lekse-R

Judith Stephenson-D

Larry Lekse                               R

PARK

Dan Gutebier                          NP

Traci Isaly-NP

Jim Durgan-NP

Jim Durgan                             NP

PETROLEUM

Lloyd Rowton                           R

Lloyd Rowton-R

Lloyd Rowton                           R

PHILLIPS

Richard Dunbar                        R

Richard Dunbar-R

Richard Dunbar                        R

PONDERA

Bill Rappold                              R

John Holden-R

Joe Christiaens-D

Bill Rappold-write in

Joe Christiaens                        D         

POWDER RIVER

Donald McDowell                     R

Don McDowell-R

Nancy Espy-I