Billings City Councilman Shirley McDermott tells me that she has filed to run as a Republican in House District 49. Kendall Van Dyk already has announced as a Democrat in that district. His campaign treasurer, interestingly enough, is City Councilman Peggie Gaghen.
UPDATE: Just got a note from Roy Brown, the incumbent, in HD49, announcing his candidacy in Senate District 25, which encompasses HD49 and HD50. And, of course, I should have mentioned already that Gene Jarussi is running as a Democrat in HD49.
I don't know Van Dyk, but I think Jarussi vs. McDermott could be a heck of a race. Jarussi hung tough during the teachers' strike, and McDermott certainly made her share of enemies on the council. Both come into the race with a good deal of experience and a lot of name recognition, and Jarussi might be the more conservative of the two. Good matchup.
2ND UPDATE: In light of my past prognostication record, I should probably go ahead and pick this one. But I don't have a feel for it. McDermott will take some heat for the City Council's various fiascos, but she can say, at least, that she has been on the side of open government. Plus it always has seemed to me that she does a superb job of representing her constituents.
Jarussi will take some heat for the school board's various fiascos, but he really did take a strong stand in the strike, and that took piles of guts. The strike also was longer ago, but then, teachers may have longer memories. On the other hand, Democrats always seem to be the default choice of educators.
I don't think I know the district well enough to decide who would be the better fit. My pick: It won't be Van Dyk.
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22 comments:
Shirley would do a good job. Much better than Gene Jarussi or Kendall Van Dyk.
How so, Coobs?
Because no matter what faults Shirley may have, she genuinely cared about the people in Ward 2 when she served on the City Council. She represented her neighbors first & foremost, and looked out for their interests.
Gene Jarussi was part of the most inept school boards in Billings history, and Van Dyk has no experience.
No experience? Oh, you mean like an ignorant, uneducated, inexperienced bankrupt auctioneer running for the U.S. senate! I get your point. Oh, wait a minute. You love that fella too!
Who is Shirley McDermott's Campaign Treasurer? Mike "I'm not a crook" Erickson?
Shirley & Mike don't get along.
I promise you Mike will not be voting for her!
Eric, I certainly agree about Shirley's concern for her ward, but it was Ward 1, not 2.
Thanks Ed - I need to wake up this morning.
I'm supporting Kendall because he is a fresh face and someone running for all the right reasons, not a politican trying to get a leg up to the next rung on the ladder.
He's worked hard to get young people involved in politics--something this country really needs.
It's also important to get beyond the bitter divisiveness of the past. We need a more effective government. I think that's Kendall's appeal.
Gene was a voice of reason and fiscal responsibility while on the board. He was not part of the ineptness, he actually tried to do right by the students and taxpayers. He and his family suffered much as a result of his willingness to to take the shots. Disagree with him if you wish, but don't try to label him as inept- he has one of the sharpest legal minds in the state, and his understanding of policital issues is equally sharp.
I for one am not ready to forgive him for the school closures, and the way he represented the administration during the strike.
Printing teachers salaries in the paper, etc., was a dirty trick.
He did object to cornfield high, but a blind man could see it was going to go down in flames.
Teacher's salaries are a matter of public record.
The strike came down to a clash of two personalities just as it did in 1975.
We like Shirley down here - I say she spends half as much, and wins easily.
Jim,
You better check is voting record on the school closures before you speak. Regarding his position during the strike- they knew at the time that they couldn't afford the 3rd year of the contract. He wasn't supporting the administration, he was loooking out for the students, since it would be their programs that would cut in order to fund the contract. And the union wrote the the book and dirty play. The problem with rolling in the mud with a pig is that you both get dirty, but the pig enjoys it.
I disagree Todd - I was there.
My kids were over there at Broadwater twice a day bringing cookies, pop, etc to the striking teachers, and Gene was down there in front of the cameras at every turn.
Look at the strike, the botched mill-levy votes, and the school closures, etc., and I blame each & every one of them. (Board Members)
Ms. McDermott will go down in flames and that is NOT because I don't fancy her politics it is because she is out of her realm and way in over her head on this one.
Don't forget that one does not have to "live" in the district that they run for here and it would seem to a logical person that she has hand picked this in hopes to win.
What happened to the Ward 1 people that she so proudly claims to want to help? Just politics in the end wouldn't you say?
As for the lone person putting a label on me above I have broad sholders and I have the ability to actually post my REAL name...something you lack I'd say!
At least Shirley can legally run for office and serve on boards...
Let us not forget--Shirley Mc Dermott has fancied herself ALWAYS as a Democrat. I think I have a pretty good theory about why she changed parties and ran with her good friend Roy I live in a west-end mansion Brown.
Since Roy doesnt have a real job and can campaign full-time, he figured that Shirley would run with him since everyone knows she's really a Repub. and finally admits it. I just wonder if Roy told her what the expectaions are in Helena....the Republicans dirty work.
The real question is, What is Mike Erickson running for this week?
Eric,
his presence at schools during the strike meana nothing. Do you remember how completely awful some teachers conducted themselves during the strike? The threats, the name calling, etc.
How can you blame "each and every" board member when some of them voted in opposition to the majority. They fought your fight, then you condemn them? Come on, even the scare crow knows better.
As to teacher behavior around the time of the strike- My son (6th grade) had a teacher tell him he shouldn't come to school if the teachers went on strike. She told him he wouldn't be safe! My son came home scared and asking if teachers would hurt him. That sticks with me and will forever. He lost trust in teachers after that.
As to publishing teacher salaries in the paper- it is a matter of public record, as stated previously. Just because my son's threatening teacher made more than my wife and I put together- why should that matter? I'm still stuck on the veiled threat to an eleven year old.
As to Shirley switching parties- it isn't a crime- unless you're a Democrat, I guess. Must party always come first?
Re: publication of teacher's salaries: Teachers are public employees who jeopardized our city's and our childrens' well being by going on strike. They tried to sway public opinion in their favor, claiming they were so terribly underpaid that it justified a strike. It was only fair that the public be told how much they actually made. It proved that on average, teachers in Billings made more than other teachers across Montana (the statistics they were relying on) and actually ranked fairly high (17th) compared with teachers nationally. By complaining and going on strike, the teachers made their salaries an issue. They had no right to expect privacy. The salaries were public information and the public was entitled to know. That is true, no matter who was responsible for the ad.
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