It is a great privilege to add my name to the long list of citizens who enthusiastically support the candidacy of Franke Wilmer. She will bring to the legislature common sense and good ideas to move Montana forward. She will be an outstanding and energetic legislator in the tradition of Dorothy Eck. I look forward to being one of Representative Wilmer's constituents.

-Chris Harris, MT House Representative 2000-2006, Resident of House District 64

Giving Back to Montana

I want to give something back to the community of Bozeman and the people of Montana who have given me so much and I want to do it by serving in our Montana State Legislature. My mother's family homesteaded in Terry, Montana and when I moved here in 1991 I felt immediately that I had come home. I've been a teacher at MSU in Bozeman since then. For 15 years before that I worked for hourly wages (as a carpenter, a secretary, and a waitress) to support my family and put myself through college. So when I say that I know how important economic security, accessible and affordable health care and good jobs at good wages are, it comes from personal experience. I love the outdoors and all that our natural environment offers, which is certainly another reason Montana is home for me.With your support, I will work for sustainable economic growth and responsible government for the people of the Gallatin Valley and our state.

• I believe we can find ways to protect our environment, provide quality public education, and realize greater economic security for all of us by pursuing sustainable growth.
• Agriculture is people; it's family businesses, ranchers and farmers. It's neighbors who are important to our cultural heritage. Agriculture makes up 11% of our local economy. It can and should be sustainable both economically and environmentally.
• We can expand in vital growth sectors, technology and tourism, that support the maintenance and protection of our environmental resources (49% of our area's economy comes from research and technology, 20% from tourism, and 18% from other small businesses.)
• High quality public education supports the expansion of these sectors and makes us better citizens.

Together, we can think creatively to solve problems and contribute to our future. Please help me get to Helena to work with Governor Schweitzer and the Democratic legislators to achieve these goals.

Why I Want to Serve You in the Montana House of Representatives

I am convinced that Franke will do an excellent job representing all interests. by listening to diverse viewpoints, studying the issues, and finding solutions that balance the needs of different groups. Her positions on energy production and the wise use of our natural resources are based on many years of commitment to these complex issues.

-Linda Young, Economist, Bozeman, says in a letter to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle

 

Good political leadership can make a difference. It can make life better for more people. That's what "progressive" means to me. This is a time of great change in Montana. We face challenges because of multiple issues. Rapid growth and migration to our urban communities puts open land and habitat at risk and strains community infrastructure. The economies in our rural areas are stressed by the decline of non-renewable resources, the globalization of agriculture, and the need to develop environmentally sustainable energy sources and technologies. There are some things that markets don't do well or quickly enough in light of the social and human costs that such changes bring about. That's why we need good public policies. Political leaders and citizens can work together to meet these challenges successfully.

I will work to:

• Support laws that promote clean water and air quality; maximize hunting and fishing access; protect fish and wildlife; and preserve our roadless areas.
• Make quality higher education affordable, and improve the quality of public education at all levels.
• Support economic development in sectors that do not deplete natural resources, such as research and technology, tourism, and small businesses.
• Increase minimum wage to a living wage and make affordable health care accessible to all Montanans.
• Encourage "best practices" in development and environmentally sustainable agriculture.
• Reform campaign financing, get private for-profit interests out of campaigns and let the voters own the elections.
• Support family-friendly policies like paid parental leave and tax deduction for child care expenses for working families.
• Promote tolerance, appreciation, and respect for the human rights of all.

Franke Wilmer for House 64
Jack Jelinski, Treasurer
7205 Lorelei Drive
Bozeman, MT 59715
Email: franke.wilmer@gmail.com
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