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Dems elect leaders, call for renewed effort in 2008
By unanimous votes, Montana Democrats re-elected Melville rancher Dennis McDonald as their chairman and picked Rep. Margarett Campbell of Poplar as their new vice chairwoman at an officers’ convention Saturday.
The crowd at the Montana Democratic Party officers’ convention was in a buoyant mood. Democratic activists still wanted to celebrate their successes helping Brian Schweitzer become, in 2004, the first Democrat elected governor in 20 years and rallying behind Jon Tester when he knocked off three-term Republican U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns last year...more.
Besides selecting their two top officers, Montana Democrats also elected a host of people to the party’s executive board.
The winners were: Ray Tracy of Billings, Nancy Anderson of Great Falls, Jorge Quintana of Helena, Laura Obert of Townsend, Tracie Small of Crow Agency, Katie Kassmiaer of Fort Benton, Jim Larson of Billings, Brian Boland of Great Falls,
Robin Shropshire of Helena, Leslie Thomas of Boulder, Marshall Friedman of Whitefish Jason Miller of Helena, Shannon Hanson of Whitefish and Joan Vetter Ehrenberg of Whitefish.
Dennis McDonald: Montana Democratic Party Chairman
About Chairman McDonald:
Eyeing the rural vote to broaden the party's urban strength, Montana Democrats elected Dennis McDonald, a Melville rancher and national leader on cattle issues, as their state party chairman.
McDonald and his family raise and train registered quarter horses, cutting horses and working cow horses as well as 750 head of Angus and Brangus cattle at their Sweet Grass County ranch. He is former president of the Montana Cattlemen's Association and was a co-founder of R-CALF, a leading national group opposing the import of Canadian beef. While living in California, McDonald said he marched in anti-war protests in the 1960s, worked as a Teamster and helped on Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign and on Gov. Jerry Brown's races.
From the desk of Chairman Dennis McDonald:
Nancy Peterson's passing is a great loss to Governor Schweitzer's team, the farm and ranch community, and the Democratic Party
For me she was a hero raising a family and running a farm and ultimately becoming Montana's first woman Secretary of Agriculture. She was a great help to Montana Cattlemen's Association. She never missed talking to that organization when a invitation was extended. For me personally, she was great counsel and her compassion for the farm and ranch community in Montana served as an inspriation.
New tactics required to protect Montana cow herd from brucellosis
We're all hopeful today that Montana cattle producers have dodged a bullet and will maintain our brucellosis-free status. This will be the case unless, or until, a second brucellosis outbreak is discovered over the next two years...more.
On the Road
Over the past two months, I’ve been traveling around the State meeting with Central Committees and others. I am really encouraged by the commitment and dedication I am finding across Montana. Our Central Committees are busy recruiting candidates and organizing their own leadership as we head into this next election cycle. The response to Candidates Day, on April 13, was wonderful. I thank folks across the State who are working to make this event successful. Early commitments of potential candidates gives me hope that we will not again face a situation where the Republicans have control of either house.
Paid for by the Montana Democratic Party, Brenda Schye, Treasurer, PO Box 802 Helena, MT 59624 |