Well, folks, I sigh a sense of relief now that the MT GOP Senate Primary Debate/forum is over that Yellowstone County News co-sponsored last night at the Elks Club in Billings.
I learned a lot about each candidate and thought they all did a great job. If I counted correctly (and my common core math worked), we had about 120-130 people at the event along with radio listeners across the state on 24 stations (According to Jon Arneson) along with KULR-8 Television’s Facebook live stream along with our own Facebook live stream we shared.
It is definitely a lot of work to coordinate with tv, radio and a live audience. As that was my first time, I guess it went ok but there were personally some things I’d do differently next time to help prepare but that’s how you learn. Jump in head first!
I want to thank my staff at the Yellowstone County News who all understand my nervousness, focus, and being patient when they kinds of events happen. It affects all members of our team in one way or another in preparing, following up, covering, pictures, and then pulling off big events like this.
As a side note, YCN never even asked to be a sponsor of this Senate forum and event nor did we even pursue to be involved. However, I was just asked to be a moderator as some in the original committee said that Yellowstone County News sponsored the Billings Mayoral Debate last Fall and did a great job so they wanted us to be involved again. So, we got involved! And I’m glad that we did.
Also thank you to Judy Trenka (Big Tent Dinner) and Henry Kriegel (Montana’s for Tax Reform) for all their heavy lifting as well to prepare for the event. Thank you to Paul Patek as he was the timer and volunteers who also helped out at the event.
I’m also grateful for Evelyn Pyburn who is one of our YCN reporters who also put in many hours in getting questions together and planning together with me and the committee. As I’ve known Evelyn for many years as I also grew up with her kids in school, she is a great support to our newspaper and appreciate all that she does. Words can’t express enough her caliber and depth of knowledge she brings to her stories and understanding of complex situations.
I heard from a number of voters and attendees at the forum and I heard from three unsolicited but respected people that told me that Dr. Al Olszewski won the debate. I’m just reporting that feedback I received. I thought the interesting part is that each attendee gave me a different reason why though. As I know all the candidates and think any one of them would be great to represent Montana, I personally decided not to endorse any candidate so as to be fair in our debate/forum and also be able to be in a position to give an honest, unbiased and respected perspective of the race.
I am, however, now contemplating an endorsement from the Yellowstone County News in our May 11, 2018 edition (same day absentee ballots go out in the mail across the state). Not who I want to win, or who has the most endorsements, or who has the most money, or who has the most chance to win, but who I think would be the best to represent the voters of Montana! Give me your feedback as I’m contemplating an endorsement. It would be the first ever for our newspaper to come out and endorse a primary candidate.
In the meantime, don’t forget about the Lockwood high school vote that is currently pending with absentee ballots already out in the mail and need to be turned into the Yellowstone County Elections office by Tuesday May 8, 2018. If you need information about it, you can check our previous issues of Yellowstone County News, we’ve had a good amount of feedback and information about it.
Also, Huntley Project has two spots to fill on the School board. However, there are three people running so do your homework and choose two candidates. You don’t have to choose two but there is an opportunity to choose two. This week’s edition of YCN has an article with candidates feedback to learn from so read that article as well.
This weekend is ENUFF IS ENUFF, LET’S CLEAN UP WEEKEND. A big community cleanup in underway and local alumnus and resident Ryan Roen is heading up the big day of clean up in the area. Let’s give him the support in his efforts in keeping our communities clean. Even if you are not able to go to the one in Huntley, there are other areas in Yellowstone County that need to be cleaned up so do your part and together, we’ll all make this place a better place! Check out the ad in the paper about the Cleanup.
Finally, we are now in the swing of getting sponsors for the special senior graduation editions of YCN in the May 11 and 18th issues for Shepherd, Custer and Huntley Project schools. Please reach out to us at 406-348-2650 to secure your senior. If you or your business would like to sponsor a senior, please let us know. Even if you don’t have someone in mind but would like to help us cover all the seniors, give us a call and tell us to just pick two or three seniors that we randomly sponsor. We have about 115 seniors that need to be sponsored so give us a call. The cost is $22.50 per senior. The cost goes to help support the special editions of the paper.
Until then, see you in the paper,
JDM.
