Governor Candidates Debate Tourism, Wildlife

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By Kenneth Wong

Story Published: Jan 13, 2012 at 11:59 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 14, 2012 at 3:42 PM MDT

BILLINGS - Some of the candidates for Montana Governor debated in Billings Friday on the issues of tourism and wildlife.

GOP candidates Rick Hill, Corey Stapleton, Jeff Essmann, and Democratic candidate Larry Jent attended the forum, which was sponsored by the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA). All of the candidates agree that Montana needs to do more to attract tourists and new business investments. However, they differed on how to go about doing so.

"Forbes magazine says our regulatory regimen in Montana is 47th in the nation, and in my judgment, those things have just thrown a wet blanket over our economy," said Hill.

"I think what needs to happen is that the business groups, tourist, chamber, outfitters, everybody, needs to work with Fish, Wildlife, and Parks," said Stapleton.

"I think every Montanan should have the ability to see every check that the state writes," said Essmann.

"I will improve and empower the Citizen's Advisory Council, so the input from people, and Fish, Wildlife and Parks, comes from the bottom up," said Jent.

In addition to the debates, most of the candidates criticized the appointment of FWP Director Joe Maurier, claiming the appointment was more based on Maurier's longtime friendship with Governor Brian Schweitzer rather than his credentials and pedigree.

As of Friday, there are 11 candidates for Governor. Essmann, Hill, and Stapleton will be facing former Chouteau County Commissioner Jim O'Hara, former state Senator Ken Miller, retired businessman Bob Fanning, national security analyst Neil Livingstone, former MDOT Director Jim Lynch, and novel writer Drew Turiano in the GOP primary.

Jent will face Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock in the Democratic primary.

Polls from November show Bullock in the lead for the Democratic nomination, and Hill in the lead for the GOP nomination. For the general race, polls show Hill in the lead for Governor, but well within the margin of error. Twenty-three percent of voters, according to the polls, are still undecided as to whom to vote for Governor.

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