HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – Around 25 people attended a campaign event in Havre on Thursday afternoon for Congressman Greg Gianforte, the Republican candidate for Governor.
Gianforte and his running mate, Lieutenant Governor candidate Kristen Juras, spoke for a total of about a half hour, beginning with stump speeches and ending with a brief question and answer session.
During the event, which took place at Tilleman Motor Company, Gianforte spoke about the need to decrease regulations, insert new leadership at state agencies and make origin of beef labeling a priority.
“But we’ve got to go farther than that. I’ve been working with the meat processors here. We need more processing capacity here so we can preserve the Montana brand through the supply chain so a consumer in Seattle or San Francisco or Tokyo or Taipei can go to the store and select a Montana steak and know they’re getting the best beef in the world.”
Gianforte said that the number one issue in Montana is the drug epidemic.
Gianforte proposed creating a treatment court in every county in the state, prioritizing the need to rehabilitate non-violent offenders instead of incarcerating them.
Local political figures in attendance included Havre City Council Members Ed Matter and Andrew Brekke, House District 28 Republican candidate Ed Hill and others.
The event came one day after Governor Bullock issued a mask wearing directive for counties with more than four active COVID-19 cases.
Hill asked Gianforte if he thought the Governor was being overreaching with his directives, to which Gianforte replied that he didn’t want to second-guess Bullock. However, he then added that some of his actions have helped create an “economic pandemic.” He also said during these times, it is important to keep the vulnerable safe and preach personal responsibility
Gianforte’s main opponent, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney, does not currently have any campaign events planned along the Hi-Line.
