After three more Republican candidates jumped into the 2012 Montana governor’s race last week, the crowded field is now up to 13, including eight Republicans.
Bob Fanning, a rancher from Pray, announced his candidacy around the same time Drew Turiano, a real estate investor and science fiction author, filed his paperwork to run for governor early last week.
Then on Oct. 4, state Senate Majority Leader Jeff Essmann of Billings threw his hat into the ring to become the eighth Republican in the race.
The same day Essmann made his announcement with a statewide telephone town hall, the top Republican fundraiser – Rick Hill – stopped by the Beacon and talked about the growing field. With his robust campaign bank account and established name as a former U.S. Representative, Hill sounded confident that he is the early frontrunner.
“I think (the other Republicans) have to differentiate themselves from me more than I have to differentiate myself from them,” he said.
Rounding out the Republican field are former state Sen. Ken Miller from Laurel, security and anti-terrorism consultant Neil Livingstone, Choteau County Commissioner James O’Hara and former state Sen. Corey Stapleton from Billings.
The two Democrats running for governor are Attorney General Steve Bullock and state Sen. Larry Jent of Bozeman.
The three other candidates are Bozeman Independent Robert Coate, Cascade Libertarian Ron Vandervender and Helena’s Ronald Lassle, who has not disclosed a party.
Essmann is a well-known Republican within Montana. In the past year, he has made headlines for sponsoring a bill that changed the state’s medical marijuana law. In a release after his candidacy announcement, Essmann touted his experience as a small businessman and his desire to fight the “Obama agenda.”
“(Montanans) deserve a Governor who’ll stand up to the Obama administration’s agenda, cut wasteful state spending, and lower taxes on Montana families and businesses that make long term investments and create jobs,” Essmann said.
According to campaign fundraising reports filed last week, Bullock has raised the most money of any candidate as of Sept. 30. Bullock raised $157,000 in the second quarter to bring his total receipts to $388,000. Accounting for money already spent, the Democrat has a cash balance of $328,000.
Hill raised $98,000 to bring his total contributions up to $321,000, by far the most of any Republican. His campaign’s cash balance is $259,000.
Trailing Hill in fundraising among Republicans is Stapleton who raised $77,000 in the second quarter to put his total at $193,000. He has $63,000 in the bank. Miller has raised the third most in funds with $116,000 altogether and a $25,000 cash balance.
Last week Miller’s campaign issued a press release naming five notable businesspeople who are supporting his campaign, including Kalispell’s Ray Thompson, the founder of Semitool.
During his Oct. 4 visit, Hill discussed a letter his campaign sent to the Livingstone campaign in late September seeking an apology. Hill was one of numerous victims of a real estate scam conducted by the investment firm DBSI, which currently is being sued.
The letter responds to reports that recently surfaced regarding Livingstone’s running mate, Whitefish state Sen. Ryan Zinke, who Hill said has falsely accused him of being the subject of an investigation into DBSI when, in fact, he has assisted the state auditor’s investigation as a victim.
“You and Senator Zinke,” Hill’s letter stated, “owe the Montanans involved an apology.”