Missoula County Republican Party

June is the kickoff to a Republican November

Missoula GOP Chairman — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:30:45 +0000

As shown by conservative victories across the country on Primary Tuesday, especially in Wisconsin, Republicans are on a roll. Missoula County’s Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner packed the DoubleTree on Saturday night as voters met local and state candidates and were addressed by Congressman Denny Rehberg. Excitement was in the air and voters left confident that November will be pivotal in turning the USA back into the great country respected across the world.

With the primaries over, local candidates can put boots to the ground on the way to November. New and experienced precinct captains will soon receive refresher training to help their respective candidates.

During the MTGOP convention on June 14-16 in Missoula, recently selected Missoula delegates will help select delegates to the National GOP Convention in Tampa, August 27-30. The state convention will also review and update the Montana GOP platform. For more information on attending the state convention, go to MTGOP.org.

June is a busy month for local elephants and is an excellent time for everyone to get more involved. Local conservative groups will be joining hands towards making this November go the RIGHT way! Get involved. The Missoula County Republican Central Committee and all candidates need your help!

Picking up steam

Missoula GOP Chairman — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:05:03 +0000

Interest in Missoula’s Republican efforts is growing exponentially. Candidates for all house district and senate district seats have stepped forward and are anxious to take their ideas to Helena next year. We’ve had to ask for a larger room for Central Committee meetings. County delegates have been elected. They will help select Presidential delegates during the Montana GOP convention mid-June in Missoula. The state GOP platform will be revised and a State Central Committee meeting will be held. Certain qualifications apply to each of the three events. Go to www.mtgop.org for details. This is a wonderful opportunity for local Republicans to attend the state convention just for the price of registration. It may be several years before the convention returns to Missoula… go on line now and sign up for the early registration price.

The Legislative Campaign Committee (LCC) has been providing invaluable candidate training across the state. The sessions are well-attended by veteran legislators and first-time candidates alike… there’s always something new to learn and there’s always room to sharpen those speaking skills.

Missoula’s Lincoln-Reagan Dinner is taking shape. The auctions are fun and the money ultimately goes to help candidates’ campaigns. Local, state and federal candidates will be present. Meet your candidates, shake some hands and blow the dust off the old checkbook. Politics runs on money. Mark your calendars for June 2 and be sure to return your invitation with a check early. We’re expecting a sell-out. Not sure you’re on the invite list? Contact us soon!

Candidates & Precincts

Missoula GOP Chairman — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:35:11 +0000

The Missoula County Republican Central Committee met on Tuesday, March 27, and filled a banquet room at the DoubleTree Hotel. Almost all of the local legislative and senate candidates were present to introduce themselves to their respective Precinct Captains. Guest speaker was Sandy Welch, candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Her talk was both informative and inspirational. I encourage all conservative groups to invite her to speak. Central committee members were encouraged to continue writing letters to the Legislative Redistricting Commission, urging them to consider the proposed Urban/Rural map when redrawing the district lines. Donated items are starting to come in for the silent auction tables of the Lincoln-Reagan Day dinner banquet. More donated items/services are still needed. We’ll have no fewer than 14 candidates to help following the June primary election and our coffers need to be full. Committee members who want to be delegates to the state GOP convention in June need to contact the nominating committee prior to the April meeting. Delegates must be fully registered to attend the state convention. Those who think they want to attend the national GOP convention in Tampa this summer need to make it known. Go to mtgop.org for procedures, forms and deadlines. Local Republicans who want to be involved in this very important campaign year are calling in daily. There are numerous volunteer tasks to fit anyone’s availability to walk, stuff envelopes, make phone calls, place signs or even encourage neighbors to hold meet-and-greet social events for local candidates. The time and efforts put in by volunteers can make the election go our way!

Redistricting battle underway

Missoula GOP Chairman — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:35:38 +0000

Republicans and concerned citizens from Missoula, Sanders, Granite, Ravalli, and Mineral counties joined forces Tuesday evening at the Legislative Redistricting hearing in the University of Montana Law School building. Collectively we called on the Commission to accept the proposed non-partisan “Urban-Rural” or “Subdivision” maps as the basis for redrawing the legislative boundaries. Almost all of the Democrats in the room proposed using their “communities” map. The struggle for a fair, non-partisan redrawing of district lines will continue through this year, but the Commission can only act on feedback fromMontana’s citizens. If you haven’t yet responded, send a message to districting@mt.gov demanding that the Commission remains true to the criteria set forth in Montana’s Constitution.

The filing deadline for public office has come and gone. We now have candidates for all ten Missoula legislative districts, three senate districts and a county commissioner seat. The gauntlet has dropped… it’s bare knuckle time. Get as active as you can in local conservative politics. If you belong to a conservative group, attend the meetings. If you don’t, join one. Take out your checkbooks and donate to candidates and the GOP until it hurts. We need to continue the momentum right through November 6, 2012. Get involved, volunteer and make this an election year of which we can be proud!

Important Dates

Missoula GOP Chairman — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:50:03 +0000

The March 12 deadline to file for elected office is quickly approaching. If you’re considering running for public office, you must submit a “Declaration for Nomination and Oath of Candidacy.” You may complete this form at the Elections Office, second floor of the County Courthouse. Precinct captains must also submit the application. Each voting precinct allows one man and one woman. If you are the only one applying, you’ll be automatically chosen. If two or more apply, all names will be on your precinct’s ballots in June and you’ll have to campaign to earn your neighbors’ votes!

On Tuesday March 13, at 7:00 pm, the Legislative Redistricting Commission will hold a public hearing in the University of Montana Law School building. Bring your friends and neighbors and demand that the new legislative districts are drawn fairly, based on the critieria the commission has established. Without your input, many or all districts could be heavily weighted to afford political advantage. Please attend the meeting and speak out.

The Missoula County Republican Lincoln-Reagan Day dinner is Saturday, June 2, 2012. Attendance to the private event will be by purchasing tickets in advance. Silent and live auctions will be held. Monies raised will help fund local candidates. Congressman Denny Rehberg will be keynote speaker. This is a great opportunity to meet local, statewide and perhaps even federal candidates.

The Montana GOP platform/delegate convention will be held in Missoula, June 14-16 at the Hilton Garden Inn. For those who find it expensive to travel/stay out of town for conventions, this is an opportunity to participate for only the cost of the registration fees. The official “call to convention” notice should be coming out soon. Stay tuned to the state GOP website: www.mtgop.org

Next central committee meeting is March 27 at the DoubleTree Hotel. Dinner buffet will be available beginning at 6:00 pm for $15.00 Meeting begins promptly at 7:00 pm.

2012 will be our biggest year ever!

Missoula GOP Chairman — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:01:04 +0000

There is no shortage of political activity this year. June primaries will see many candidates at local and state levels. Please make it a point to attend one or more of the many candidate forums or debates being held. A great starting place for Missoula conservatives is the Five Valleys Pachyderm Club, the best Republican educational forum in the state.

Montana GOP Winter KickOff in Billings this year was a great success, with nearly 300 present at any one time. Designed with the first-time candidate in mind, breakout sessions included Voter Vault updates and training, campaign treasurer training, central committee ideas and improvements and progress made by the Legislative Redistricting Committee. Speakers at the banquet included Congressman Rehberg and conservative writer S.E. Cupp.

Our Lincoln-Reagan dinner is coming up June 2. This private event requires a ticket purchase for entry. We anticipate selling out every seat early, so reply with a check as soon as you receive your invitation. Those who don’t bother to RSVP will be turned away at the door. Keynote speaker will be Congressman Rehberg. Many candidates will be there to shake hands, hoping to earn your vote. Dig deep into your sock drawer and bring your ”mad money” to spend on the silent and live auctions! A wonderful time will be had by all.

Precinct men and women should be planning to attend February’s central committee meeting. Decisions need to be made. You are the central committee. Your paticipation is what makes it work! Local candidates will be present. Redistricting will be discussed. Plans will be fine-tuned for the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. Be aware that the DoubleTree kitchen is closed for repairs. We don’t know at this posting if we’ll have our dinner buffet. Precinct persons will be notified prior to the meeting. With or without food, the meeting will be held!

September Central Committee Meeting

Missoula GOP Chairman — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:34:52 +0000

So you’re asking, “why discuss a meeting scheduled for September 27?” Good question! Good answer: The first half hour or so will be a short presentation by Rachel Weiss from the redistricting commission, followed by Q&A. You have a month to come up with your ideas for how the commission might draw state legislative districts in the Missoula area and present those ideas directly to Districting and Apportionment Commission research analysts. For those who are hesitant to write letters, this is the golden opportunity to show up for a hearty buffet and join fellow precinct captains to express your opinions. Rachel will bring maps to help us understand before-and-after scenarios. After you’ve finished reading this post, immediately mark all the calendars in your possession, including your smart phones, for September 27. Come a little early…the gavel comes down to begin the meeting promptly at 7:00 pm. After our guests leave, we will continue the meeting with an abbreviated agenda… no one enjoys long meetings. See you there!

Water Quality District Board Seeks Applicants

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:47:06 +0000

Via the Missoulian:

The Missoula City-County Board of Health and the Missoula Valley Water Quality District Board of Directors are seeking to fill several vacancies on the Water Quality Advisory Council.

Persons interested in applying may send a letter of application stating their interest and background to: Garon Smith, Missoula City-County Board of Health/ Water Quality District Board, 301 W. Alder, Missoula MT 59802.
Applications should be submitted by 5 p.m. July 1.

Fundraiser for Senate Candidate Cong. Denny Rehberg

admin — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:58:08 +0000

Susan Mural is hosting a desert & coffee Fund Raiser for Denny on Thursday, April 28 at 7PM at the Broadway Inn on West Broadway in the Mullan Room from 7 PM til everyone leaves!

The Broadway Inn is located near the corner of Mullan Road & West Broadway, just before the Garden City Funeral Home.

Susan Muralt – 406-728-8985

2011-2012 Missoula GOP Executive Board Announced

admin — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:43:23 +0000

Chair: Charlie Olinger

Vice Chair: Susan Muralt

Treasurer: Sharon Gafney

Secretary: John Angwin

Finance Chair: Kathleen Roberts

State Committeeman: Thad Brinkman

State Committeewoman: Thelma Baker

Congressional Committeeman: Jim Sadler

Congressional Committeewoman: Barbara Ford