There is a stark contrast between the candidates in the race for state auditor. John Repke is running on his 40-year career in finance and his history of fighting fraud. Jim Brown, the Republican, has spent most of his career in politics and is currently a state employee in an unrelated capacity.
If this were not a political race, but an interview for the job, Repke would win hands-down. And that decision would not be made just on experience, but character as well. Brown is highly political and has embraced the worst of our political climate.
Brown has a track record that reflects his lack of character. He served as counsel to out-of-state dark money groups working to control Montana government for their benefit by targeting officials working toward common sense solutions. Brown has also worked to undermine Montana’s campaign finance laws — and has proudly stated, “Now, I stand obviously on the far side and I don’t believe that there’s too much money in politics, so it should be unlimited.”
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What Brown is saying here is that he is perfectly fine with politicians being bought — because that’s what happens when folks with an agenda can ‘give’ unlimited amounts to candidates. That’s not good for Montana.
On top of all of this, Brown ran a partisan campaign for the non-partisan Montana Supreme Court two years ago, and, as chair of the Public Service Commission, Brown has hired inexperienced political cronies who seem to have done nothing but weaken the agency that protects ratepayers while they line their pockets.
Let’s put a stop to this. The auditor’s office, which was created by our Constitution to protect insurance consumers and security investors, should be run for the benefit of the people of Montana — not for career politicians who want to use the office to benefit themselves, their donors, and their cronies.
Character, values, and integrity matter. Please vote for Repke.
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