Lee Montana 2026 Voter Guide - General Election - October 3, 2026

What regulations do you support that adequately balance community concerns about data centers and the prospect of economic opportunity promised by developers?

We should regulate data centers as we do other industries. I oppose weakening existing protections related to water use, environmental impacts, and noise abatement, and local communities must retain meaningful permitting and oversight authority. Data centers should pay the full cost of the energy they consume and must not shift costs to existing ratepayers. If data center projects meet those standards, we must tax them fairly by increasing the property tax rate that applies to data centers and exploring ways to distribute more of the resulting tax benefit across Montana. Finally, we can't ignore the impacts of artificial intelligence itself, which will affect Montanans whether data centers locate here or not.

Federal changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace are contributing to higher healthcare costs and more people being underinsured. What state policies would you support to protect healthcare access for Montanans? 

I voted last session to renew Medicaid expansion, and I will support measures to ease enrollment and redetermination in order to maximize eligibility. The state should use existing data wherever possible and oppose additional burdens that make it more difficult for qualifying individuals to receive the coverage they deserve. We must carefully oversee the state's implementation of Medicaid work requirements. I supported increasing Medicaid provider rates and disagreed with the Governor's decision to suspend provider rate increases that were set to go into effect last July. We must also protect affordability in the individual insurance market and strengthen access to rural healthcare. The new federal rural health funding is important, but it will not close the gap created by the federal changes to Medicaid.

Enacting a flat income tax is a top priority for Gov. Greg Gianforte in the 2027 Legislature, which would cut revenues to the state’s general fund. Would you support a flat income tax, and how would you consider its impact on Montana’s budget? 

I do not support the Governor's proposal to reduce Montana's top income tax rate to 4.7%. We have already reduced the top rate from 6.9% in 2021 to 5.4% beginning in 2027, and I do not believe another significant permanent reduction in state revenue should take priority over adequately funding public services. The bipartisan School Funding Interim Commission found that Montana is underfunding public schools by approximately $433 million compared with the funding level required under our adequacy analysis. As we consider the state's priorities for the next biennium, we must ask whether further reducing Montana's top income tax rate should take priority over fulfilling our constitutional and moral obligation to fund our public schools and invest in the future of all Montanans.

Intra-party fighting was a centerpiece of the last legislative session, and the divides have continued in the interim within both parties. What role, if any, should bipartisanship play in the Montana Legislature? Are there issues where you would look to collaborate with your colleagues across the aisle? 

Reflecting on my first term in the Legislature, I believe bipartisanship is absolutely critical to doing anything of merit. I will continue collaborating with my colleagues across the aisle on every issue. For every partisan controversy published in the media, there are numerous instances of Democrats and Republicans finding common ground and working together to pass good legislation, and oppose bad legislation, for the people of Montana. I saw that firsthand in our work to renew Medicaid expansion, pass property tax relief, fund state government, and develop recommendations through the bipartisan School Funding Interim Commission. Bipartisanship does not require us to abandon our principles. It requires us to listen to understand, build relationships, find common ground, and form coalitions around good policy.

Do you believe the Legislature needs to revisit the property tax package lawmakers passed last session? Why or why not?

I voted last session to pass SB 542/HB 231, which resulted in about a $967, or 27%, reduction in property taxes for a median-value residence in Helena compared with what it would have paid under prior law. I believe it is fair for second homes and short-term rentals to pay a higher rate so primary residences and long-term rentals can receive a tax decrease. As with any substantial change, we will need to refine the law in 2027. We should reassess whether family cabins and modest second homes should be treated the same as luxury second homes and short-term rentals, fix the enrollment problem that caused some mobile home owners to receive large tax increases, and make the homestead and long-term rental application process easier to understand. I also support revisiting "circuit breaker" legislation to provide additional relief to homeowners and renters when their housing expenses exceed a certain percentage of their income.

If elected, how would you work to protect Montanans from fraud and scams, including cryptocurrency scams?

We should enact additional regulations for cryptocurrency ATMs, which criminals increasingly use to extract payments from victims through false threats and other forms of deception, particularly targeting older Montanans. I support requiring crypto ATMs to display prominent fraud warnings and impose transaction limits, along with stronger oversight of ATM owners. My interim budget committee oversees the State Auditor's Office, which plays a critical role in investigating securities fraud and protecting consumers. We must ensure the office has the resources necessary to prevent fraud, educate consumers, investigate complaints, and coordinate with law enforcement and financial institutions to overcome this growing problem.

League of Women Voters of Montana Candidate Voter Guide - September 20, 2026

Please briefly provide the following information: place (town or county and state) of birth, age as of election day 2026, place (town or county) of permanent residency, occupation/employer, and education. How do these and your other life experiences qualify you to be an effective Legislator?

I was born, raised, and educated in Helena, where I live with my wife, Virginia, and raised two daughters. I will be 48 on election day. I work as a software engineer in public accounting and hold a B.A. in computer science with a minor in political science from Carroll College. I served six years on the Helena school board before election to the Legislature in 2024. I served on House Appropriations and Ethics and passed bills to increase public education funding and improve access to federal grants. During the interim, I serve on the School Funding Interim Commission plus budget, finance, and rural broadband committees. I've learned that listening, learning, and building bipartisan consensus can improve daily life for Helenans.

What are the most important issues you expect to face if elected to the Montana Legislature, and what are your positions on those issues? How would you prioritize each of the issues you have identified?

Public education will be my first priority. The School Funding Interim Commission found that Montana is underfunding public schools, and we need to close the gap to fulfill our constitutional obligation to provide a high-quality education to every Montana student. The Governor has proposed reducing the top income tax rate, but I do not believe another significant reduction in state revenue should take priority over adequately funding public services. We also must oversee new Medicaid work and eligibility requirements and rural health funding, protect housing and infrastructure investments, balance growing demands on water, and protect ratepayers while encouraging clean energy as electricity demand grows, potentially from data centers.

What economic policies will you pursue to help Americans who are concerned about their economic prospects in the coming years, including the cost of medical insurance and care?

Many economic factors are beyond our control in the Legislature, but we can focus on policies that provide a great education, prepare Montanans for the workforce, increase access to housing and healthcare, reduce energy costs, and distribute the tax burden fairly. I will work to strengthen public schools, preserve property tax relief for primary residences and long-term rentals, invest in affordable housing, and maximize federal grants for economic development and infrastructure. My work on the state employee health plan reinforced how rising health care costs drive higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs. We must balance access to new treatments with affordability, protect Medicaid access, and strengthen rural healthcare.

What measures do you support to ensure Montana elections are secure while facilitating the ability of all eligible voters to cast their ballots? What, if anything, should the state government do to reduce the role of money in American elections?

We should make voting easier, not more difficult. Montana's elections are secure, and unsupported fear of fraud should not be used to undermine access to the ballot. I will remain a strong advocate for same-day voter registration, absentee voting, and lawful ballot collection. My interim budget committee oversees the Secretary of State's office, and we must ensure it uses federal election funds to support security, accessibility, and county election offices. I also led the effort to fund a new auditor at the Commissioner of Political Practices focused on lobbyist financial reporting. I don't accept any PAC contributions and support I-194 to limit political spending by corporations, nonprofits, unions, and other organizations.