Two candidates violated campaign law in 2006

Helena Independent Record – July 31, 2008
Two Democrats who ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature in 2006 — and who are candidates again this year — violated minor laws in their printed campaign material attacking opponents in 2006, a state official has ruled.
But Commissioner of Political Practice Dennis Unsworth rejected more serious claims that John Vincent [...]

PSC won’t change letter critical of Molnar donation

Helena Independent Record – July 30, 2008
The Montana Public Service Commission is sticking with a decision to get a legal opinion about money that member Brad Molnar took from NorthWestern Energy.
Molnar and fellow Republican Doug Mood were stymied Tuesday in an attempt to tone down a legal request being sent to Attorney General Mike McGrath.
Earlier [...]

Complaint on Laslovich moves forward

Helena Independent Record – July 30, 2008
The state’s top political enforcer said Tuesday he’ll look into a complaint alleging state Sen. Jesse Laslovich, D-Anaconda, is not a legal resident of his own district.
But Commissioner of Political Practices Dennis Unsworth said accepting the revised complaint doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll resolve the question of Laslovich’s residence.
And the [...]

Brown demands Schweitzer apologize

Helena Independent Record – July 29, 2008
Republican gubernatorial candidate Roy Brown demanded Monday that Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer apologize for what he called “a clear and intentional lie” over an interstate compact on brucellosis.
Citing an Associated Press story Saturday, Brown said Schweitzer was caught in a red-handed lie.
The AP reported that Schweitzer said he hadn’t [...]

Schweitzer predicts Dem sweep

The Missoulian – July 26,2008
MILES CITY – Democrats will win legislative and statewide political races this year because of their strong record on the economy, energy, education and sportsmen’s access, compared with what Republicans have done, Gov. Brian Schweitzer told fellow Democrats on Friday night.
“For all the rhetoric of Republicans, it turns out they’re not [...]

County attorney Paxinos endorses MT Attorney General candidate

Montana’s News Station – July 21, 2008
Yellowstone County Attorney Dennis Paxinos Monday endorsed Republican attorney Tim Fox in his race for State Attorney General.
Paxinos announced his support Monday, during a news conference in Billings.
The two men are working together to try to pass the Castle Doctrine law, which several other states have approved.
It supports the [...]

Schweitzer lawyer urges dismissal of GOP complaint

Helena Independent Record – July 16, 2008
The Montana Republican Party complaint that Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer illegally made public service announcements after filing for re-election should be summarily dismissed, Schweitzer’s attorney said Tuesday.
Mike Meloy, a Helena lawyer representing Schweitzer, urged Political Practices Commissioner Dennis Unsworth “to ignore the hyperbole” and toss out the GOP complaint [...]

Split PSC seeks legal opinion over donations

Helena Independent Record – July 16, 2008
In a tense public session marked by accusations of a “political hatchet job,” a divided state Public Service Commission Tuesday voted to seek a legal ruling on Commissioner Brad Molnar’s use of private donations to fund an energy-conservation event.
The 3-0 vote, taken after Molnar and fellow Republican Commissioner Doug [...]

Political Practices proceeding with Molnar investigations

Helena Independent Record – July 16, 2008
Campaign-finance and ethics complaints against Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, are proceeding at the Office of Political Practices, although no ruling on the merits has occurred.
Commissioner of Political Practices Dennis Unsworth said the campaign-finance complaint is still under investigation, and that the ethics complaint will be handled by [...]

Senator’s residency questioned by foe

Billings Gazette – July 10, 2008
ELENA – State Sen. Jesse Laslovich, D-Anaconda, is not a legal resident of his Senate district and therefore should be disqualified from running for re-election, his Republican opponent said in a formal complaint filed this week.
Dick Motta, a retired businessman from Philipsburg, filed the complaint Tuesday with the state commissioner [...]