Today I picked up tickets for my wife and I to attend the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner hosted by the Beaverhead County Democratic Party. The dinner is scheduled for Friday night, April 13th at the Dillon Elk’s Lodge.
I make it a point to try to be as informed on my choices of Candidates as I can be and since Democrats don’t visit Beaverhead County all that often, we decided to spring the money for the tickets.
The Keynote speaker will be Montana’s Senior Senator, Max Baucus. It is unclear at this point whether he is there to aid the other Democratic Candidates raise money/campaign or whether he is already campaigning for his 2014 bid to stay Montana’s Senior Senator. He is likely to be challenged both in the Primary and in the General so it might be a little of both.
Also to be in attendance are -
General John Walsh, the candidate for Lt Governor (running with Steve Bullock as the Democratic Candidate for Governor),
Denise Juneau running for re-election to the office of State Supt. of Schools,
Monica Lindeen running for re-election to the office of State Auditor,
Linda McCulloch running for re-election to the office of Secretary of State,
Franke Wilmer candidate for US House of Representatives,
Dave Strohmaier candidate for US House of Representatives,
Rob Stutz candidate for US House of Representatives,
Jesse Laslovich candidate for State Attorney General,
Pam Bucy candidate for State Attorney General,
John Vincent candidate for Public Service Commission,
Richard Turner candidate for State Senate Dist 36
Norma Duffy candidate for State Legislature House Dist 72.
This will be a golden oppurtunity to get a look at many of the Democratic Candidates we will have to choose from. Since I am still undecided which primary I am going to vote in (I am currently leaning toward voting in the Democratic Primary since there are some races there that I would like to weigh in on), it behooves me to meet these candidates.
I have already decided on a few races. I will definitely vote for Jon Tester for Senate. I will definitely vote for Monica Lindeen for State Auditor. These incumbants have already convinced me through their actions that I should support them.
The rest will have to be determined by more research and part of that research is looking a candidate in the eye. No amount of TV/Radio ad time can ever replace actually meeting and talking to a candidate asking for your support.