Senate District 8 election brings 3 candidates to the ballot
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In Senate District 8, two candidates vie for the Democrat name on the November ballot, while Republican candidate Rick Jennison is unopposed as the only Republican candidate on the ticket.
Joey Jayne, of Arlee, is a Democrat candidate for the Senate District 8 seat. Jayne is 52 and married to Harley Tanner. She holds a Juris Doctor (law degree), a Master of Science in watershed management/hydrology and a Bachelor of Science in agricultural industry.
Jayne is an attorney at Joey Jayne Law Office in Arlee. She’s also worked as a recruiter for nursing students at Salish Kootenai College and as an extension agent and hydrologist.
Jayne served as a representative in Montana House District 73 from 2001-2004, and also served in House District 15 from 2005-2008, and was on the Appropriations Committee (Sub-committee for Health and Human Services) and the State and Tribal Interim Legislative Committee.
Jayne’s community service experience includes positions on the board of Jobs for Montana Graduates Foundation; the Montana Guardianship Advisory Council; the Industry Advisory Council for Kicking Horse Job Corps Center; the American Legacy Foundation Task Force; and the National Foundation of Women Legislators as Regional State Director.
Jayne said the top three issues facing the legislature are unemployment, the state budget deficit and the high student dropout rate.
“(Unemployment) is a tough issue, but a critical one,” Jayne said. “The legislature must look at preparing students to enter a quality educational system — teachers/administrators — which prepares them for higher education or technical training. This, coupled with creating a business friendly state, will do wonders towards building a sustainable future.”
Jayne said she does not support increasing taxes or any fees to fix the state budget deficit.
“Education, Corrections, and Health and Human Services are the departments which get the most state funding,” she said. “I would support eliminating programs that may be duplicated in state government. The legislature must scrutinize new laws because of the costs of their implementation.”
Jayne said the dropout rate among Montana high school students, especially on and near Indian reservations, is alarming.
“If we do not create a viable workforce for the future, the state will continue to spend resources to maintain a balance,” she said. “The educational system must continue to provide quality education beginning with grade schools — this will require continued adequate funding.”
Shannon Augare is a second Democrat candidate for Senate District 8. No further information was available from Augare at press time.
Rick Jennison, 58, is a Republican running for the Senate District 8 seat. Jennison lives in Ronan’s North Crow area and is a certified arborist, certified pesticide applicator and owner of Jennison Tree Service. He holds a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and attended Salish Kootenai College and Western Montana College.
Jennison also served in the United States Marine Corps and has two grown sons. He’s served on the City of Ronan Police Commission, Lake County Solid Waste board and Lake County Parks Board, and he’s currently on the Ronan Rural Fire Board.
Jennison is a board member of Ronan Tree City U.S.A., a member of the Ronan/Pablo Volunteer Fire Department, and teaches tree planting and pruning workshops.
