You can click HERE to read my previous column about this.

The 19 candidates for Commissioner of Political Practices here in Montana have been cut down to just four. We’ll call them “the final four.”

Thankfully, one of the people whom I did not want to be selected wasn’t. Some of my readers felt the same way in personal e-mails to me here at The Western Word. So, it’s a good day.

So now we have the “final four,” but as I wrote before the Governor can pick someone else. Who knows what will happen. The final four are:

-Edwin Jonas, a retired attorney and cattle rancher

-Brad Johnson, former Secretary of State

-Jennifer Hensley, former Tester staffer

-Jamie MacNaughton, a law student

The final four candidates are now being scrutinized as they should be. KRTV posted a story about Jonas and ethics charges that you can read HERE.

Like I mentioned in my previous column, there are several problems with that office. Additionally, in my opinion, any person who’s chosen for the position and who has been on one side of the political fence or the other will just cause problems for the office. Someone who is non-partisan would be best. Political donations, party affiliation, employed by a politician, etc., should all be reasons for disqualification.

In the story posted on KRTV’s website, State Senator Bob Story made some good points about the selection process – which adds even more fuel to the fire about the legislature making changes to this office. Story was quoted saying:

I think its awkward that we are sitting here with three lame duck leaders, picking nominees to go to a Governor who will basically be a lame duck also to select a person who has to be confirmed by a Senate that hasn’t been sworn in yet.

Sadly, State Senator Story has been in a unique position to do something about this problem, but he and the Montana State Legislature didn’t. Maybe the new legislature will tackle it between their meetings with lobbyists and those nightly cocktail parties…