Happy Monday – I’m kicking off the week with these topics:

• City of Great Falls
• Montana Campaign News
  • Flint & Homestead Exemption
  • Campaign Mailers Update
• Knudsen vs Cromwell Update
• Sheehy – Come Up for Air
• One More Thing

CITY OF GREAT FALLS:

In his second term as Mayor of Great Falls, I’ve found that Cory Reeves and I don’t agree about much. But, on April 30, I read his Facebook comment where he wrote, “I don’t believe government should be in the entertainment business.”

He goes on to write:

For years, the City operated our golf courses at a significant loss. Once we partnered with a private operator, those same courses turned around. They’re now in the black and most of the debt service has been paid down. That’s not a coincidence, it’s a different model working better.

At the same time, the City continues to run facilities like the multi sports complex and the Mansfield Center, and we consistently lose money on them. That’s taxpayer money going to things that are not core government responsibilities.

I believe our focus should be on what government is actually meant to do well: public safety, streets, water and sewer infrastructure, and the courts. Those are essential services. That’s where we owe the public our full attention and resources.

Entertainment and recreation absolutely matter in a community, but that doesn’t mean the government has to operate those facilities. The private sector is often better positioned to run them efficiently and sustainably.

As a commission, we have some big decisions ahead. I’m keeping an open mind on the best path forward, but I’m not willing to continue putting taxpayers on the hook for nonessential operations that consistently lose money.

I agree with his comments 100%. You can see his post and read the comments HERE. 

2026 MONTANA CAMPAIGN NEWS: 

Flint & Homestead Exemption…

An analysis of the Montana 1st News homepage indicates a clear editorial stance opposing Aaron Flint’s bid for Congress. The coverage frequently highlights criticisms and negative aspects of his campaign. Maybe my eyes are deceiving me, but the publication seems to lean toward Al Olszewski.  

The latest attack on Flint is about the Homestead Exemption tax in Montana:

However, candidates do have to reside in their homes for 7 months in 2025 if a candidate claimed a Homestead Exemption rebate in 2025 for the 2024 tax year, in which they were then automatically enrolled in the “Homestead Exemption.” How then does this pertain to Aaron Flint (candidate for Western Montana U.S. Congressional District No.1)?

It appears Flint rented a home in Kalispell on or before June 22, 2025, and if that’s the case then he could not have been in Billings for 7 months in 2025. Flint therefore should have disenrolled for the Homestead Exemption.

Flint is also wanting folks who live in the Western District to know he lives in Flathead County. He’s made it very clear that this is where he resides. However, to reiterate, Flint got the tax exemption on his home in Billings.

Sure, the decision by Congressman Ryan Zinke to retire and for Flint to have moved to the Flathead and run for his seat smells (but not as much as the Daines and Alme circus). Selling your soul to the MAGAs makes people do crazy shit. Maybe Flint did not have all of his ducks in a row. 

I’m sure someone is getting right on this. Read the complete article from Montana 1st News HERE. 

Campaign Mailers Update…

For new readers, I keep track of the campaign literature received during the campaign season. Some of the better mailers get shown on The Western Word. 

So far this primary campaign season, I have received 28 campaign mailers. 

That is through Saturday (May 2). 

By the way, please make sure you save your mailers and recycle them! 

KNUDSEN VS CROMWELL UPDATE:

I am liking Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell more each week. In a follow-up to my post on Friday, Cromwell has responded. (Background)

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle (BDC) reports:

Retaining counsel, Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell filed legal action on Friday seeking clarification from Montana’s highest court on her immigration and Customs Enforcement records dispute with Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

“We would not be here if the Attorney General had simply picked up the phone or done his job and issued a formal legal opinion.” Cromwell said in a Friday release. “Instead, we are dealing with public statements and theatrical directives issued without the clear legal foundation Montanans deserve.”

Cromwell’s petition for declaratory relief asks the state Supreme Court to determine whether Confidential Criminal Justice Information can be disclosed to ICE for civil or administrative purposes without a court order. For Cromwell, Montana’s constitutional right to privacy is the crux of her dispute.

“The Attorney General’s political theatrics have blown a simple, case-specific email exchange between a legal assistant and a county administrative office into a statewide crisis,” reads Cromwell’s argument in the filing. 

This was another political stunt by Knudsen, and Cromwell did not blink. 

SHEEHY – COME UP FOR AIR:

I shared the commentary in the Daily Montanan from George Ochsenski titled, 

Time for this Montana SEAL to come up for air

Here’s the lead paragraph:

It’s difficult to ignore the news these days, unless maybe you’re underwater.  Which would seem to be the case for Montana’s Sen. Tim Sheehy since, in spite of farmers and ranchers not being able to afford the fertilizer they need for crops or the diesel to power their equipment, Sheehy believes the top issue for which he needs to introduce legislation is to build Trump’s fever-dream ballroom complete with underground bunker. 

Really, you can’t make this stuff up. 

After sharing on X, I found that several people do not understand what a “Commentary” is, like this comment: “OOOHHH more unbiased reporting from the Daily Montanan.”

One comment was just angry:

OK “Brown”……you seem to have answers for all the worlds problems….(in your mind).  

So PLEASE explain *clearly, Your expertise…oh  and 

George Ochenski’s as well…in world affairs.  Exactly how did you come by all of this information?  Reading posts on BlueSky?

I’m serious.  So unless you can tell us in ordinary English what the difference between a man and a woman is…then you have NO business attempting to tell us how to run the world. 

I’m not on Bluesky. 

I have mentioned that Sheehy is a bootlicker of Trump, only second to Daines. I don’t see him being a U.S. Senator for very long. The MAGA run will end, and he will grow tired of the snail’s pace in the U.S. Senate. 

ONE MORE THING:

May the Fourth be with you!

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##