I’m back in action! I’ve put together a few notes and observations from my time off regarding the following topics:

• Great Falls City Commission
• Jury Duty
• Montana U.S. Senate Race
• Final Thoughts

GREAT FALLS CITY COMMISSION:

I happened to catch two issues dealing with the Great Falls City Commission.

First, in late June, I was polled about my thoughts on a safety levy for Great Falls. It was probably funded by a local group called “The Electric City Citizens for Public Safety.” (Source)

So get ready for that. 

Second, The Electric is reporting that the City Commissioners will consider adopting their budget during their Aug. 4 (Yesterday) meeting. Nestled within the proposed $183,142,076 of expenses is a $14,300 item that made it into the budget largely outside the public eye. That budget item is to increase stipends for city commissioners.

Commissioner Joe McKenney told The Electric that during their Aug. 4 meeting, he will offer an amendment to strip the stipend increase from the budget so commissioners can have a separate public hearing on the proposal. 

Good for McKenney. I don’t think the commissioners should get any pay or stipend raises. 

JURY DUTY:

It seems that every time I am away from home, I receive a letter or questionnaire about jury duty. It happened this time, too.

A friend sent me a message about her summons to report for jury duty for the Eighth Judicial District Court in Cascade County (Department 2). 

She was notified to report for jury duty on Monday, September 7th at 8:30 a.m.  

Monday, September 7, is Labor Day. 

That reminds me of the time I was told to report to the courthouse for jury duty at 10:30 p.m.  

Clowns.

MONTANA SENATE RACE:

The 2026 U.S. Senate race in Montana is less of an election and more of a multi-ring circus.

First, we had the Steve Daines/Kurt Alme switcheroo on the Republican side. Then we had Democrats coming out in support of Independent candidate Seth Bodnar. Democrat Alani Bankhead won the Democratic nomination. People want her to drop out. 

I am polled a lot, and just the other day I took part in a poll about this race. About three-fourths through the poll, I was asked my thoughts about Steve Bullock (former Governor) running in the U.S. Senate race. 

Right now it looks like Bodnar and Bankhead will split the vote from the middle and left, meaning Alme will be elected.  

FINAL THOUGHTS:

As I mentioned in my last post, my vacation plans were rerouted to help with a family member who was in hospice. It was a difficult time for my wife and me. We are so grateful for family and friends who stepped up to help. 

During our trip, I think the most we paid for gas was $4.49. We left right after the Montana primary, and while in Missouri, we suffered through tons of political commercials and mailers as their primary was yesterday (August 4). 

The corn and soybeans in northern Missouri and southern Iowa were doing great. The sorghum I saw in Nebraska looked wonderful. I saw full coal car after full coal car while traveling in Wyoming. In Montana, the wheat is looking very good. 

Although those things looked great, people are pissed about high prices at the pump and at the grocery store. That does not bode well for the majority party. 

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