by Ken Toole | Sep 8, 2025 | Conservative, Republicans
WTF406 recently received Republican Legislator Llew Jones’ responses to a questionnaire sent to him from the state Republican Party. It is undoubtedly the beginning of a process to remove Jones and other Republican Party members from the state GOP.
In his response, Jones included a section titled “Context.” In it, he excoriates current party leadership. Jones wrote, “On paper, this questionnaire comes from the Montana State Republican Central Committee. In reality, it signals a major shift: instead of helping local Republicans get elected, the state party is now policing loyalty to party bosses. Under the direction of State Republican Chairman Art Wittich — who has a long history of attempting to purge Republicans he views as insufficiently loyal to the party machine — a state-level vetting committee has been created. We don’t know who sits on this committee, no minutes are taken, and there’s zero transparency. It appears the outcomes are predetermined, with this questionnaire serving more as justification than as honest evaluation.”
WTF406 has written numerous posts about the continuing feuds in the Montana Republican Party. https://wtf406.com/2025/08/dispatches-from-the-republican-civil-war/
We have also written about the so-called moderate Republicans from Cascade County in the legislature. https://wtf406.com/2025/08/myth-of-the-moderate-republican/
Jones On The Issues In His Own Words
In his response to the questionnaire, he addresses his positions on specific issues. Below are selected quotes from some of his responses.
On Affordable Housing: The housing market must remain driven by the free market, but the government has a limited role to play in ensuring unnecessary regulations do not block development.
On Property Taxes: The first step in lowering property tax is enforcing local spending discipline, since property taxes fund local government. Without it, tax reform is impossible.
On Economic Development: Economic growth is best achieved by empowering private enterprise and reducing government interference. The government’s role is to maintain shared infrastructure like roads, bridges, and water systems, which allow private business to thrive.
On Budget Surpluses: Surpluses should go back to the people or toward long-term obligations, never to grow government. If a surplus is ongoing, it should reduce tax rates.
On Education: Home schoolers, who do not draw on public funds, have much more freedom. I support broadening opportunities through public, charter, private, or homeschooling, consistent with Republican support for choice.
On Abortion: I am pro-life and believe life begins at conception, a principle I have consistently upheld in my votes. My record has earned me an “A” rating from the Family Foundation. Defending life is a core Republican principle I will continue to champion.
On Trans People: I stand firmly against gender reassignment procedures for minors and oppose biological males competing in female sports. Adults may choose for themselves, but taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize those choices, nor should providers be punished for elective procedures chosen by adults. This aligns with Republican principles of protecting children and ensuring fairness while respecting adult responsibility.
On Climate Change: The climate has always changed, and while I oppose alarmist policies that cripple our economy, I support responsible stewardship of Montana’s land, air, and water. Clean, safe development without overregulation aligns with Republican priorities of resource stewardship balanced with economic freedom.
On Illegal Immigration: Montana must support law enforcement, resist illegal immigration in our communities, and defend the rule of law. I have consistently supported strong border enforcement policies, including those advanced during the Trump administration. At the same time, we must avoid creating new programs that pile on burdensome red tape or punish employers unfairly. If an illegal immigrant deceives an employer, the response should target the deception, not impose undue penalties on Montana job creators who are already complying with the law. A balanced approach strengthens enforcement without strangling employers in punitive bureaucracy.
On Gun Control: None. The Second Amendment is clear: “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Montana Republicans have long defended this right, and so have I. I have consistently been rated A by the NRA and Montana Shooting Sports Association. We already have sufficient laws on the books — what we need is to defend the rights we have.
It’s Really Pretty Simple
Let’s just boil all of that down a little. Jones is anti-choice and pro-gun. He believes in trickle-down economics and deregulating corporations. He thinks climate change is the historical norm and expanding homeschooling is a good thing while public schools are underfunded. He thinks budget surpluses shouldn’t be used to improve infrastructure and public services and should be “given back to the people instead.” He is anti-trans and believes in state action replacing the judgment of medical professionals and parents. And on immigration, he supports the Trump administration. Enough said.
Jones is a garden-variety Republican conservative who claims the title of “moderate” only because others in the Republican party have gone so far over the edge. Unfortunately, many people in politics these days let him get away with it.
by Ken Toole | Jul 11, 2025 | Republicans, Schools
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen was arrested for driving under the influence in Belgrade on June 22.
The arresting officer reported observing Hedalen driving 50 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone. When her car approached an intersection, she reportedly cut off other motorists who had the right of way. After stopping her vehicle, the officer said he detected a strong odor of alcohol. In addition, he stated that Hedalen’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, she had a dazed expression, and she was slurring her speech.
According to court documents, Hedalen acknowledged having one glass of wine. She failed a field sobriety test and subsequently refused to take a breathalyzer test. She was transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital for a blood test, which was sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis.
Hedalen’s office released a statement saying:
“I apologize and take full responsibility for my lapse in judgment that led to this incident. I want to thank the Belgrade Police for their professionalism and commitment to public safety. As I move forward from this personal issue, it will in no way impact my service to the people of Montana.”
Her chief of staff clarified that she was not on state business at the time of the incident.
The Montana Democratic Party called for her resignation:
“Hedalen made a dangerous decision to put lives at risk, and we demand full accountability and believe she must step down immediately.”
The Montana Republican Party declined to comment.
It seems that quite a few Republican officials have had encounters resulting in arrests or criminal legal proceedings. Here’s a list of our previous posts:
Thank you to the Montana Free Press for its coverage of this story. Read the full article here:
https://montanafreepress.org/2025/06/30/hedalen-apologizes-after-dui-arrest/
by Ken Toole | May 5, 2025 | City, Elections
Great Falls Republican Senator Jeremy Trebas has filed to run for the open District 1 Public Service Commission (PSC) seat currently held by Randy Pinocci. Pinocci is term limited and cannot run again.
PSC District One, An Open Seat For The Hi-Line and Beyond
District 1 covers north central and eastern Montana. The City of Great Falls and Havre are the largest cities in the district. Public Service Commissioners are among the highest paid state employees, drawing an entry salary over $114,000 per year plus full state benefits. Commissioners make more than the State Auditor, Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor. Check out this editorial from 2018 explaining PSC Commissioner Salaries. ( https://www.havredailynews.com/story/2018/09/07/opinion/time-to-stop-the-gravy-train-at-the-public-service-commission/520333.html )
Republican Control Of The PSC, A Three-Ring Circus
Under Republican leadership, the PSC has become a three-ring circus of malfeasance and incompetence. Commissioners have sued each other and the state in petty rivalries. Staff have quit and successfully sued the Commission. A legislative audit found numerous questionable transactions made by commissioners and staff. Far-right gadfly, Commissioner Randy Pinocci, attracted attention for his brushes with Cascade County law enforcement (see below). All of this while the commissioners have approved numerous rate increases for residential consumers. The largest recently was an increase of approximately 28% in the fall of 2023.
https://wtf406.com/2024/04/pinocci-dodges-two-felonies-still-a-corrupt-asshole/
https://wtf406.com/2023/10/more-republican-police-blotter-pinocci-arrested-again/
https://wtf406.com/2024/07/randy-randy-randy-what-now/
From The Color Purple To Ruby Red
Historically PSC District 1 has elected Republicans and Democrats. Pinocci held the seat for the last eight years. Before him, Chinook Democrat Greg Jergeson held the seat for eight years. When Jergeson was chair of the PSC, he guided the effort to rebuild Montana’s troubled electric system after the Republican Legislature and Governor Marc Racicot subjected the state to the failed electric deregulation experiment. The Republican deregulation legislation caused the bankruptcy of the Montana Power Company. It ushered in years of chaos and increasing power bills for electric customers in Montana. Montana still has the highest electric rates in our region after years of enjoying some of the lowest power rates in the nation.
Republican Gerrymandering, Successful Despite Litigation
In 2022 the Republican legislature changed the boundaries of the PSC districts, tipping them to favor Republican candidates while skewing the population distribution in each district. A federal district court judge found that the PSC districts violated the constitutional principle of “one person one vote.” He changed the boundaries for the 2022 election. Then, in 2023, the Republican legislature changed the district boundaries clearly favoring Republican candidates again. Another lawsuit was filed challenging their action, except this time it was in state court. Last February, Helena District Court Judge Christopher Abbott agreed that the new districts favored Republican candidates but said the evidence failed to demonstrate that it was intentionally done to disadvantage Democratic candidates. Those gerrymandered districts will stand for the 2026 election, unless there is another, successful, challenge.
Trebas Knows He Can’t Get Re-Elected to the Senate
And that brings us back to Jeremy Trebas running for the open District 1 seat in 2026. He currently serves in the Montana Senate representing Senate District 10 in Great Falls. He could run for another term in the senate. He is choosing to run for PSC instead.
Trebas apparently sees the writing on the wall. Trebas faces strong opposition if he ran for Great Falls Senate District 10. Statistically this district is the most Democratic of the Cascade County senate seats. On top of that, historically the party of the president (Trump/Republican) typically loses support in the first midterm election. Given the chaotic nature of Trump’s administration and the damage he is doing to the economy and public institutions, it is even more likely that Republicans will not do well in the midterm elections.
Trebas Has a History Of Self Dealing and Extremism in the Senate
But Trebas’ problems are deeper than the Democratic opposition. He is a legislator who is more focused on fighting culture wars and promoting his own pocket book than representing the people in his district. He has placed himself firmly in the far-right Freedom Caucus faction of the local Republican Party. In the last election, there were concerted efforts to challenge the “Freedom Caucus” members in the Republican primary by Republicans and Democrats alike. As a result, County Commissioner Rea Grulkowski and legislators Lola and Steven Galloway (all incumbents) were defeated in the Republican primary. There have already been rumors that Ed Buttrey is going to run for Trebas’ current senate seat. (5-16-25 update– Great Falls Republican Melissa Nikolakakas filed for this seat)
On the other hand, the District 1 PSC seat leans Republican. Moreover, PSC races are far less likely to attract the kind of controversy Trebas would face in a local legislative race. Then, of course, there is the $114,000 paycheck and associated state benefits package. It’s not surprising that he would opt for the PSC seat.
WTF406 has posted numerous pieces about Trebas. Here are links.
https://wtf406.com/2023/01/jeremy-trebas-the-self-dealing-senator/
https://wtf406.com/2023/04/the-continuing-saga-of-senator-trebas-dirty-real-estate-deal/
https://wtf406.com/2023/01/the-curious-case-of-jeremy-trebas-property-taxes/
https://wtf406.com/2023/07/senator-trebas-tax-scam-turns-into-an-albatross-around-his-neck/
https://wtf406.com/2023/12/trebas-fails-to-apologize-for-anti-semitic-tweet/
https://wtf406.com/2025/01/surprise-jeremy-i-hate-local-government-trebas-is-at-it-again/
by Ken Toole | Jul 13, 2024 | Energy/Utilities
Public Service Commissioner Randy Pinocci has had a lien filed on his property by the Braden Tract Sewer Association and Braden Tract Water Fund for non-payment of bills in the amount of $1,720. In addition, the districts are claiming Pinocci is responsible for moving a fence which is encroaching on its property at an estimated cost of $5,500.
Perhaps the greatest irony in this chapter of the long, sad saga of Pinocci’s behavior in public office is that, as a Public Service Commissioner, Pinocci is responsible for regulating public utilities similar to these two small local utilities. One of the biggest problems these businesses face is deadbeats not paying their bills. When that happens, other ratepayers pick up the tab. Pinocci either doesn’t understand that or he doesn’t care. Probably a bit of both.
As the Public Service Commissioner representing PSC District #1, which includes Cascade County, Pinocci earns an annual salary of $111,179. That does not include benefits like state retirement and health insurance. His wife, Svetlana, works in the elections office. She gets a good salary and county benefits. In addition, Pinocci has real estate appraised at a total value of $1,006,303. You would think he can afford to pay his water and sewer bills. . . like the rest of us. But Randy isn’t like the rest of us.
Pinocci seems to want to play politics more than do his job with the PSC. In the last election, he ran for Lieutenant Governor drawing his big paycheck from you and me the whole time. Then there is the fact that he was prosecuted for intimidating witnesses in a dispute over one of his rental properties last October. https://wtf406.com/2023/10/more-republican-police-blotter-pinocci-arrested-again/
A few weeks before that, he was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear. When he is not being arrested or prosecuted, he is galavanting around the state promoting bizarre conspiracy theories.
Thanks, in part, to an organized effort to get Democrats to “cross over” and vote in the Republican Primary here in Cascade County, voters got rid of some of the far right leaders in their party. Legislators Steven Galloway and Lola Sheldon-Galloway lost. County Commissioner Rae Grulkowski also was turned away by the voters (though the rumor mill is predicting she will be hired by Clerk and Recorder Sandra Merchant). Both Pinocci and Merchant also lost their bids to be elected as Republican Party precinct people. Maybe there’s some hope for sanity in the local Republican Party.
Pinocci’s term on the Public Service Commission ends in 2026. Who knows what he will run for next. Whatever it is, we can only hope he is defeated.
by Ken Toole | Jun 28, 2024 | Uncategorized
This image depicts an African American man joining Confederate troops marching off to war.
Almost immediately after the Civil War, the losers began a propaganda campaign to reframe and rehabilitate white supremacy. This movement, which is now referred to as the “Lost Cause,” carries on today. They claim the Civil War was not about slavery. It was a matter of “States Rights” and industrialization in northern states versus a romanticized agrarian South. Understanding the power of symbols in the public square, advocates of the Lost Cause moved to place monuments to the Confederacy in cities and towns across the country and to name public facilities like schools, parks, streets and highways after leaders of the Confederacy. All of this to support and promote the institutional racism of Jim Crow and marginalization of African Americans in society.
Most people assume these monuments were placed shortly after the Civil War, but that is not the case. The monument pictured above was placed in The National Cemetery at Arlington in 1914, almost 50 years after the war ended. According to the American Historical Association, monuments put in place during this time “were intended, in part, to obscure the terrorism required to overthrow Reconstruction, and to intimidate African Americans politically and isolate them from the mainstream of public life.” The Confederate monument which was in Women’s Park in Helena was commissioned in 1914 by the Daughters of the Confederacy. It was replaced in 2017.
In the 1950s and 1960s, there was another surge in the placement of Confederate monuments across the country in response to the civil rights movement. For example, after passage of the Civil Rights Act and The Voting Rights Act in the 1960s, 27 monuments dedicated to Confederate soldiers who had fought against “the federal enemy” were installed in Texas. Of course the Confederate battle flags we see all over Montana (most often next to Trump flags) are part and parcel of the same Lost Cause strategy to defend and protect white supremacy.
In recent years there has been a strong national movement to remove these commemorations to the Confederacy and white supremacy. The efforts to remove these symbols and change place names has become a flashpoint for controversy and, in some cases, violence, in many communities. Since 2017 and the murder of George Floyd, along with the Charleston church shooting and the Unite the Right Rally, 160 monuments across the country have been removed or torn down.
That brings us to Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale and their vote to reinstall this monument. The proposal failed in Congress, but the vote was a slap in the face to the African American community and advocates for equality as they were preparing to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday less than a week away. Unfortunately dog whistles and race baiting have become the order of the day among Republican politicians. And the rhetoric provided by advocates of Lost Cause propagandists that assume the mantle of historical accuracy and patriotic sentiment leaves people confused about the inherent bigotry of their phony facts and rewriting of American history. Zinke and Rosendale are finely tuned to the negative power of race baiting in the political process. Even though Rosendale is leaving public office, it should come as no surprise that he would join Ryan Zinke in jumping on this issue in an election year.
In Germany people don’t put up monuments to Adolph Hitler and the Nazi regime. Is it only in America that we celebrate white supremacist losers?
