Let’s hope so and maybe we can do all we can to get Denise Juneau elected as the Representative from Montana to the US Congress. She’s already the first American Indian woman in the country to serve in a state wide office - Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction where she was elected in 2012 to her second term.
Denise is an enrolled member of the Mandan Hidatsa Tribes and a descendant of the Blackfeet tribe.
She is strong on women's issues, good on environment and economy and kicks butt on education. This is a special area of interest for me and I am very impressed with all she’s done.
“She launched a statewide initiative, Graduation Matters Montana, which has made a positive difference in more than 50 communities. Graduation Matters brings together school, business leaders, community members, students and families to work toward a common goal – that every student graduates from high school ready to succeed. Since the start of Graduation Matters, Montana’s graduation rate has increased to its highest level ever recorded.” Bolding mine.
She seems to see the big picture and understands that nutrition and health (tobacco use by teens has declined since she took office) affects education and that education affects the economy. I like big thinkers.
The National Indian Education Association named Denise Juneau Educator of the Year in 2009.
Indian Country Today has her candidacy listed as a top political story. Emily’s List highlighted her education work for Native American Heritage Month. In the Trahant Report Mark Trahant reports #NativeVotes16 Denise Juneau’s 54 Generations*, First in Congress and explains why she can win this race. This article has very cool interactive maps. *And yeah, there is a possibility that her family goes back 54 generations in Montana or what would eventually become Montana.
Check out her Wikipedia page. It doesn’t say much but what it does say is all great. She’s also a member of 90for90, she knows voter registration is important. She was a speaker at Netroots Nation in 2012. Meteor Blades writes about her here.
Superintendent Juneau will be running against incumbent Representative Ryan Zinke. So what's wrong with him? Well, he's a Republican, need I say more? Okay, okay, here’s more… he's dismissive of President Obama, disagreeing with him on Syrian refugee’s.
He said he took particular offense to the president’s comment that Republicans were “scared of widows and orphans coming into the United States of America.” “To me, that’s from a commander in chief that’s never been in combat,” Zinke said. - See more at: www.ryanzinke.com/...
Rep. Zinke is a decorated veteran, was a Navy Seal for 23 years (though there is some controversy over his service and his medals), and knows more than the President of the United States and all who council him about spotting a terrorist. Well, all right then. And you’ll note this came right off his website. He doesn't just have disdain for the President, he said that Hillary Clinton is the greatest threat to this country and called her the “Anti-Christ". www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Even the guys at Ammoland (yeah, I’m not linking there, find it yourselves), think there is something off about the Anti-Obama superpac Zinke started. Plus they point out questions about his military service and his medals.
Lot's of great pictures of him and guns there too, I’m talking rocket launchers. He is a strong supporter of a right to bear arms and “he will not tolerate anyone trying to take that away through Congressional or Executive action.”
“There are some things that are not negotiable: Faith, Family, the Constitution… and you better add guns and land if you’re a Montanan.” – Ryan Zinke
Not too great on the environment, not many conservation groups like him. He thinks there needs to be timber work done in Montana's forests.
He added that low-impact mechanical tools for trail clearing could be allowed, along with leaving the areas open to bicycle use. Per the 1964 Wilderness Act, mechanical equipment such as bicycles and chain saws are prohibited in Congressionally designated wilderness areas.
www.dailyinterlake.com/…
So, in this race it seems a simple choice between the dark side and the light side. Luke, all you Luke’s in Montana, which side will you choose?
Denise Juneau info:
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