Vote For Judge Ingrid Gustafson

PAID POLITICAL CONTENT

Dear Editor,

This fall, Montanans have a chance to turn over our Supreme Court to big business and billionaires. All we have to do is vote for their candidate, James Brown.

Mr. Brown's record shows why corporations like him. He is not an accomplished lawyer nor legal scholar, but he is a well-known corporate lobbyist, political operative and advocate for "dark money."

His support for dark money was exposed in the PBS Frontline documentary, "Big Sky, Big Money," which you can view at http://www.pbs.orgiwgbh/frontlineiarticlef dark-money-groups-donors-revealed/. He appeared on behalf of the most notorious dark money group in recent Montana history, Western Traditions Partnership, Inc. As has been noted by our Court, this was a "foreign corporation" created "to solicit and anonymously spend the funds of other corporations and individuals to influence the outcome of Montana elections." It funneled millions into Montana to defeat Republicans and Democrats who did not support its corporate line, telling its wealthy donors, "You are not required to report your names or the amount of any contribution. You can just sit back on election night and see what a difference your money has made." See, Western Traditions Partnership v. Bullock, 2011 MT 328.

Mr. Brown was asked by Frontline who the secret donors were and why they were so focused on corrupting Montana politics. He was evasive.

On the other hand, if you don't want a corporate lobbyist and dark money advocate on our Court, you have a choice. You can vote for incumbent Judge Ingrid Gustafson. In 17 years as a judge, she has established a reputation of being intelligent, fair, compassionate, and non-political, which is everything we should expect. She'll probably have to get through all the scandalous advertisements dark money can throw at her, but so long as Montanans know the source, she'll win.

Sincerely,

Erik Thueson

Helena, Mont.