Legislative races set for Missoula area
By Martin Kidston/MISSOULA CURRENT
Marilyn Ryan trounced the competition in the race for House District 99 on Tuesday night, winning a ticket to advance to the November election to represent the Missoula district in the state Legislature.
Ryan, a retired school teacher, defeated pseudo Democrat and blogger Greg Strandberg by securing 81 percent of the vote. She named education, jobs, mental health and alternative energy as her leading issues.
“I'm not going to change my message,” Ryan said. “Education will be key. We have to get out there and get more alternative energy going, and I've had some people talk about health insurance and falling through the cracks in some areas.”
In other contested races for the Legislature across the Missoula district, Republican Denley Loge defeated Charles Woolley with 64 percent of the vote in H.D. 14. Also for the GOP, Mike Hopkins garnered 40 percent of the vote in H.D. 92, defeating both Larry Dunham and Randy Vannoy, who received 33 percent and 25 percent respectively.
On the Democratic ticket, Shane Morigeau topped Curtis Bridges by taking home 78 percent of the vote in H.D. 95, while Patrick Maloney held off Nick Davis in H.D. 97 with 52 percent of the vote.
In H.D. 98, Democrat Willis Curdy secured 74 percent of the vote, defeating Michael Bowles.
In local races for the state Senate, Democrat Elizabeth Retallick secured 46 percent of the vote, defeating Mark Sheets and Terry Caldwell, who won 29 percent and 24 percent respectively in the race for S.D. 7.
In the same district on the Republic side, Jennifer Fielder topped Glenn Ferren with 58 percent of the vote. In S.D. 47, Democrat Tom France secured 65 percent of the vote, topping Joey Jayne.