Ready to serve.
Representative Chuck Hunter announced his candidacy today for re-election to House District 79, the east side of Helena. “I was honored to represent House District 79 in the 2009 legislative session. The 2011 session will bring new challenges—our economy, health care reform, and energy policy, to name a few—and I want to use my experience to help solve those challenges”, Hunter said in announcing his election bid.
Hunter, 56, is a retired state employee who served over 20 years in state government, running a variety of programs including Medicaid, CHIP, Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Insurance. He now owns and operates several small businesses. “My background in government, human services, and business was a great preparation for the work of the legislature’, Hunter said, “and that experience has provided me with a lot of ideas about how to improve state government.”
Hunter served on the House Business and Labor Committee and the House Health and Human Services Committee during the past session. He introduced legislation to implement the Healthy Montana Kids plan, sponsored bills that streamlined workers’ compensation and state safety programs, and carried the state pay plan bill.
“We had to make tough economic decisions this session. It is the job of the legislature to choose the right priorities. We balanced the budget and left money in the bank to deal with these tough times” Hunter explained.
Hunter has lived in Helena for over 30 years, is married to Casi Hunter, has four children educated in Helena’s public schools, and has been active in community organizations. He has served on the board of directors for both the Myrna Loy and Intermountain Children’s Home, and currently serves on the board of Helena Civic TV.
Rusty Harper, Hunter’s campaign treasurer for the second time, touted Hunter’s abilities. “I can’t think of anyone else who has done and will do a better job than Chuck Hunter,” Harper said. “I have worked with him and for him and I know how he made everything work better in every position he has held. If your goal is have the government work better for all of us, Chuck Hunter is your man.”
Rusty Harper, Treasurer