The Governor's Race: More Q & A

Photo by Jerek Wolcott

What priority do you give to cleaning up industrial pollution in Montana?



How would you support the increasing number of elderly Montanans?



Do you support a federally run health care system for all Americans? If not, what's your solution to making health care more available and affordable?



How would you develop Montana's oil, gas and coal resources? How would renewable fuels fit into your energy plan?

The Governor's Race: Questions and Answers

Photo by Tiffany Wilson

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, left, joined his Republican challenger, state Sen. Roy Brown, center, and Libertarian Stan Jones for their first gubernatorial debate on Sept. 15 at the University of Montana. Hear their answers to selected questions by clicking on the audio files below.

If elected, how would you represent Montana to the nation?

Do you believe climate change is caused by humans? Would you approve any new coal-fired power plants?

What would you do to help Montanans keep pace with the rising cost of living?

For PSC, District 3: Alan Olson

REPUBLICAN

AGE: 52

BIRTHPLACE: Havre, Mont.

HOME CITY: Roundup, Mont.

FAMILY: Wife, Jean, three children

EDUCATION: Havre High School; Halliburton Energy Institute, 1982 and 1984

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Thirty years in the oil and gas industry, with Abercrombie Pipeline, Halliburton, and the Oil and Gas Division of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Montana House of Representatives, 2000-2008; Chairman, House Energy and Telecommunications Committee, 2005-2008; Roundup School Board, 1990-2000

MILITARY SERVICE: None

ORGANIZATIONS: Masons, Snowy Mountain Development Corp., 4-H, Montana School Boards Association, Montana Unified School Trust, Roundup Little League

CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: http://www.alanolson.com/

For PSC, District 1: Gail Gutsche

DEMOCRAT
AGE: 53
BIRTHPLACE: St. Paul, Minn.
HOME CITY: Missoula, Mont.
FAMILY: Single
EDUCATION: B.A. in English, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., 1976
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Writer, consultant; former Development officer for Missoula, Planned Parenthood and the Missoula Urban Demonstraton Project; Program Coordinator for Women's Voices for the Earth; Co-owner and operator of Wild Rockies Tours in Missoula, 1996-2006; Editor of fashion trade magazine in St. Paul, Minn., 1992; Editor/writer for Salt Lake City publishing company, 1991; Editor/writer for Sun Newspapers and sports publications in Minneapolis and St. Paul, 1976-1991
POLITICAL: Member, Montana House of Representatives, 1999-2005;
MILITARY SERVICE: None
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: http://www.gailforpsc.com/

For PSC, District 1: Doug Mood

REPUBLICAN
AGE: 64
BIRTH PLACE: Grand Rapids, Minn.
HOME CITY: Seeley-Swan area
FAMILY: Wife Marion, four sons
EDUCATION: Attended the University of Montana, 1962-1967
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Vice President and Director, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, 1970-2001; Sales Manager, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, 1984-2001
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Member, Montana Public Service Commission, 2004-present; Montana House of Representatives, 1997-2004 (House Speaker, 2004); Chairman, Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners; Member, Steering Committee for Northern Tier Transmission Group
MILITARY SERVICE: None
ORGANIZATIONS: University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Opportunity (Board of Advisors), Montana Taxpayers Association (Board of Directors), Montana Wood Products Association, Montana Chamber of Commerce (Board of Directors), American Legislative Exchange Council, National Federation of Independent Business
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: http://dougmood.com/

For PSC, District 2: Ron Tussing

DEMOCRAT
AGE: 61
BIRTHPLACE: Buffalo, N.Y.
HOME CITY: Billings, Mont.
FAMILY: Wife Darlene, four daughters
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Sheriff of Lancaster County, Nebraska; superintendent of Nebraska State Patrol; chief of police in Billings
EDUCATION: Criminal justice degree from the University of Nebraska
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Mayor of Billings
MILITARY SERVICE: None
ORGANIZATIONS: The Yellowstone Rim Runners, the Yellowstone Valley Cycling Club, the Beartooth Paddlers and Celebrate Billings.
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: http://www.tussingforpsc.com/

For PSC, District 2: Brad Molnar

REPUBLICAN
AGE: 58
BIRTHPLACE: Walkerton, Ind.
HOME CITY: Laurel, Mont.
FAMILY: Divorced, three children and 11 grandchildren
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Grain systems contractor
EDUCATION: B.A. in Forestry, University of Montana
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Four terms in the Montana Legislature
MILITARY SERVICE: None
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: http://molnar4psc.com/