Candidate Questionnaire: MT House District 67

Elizabeth Marum

(D) — House District 67

Jedediah Hinkle

(R) — House District 67

As of press time, Hinkle had not responded to the Exponent’s questionnaire. Responses received after press time will be published on msuexponent.com.

Why did you decide to run for office?

Marum: I am very concerned about affordable housing. When I worked in the TRIO Student Support Services office, I heard of the extraordinary lengths that students, staff, and faculty go to for secure housing. Since then, I have studied this issue more as the appointed representative for the City of Belgrade to a housing solutions training program, where I learned of measures the state can and should take to make housing more affordable. It is achievable, though it will take the combined effort of local, county, and state governments, institutions like MSU, businesses, and individuals. We can do hard things. We can make housing more affordable and secure.

Since the overturning of Roe v Wade in June, our governor has asked the MT Supreme Court to deny the protections of our right to privacy and abortion reinforced in a 1999 decision that strengthened these rights in Montana’s Constitution. I will defend our right to make healthcare decisions in consultation with our providers. If we don’t protect this, what other privacies will be withdrawn?

What would you identify as the most pressing issue facing your district? What legislation would you support to address it?

Marum: Belgrade’s HD67 has experienced extraordinary growth while making every effort to increase density and encourage more attainable housing. With Covid came in-migration to our state, especially in Gallatin County. This added pressure to our already low inventory.

Montana should assess higher taxes on non-resident homeowners, second ++ homes, and luxury dwellings and allow local government to tax AirBnBs and VRBOs as commercial properties. We should consider a vacancy tax for properties that aren’t occupied 12 mos/yr. With added income, we should bring down property taxes, fully fund schools (their primary beneficiary), and use whatever remains to increase affordable housing. We should recognize the value added by those who spend most of the year in Montana working, buying groceries, maintaining our infrastructure, and building our culture.

The Montana Legislature should revoke the law passed last session that outlawed Inclusionary Zoning, an incremental measure mandating developers include a portion of their new housing stock marketed at genuinely affordable rates. Federally, Affordable Housing is no more than 1/3 of your income. That is nowhere to be found in Gallatin County outside of rent-regulated or Section 8 housing, which we need more of.

What action would you support to make housing more affordable in Belgrade?

Marum: I addressed most of this, so let me add that I have served on the Belgrade City-County Planning Board for more than 12 years. In that time, we have approved countless developments with higher density and lower costs. The Belgrade City Council finally passed an ordinance allowing Accessory Dwelling Units, which helps.

Our building codes are not as restrictive as Bozeman’s, and developers favor them as compliance is easier and less costly. Belgrade has done its part to help increase housing stock. We need action from the state and county to fund infrastructure like water, sewer, and roads. Gallatin County is beginning a regional water/sewer facility study. This will help but will need considerable funding from multiple entities.

Belgrade’s city limits are restricted by our ability to provide water and sewer connections. These are essential because outside the city limits, many properties are on exempt wells tapping into groundwater that is already overallocated. Water is a precious, limiting factor. We are fortunate to be at the top of the watershed and have a responsibility to those downstream to keep that pristine and abundant.

What should the legislature’s top priority be for healthcare in Montana?

Marum: In a low-population, rural state such as ours, there are many healthcare challenges exacerbated by geography, modest and lower incomes, isolation, and lack of coordination between medical providers and payers like insurance, Medicare, VA, and IHS. Mental health is our most overlooked and underfunded obligation. The state hospital at Warm Springs has been decertified by the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services in the last year. This is an abomination.

Mental Health should be our top priority as its funding has decreased nearly every legislative session in recent history. Meanwhile, Montana is the state with the greatest number of suicides and has been for over thirty years. We should have made progress on a notorious record like that. Still, we act like Mental Health isn’t part of “real health” when the brain is an organ of the body and those ailments are just as real as visible illness or disability.

After that, we should defend a person’s right to make their own healthcare decisions in consultation with their medical providers. I don't want the MT Legislature recommending cancer treatments, nor should they should dictate what reproductive care is appropriate.

Why should MSU students, faculty, and staff vote for you?

Marum: I will truly represent the needs of MSU students, faculty, and staff. My opponent voted against funding for education, voting rights, healthcare, women, and the Montana University System. These are all issues I will advocate for, especially the Montana University System.

Since I attended college, state funding for higher ed has vastly decreased and personal investment in a 2-yr or 4-yr degree has more than doubled. We need to pay state workers better, including MSU staff, who are state employees.

My two grown sons graduated from the MT Universities (one is a Griz, but as a single mom I could only do so much!) and I am tremendously grateful for the education they received. They are thriving adults applying the education and training they received here. I am a proud supporter of public education from Pre-K through higher education.

What do you love about Belgrade? How would that reflect in your policy-making decisions?

Marum: Belgrade is the engine of Gallatin County. It’s made up of everyday people like you and me.

Belgrade’s HD67 moves the county and the state with Bzn/Yellowstone (Belgrade) International Airport, the second fastest-growing airport in the nation for the past 20 yrs.

Belgrade is a nexus for the state and federal highway system bisected by I-90 and the railroad

Belgrade’s HD67 is home to workers serving all parts of the county and state, and MSU is a beneficiary of this talent. This is where workers, students, retirees, and community leaders choose to live.

Belgrade builds the county as it is home to most of our county’s highly skilled tradespeople

Policy decisions I make will center on everyday people and our needs. These include childcare, education, and a thriving Montana economy that doesn’t favor those with considerable wealth over everyday, hardworking Montanans. Unlike my opponent in the last session, I will not reduce income tax on the top bracket so those in the bottom brackets make up the lost revenue.