US House Candidate Kathleen Williams Holds House Party in Sidney

On Sunday, April 22nd, Montana House representative Kathleen Williams stopped in Sidney Montana for a house party as part of her Opportunity for Montana tour. She is running for Congress and did the tour to talk with locals in different parts of Montana and learn the specific issues plaguing each area. Not many people attended so it was held in the nice, cozy dining room of a supporter's home.

After everyone got comfortable, Kathleen introduced herself and gave a little of her history. When she went to college, Kathleen started out pursuing business at her father's advice. Then discovered she was interested in natural resources and how policies are made. She got a degree in resource economics then traveled around and got a job working as nonpartisan staff for the Environment Quality council in Helena for four years. She worked as the Water Program Manager for Montana's Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for five years. It gave her a good background for her fascination with solving touchy issues. For the last four and a half years she's been with the Western Landowner's Alliance and stopped to begin her campaign for Congress. Back in 2007, when the Montana legislature could not pass a budget, it made Kathleen consider running for office. She said " Things have gotten so partisen it's just unfortunate that it divides communities." Kathleen's served in the Montana House for three terms and she feels that Congress is how the Montana legislature was in 2007, inexperienced, hyperpartisan and in need of fixing.

Then Kathleen shared the six priorities of her campaign: healthcare, fostering opportunities, protecting our environmental heritage, fostering a civil dialogue in Congress, rebuilding our place in the world, and drawing a line between hunting weapons and military grade assault rifles. Then she offered a few ideas on how those issues could be fixed such as allowing those 55 and older to buy into Medicare.Those in attendance shared a few local issues such as the lawsuit against the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation project and its ramifications, jobs, and the Dry Red Water Project. Several attendees shared their concerns about nationwide issues like healthcare, undocumented immigrants and women's health. Kathleen expressed a need for case studies on the effects of the tax plan in the taxes of individual citizens. Kathleen listened to everyone's concerns and took careful notes. She seems confident in her ability to defeat Greg Gianforte, if she can win the primary election, by holding him accountable for the things he has done while in office.