by Chris Hoffman, Ravalli County Sheriff (Ret.), former Ravalli County Commissioner
Bitterroot Star, May 14, 2024
Two years ago, I felt the need to write a letter in support of Wayne Rusk in his bid for the House District 88 seat. I was completely convinced of Wayne’s ability to serve our community in the state legislature, and having watched closely during this last session, I was not disappointed. Wayne proved himself to be that level-headed man I touted him to be. He did measure his words; he thought before he spoke; and his actions proved him to be the deep man of conviction I know him to be. Wayne’s patriotism, his care and concern for his community and his state, and his understanding of our history and foundations came fully to the forefront. He is approachable and open to hear other opinions, and then make the hard decisions on his own based on careful research.
It disappoints me that Wayne and his family find him under attack again, with the same tired, outdated allegations we heard two years ago. While I am confident that citizens in Ravalli County, specifically in Senate District 44, will not be duped by this type of politics, I once again wish to voice my wholehearted support of Wayne in the upcoming primary election.
Please vote for Wayne Rusk in Senate District 44.
Read the article here.
Read the same article in the Ravalli Republic here.
by Carrie Rusk, Corvallis
Bitterroot Star, May 14, 2024
Two years ago Wayne Rusk ran for HD 88 with a vision in mind of Uniting the Conservative Community of Ravalli County. He decisively won a tough campaign battle against Alan Lackey, despite the fact that he was “Manzella Approved”.
I believe he is getting closer to accomplishing his vision. The next step is unseating Mrs. Manzella from her senate seat. Wayne will bring a new type of leadership to SD 44. He will bring hope and optimism, not fear and discontent. He will bring a love of country and community, not strife and the latest conspiracy theory. He will bring courage to make tough choices when needed rather than just go with the status quo.
Wayne understands that many people in our community are tired of the extreme sides of both political parties. Both the right and left have gone too far off the deep end of some issues. He is not afraid to point out where Republicans have gone past the point of being conservative and also not afraid to see where there is some common ground among our democrat neighbors….don’t we all want lower property taxes and schools that are the best they can be. No one wants a round-about!
Wayne believes that how you treat people matters…that its not ok to lie and personally attack your opponent under the cover of “its just politics”. He has too much integrity to ever set the Christian ideals aside of loving your neighbor as yourself. He is able to withstand the outright lies and slander against him and is willing to do so because of how much he cares about our community. Beware of the truth being twisted. Anyone who knows Wayne knows that he would never want non-citizens to vote (a lie being spread) He has spent so much of his life hunting, fishing. He has passed love of the outdoors along to his kids as well. He will always protect these rights. Don’t believe the lies that he won’t.
If you are tired of your elected leader telling you, bulling you, or outright shaming you into how you should feel, then now is your chance to vote for a new choice for SD 44. Please cast your vote for Wayne Rusk on June 4th.
Read the article here.
by Rep. Wayne Rusk HD-88, candidate for SD-44, Corvallis
Bitterroot Star, March 12, 2024
I would take a moment to address a letter to the editor by candidate Davis last week claiming that I voted against hunting, fishing and trapping, and to demonstrate that the assertion is patently false.
In 2004 our state constitution was amended to include Article IX, Section 7 which reads as follows: “The opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals is a heritage that shall forever be preserved to the individual citizens of the state and does not create a right to trespass on private property or dimunition of other private rights.” It received overwhelming and bipartisan support in both the legislature and on the ballot. As you can see, our harvest heritage is already constitutionally forever preserved.
The referendum Mr. Davis references (HB372) which I and others opposed on constitutional grounds, would not have—and could not have—improved those rights. Instead, they would have collided with property rights and the ability of FWP to effectively regulate hunting and fishing activity. Consequently, this proposed amendment has met with defeat three times in as many sessions, precisely because those rights are as airtight as a constitution can make them without diminishing the other rights it must protect. Nothing—absolutely nothing—was lost, or for that matter could have been gained in regard to these privileges.
As a lifelong sportsman and now a legislator, I keep a constant vigil over our rich sporting heritage and have passed it on to my children. These priceless pastimes could not be in better hands, and I will always be found fighting to protect them.
Read the article here.