NEWS

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It disappoints me that Wayne and his family find him under attack again, with the same tired, outdated allegations we heard two years ago.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 Ed Greef and Ray Hawk, past representatives HD88, HD90, Florence

Ravalli Republic, May 9, 2024

The character qualifications couldn’t be more opposite than the choice between Wayne Rusk and Manzella. Wayne Rusk earned a record of integrity while serving in the state House of Representatives last session, while Manzella’s record was less than stellar and at the least, self serving. These two candidates couldn’t be more opposite. Last campaign season Manzella used Wayne’s donor list and contacted the donors using her official Senate stationery without the permission of Rusk. She advised Rusk’s donors that they shouldn’t vote for Rusk but vote for her. On state stationery! A law was passed in the 2023 legislature to prevent this occurring again.

The positive side of ethical behavior is now being shown in the recent ads of endorsement in support of Wayne by the legislators from Ravalli County who have served in the past 30 years plus current and past Ravalli County officials. This is powerful recognition plus endorsement by the folks that know from their own experience what it takes to accomplish good public service and the excellent operation of Ravalli County and the state government. Ethics matter… endorsements matter…character counts!

You won’t be disappointed if you elect Wayne Rusk for Senate District 44.

Read the article here.

by Sharon Greef, Former HD88 Representative

Ravalli Republic, April 27, 2024

Wayne Rusk is a candidate I wish each of you knew personally. I am proud to call him a friend after knowing him several years.

Wayne is representing us now in the Montana Legislature, in House District 88. He proved himself to be a solid conservative this past session and took tough votes that he knew people could question but took them because it was the right thing to do. Looking at a yes or no vote does not tell the whole story. He is happy to answer any questions on the votes he took.

Wayne is running for Senate District 44 and so will still be representing us here in Florence and Stevensville plus the House district south of Stevensville. I just read a letter by a Matthew Sullivan in the 4/17 Star. In it he states that Rusk is running to ‘get back at’ Manzella. First of all, with all of the things a candidate for office goes through, I have NEVER heard Mr. Rusk give any indication he is undertaking this huge task to ‘get back’ at anyone! Wayne is a very principled man who has worked diligently to serve the people of Florence, Stevensville and the State of Montana and Wayne has found common ground where others weren’t even looking and he has done so without compromising his core principles.

Wayne, and his family, are sacrificing a lot to enter this race because he believes the people deserve a choice. We can vote for the incumbent who represents the John Birch Society and who sadly chooses to use every negative trick and untruth in the book to win an election or we can vote for Wayne Rusk – a true conservative, whose optimism and hard work have earned him great respect with his fellow legislators.

As a former legislator here in the valley, I am very proud to endorse Wayne Rusk for SD44.

RUSK or Manzella……pretty darned easy choice!

Read the article here.

Read the same article in the Bitterroot Star here.

by Roger Hagan, Great Falls

Ravalli Republic, April 25, 2024

I am writing this letter in support of Wayne Rusk and his candidacy for Senate District 44. I had the honor of working with Wayne during the 2023, 68th Legislative Session and was pleased to find him as a thoughtful and honest legislator. It was my observation that he was very respectful of his constituency and wanted to do what was best for Montana.

I have advocated for military and Montana veteran issues at the state legislature for over 40 years. While Wayne never served, he had a solid commitment to understand our issues, ask probing questions, and make his decisions based on the facts. I was pleased to discover that Wayne Rusk, without fail, was a solid supporter of our Montana Veterans and our National Guard.

I am a 38-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force/Montana National Guard and a former State Representative who has worked with legislators to encourage their understanding and support of the needs of our veterans. The 2023 Session was a particularly brisk session for our veteran and military issues. I tracked dozens of bills in committee and assessed the vote of multiple legislators. In the 33 bills that I used as my measuring stick, I am pleased to report that your Representative, Wayne Rusk, was 100% in voting for our Montana Veterans and military members.

It is because of his solid record with our veterans and National Guard members, I ask you to support the election of Wayne Rusk Senate District 44.

Read the article here.

Read the same article in the Bitterroot Star here.

by Mike Cressler, Hamilton

Ravalli Republic, April 20, 2024

In my research on the candidates for the Montana legislature in Ravalli County, I’ve discovered to my dismay that one of the leaders of the nullification movement, Sen. Theresa Manzella, holds office in Ravalli County and is running for re-election.

The nullification movement misinterprets the U.S. Constitution to give any state the right to nullify or invalidate, and thus ignore, any federal law that it considers unconstitutional or otherwise in violation of the Constitution. Nullification is not the law and never has been. 

Nevertheless, in the last legislative session, Sen. Manzella sponsored Senate Bill 434, which was intended to give political structure and legitimacy to the nullification movement. When adopted by at least nine states, this bill would have created a political body called a “Constitution Settlement Commission of the States,” whose purpose would have been to define what powers the states have “granted” to the federal government in the U.S. Constitution. 

If enacted, the bill would allow the participating states through this commission to issue decisions, like a court, on whether a particular federal law is constitutional or not and, if not, recommend that the federal law be ignored. This is nullification – pure and simple.

Fortunately, the Montana Senate recognized this nullification bill for what it was and voted it down with only about a half dozen voting for it. But we cannot give Sen. Manzella another chance to introduce this radically unAmerican bill again or anything like it. Vote for Wayne Rusk!

Read the article here.

Read the same article in the Bitterroot Star here.

by Rep. Wayne Rusk HD-88, candidate for SD-44

Bitterroot Star, April 2, 2024  

Once again I must take in hand some misinformation that appeared last week in regards to the proposed constitutional amendment. Amendment HB372 had the potential to compromise property rights and to create endless legal uncertainties for both the legislature and the agencies tasked with regulating hunting, fishing and trapping. 

We already have a constitutional amendment safeguarding these rights (Article IX, Section 7) and, interestingly, it was authored by the same lobbyist who has now decided that it won’t do. Their argument for the Preservation of our Harvest Heritage (passed in 2004) was that it strikes a “great balance”—which it did—and is why it passed both legislature and ballot box in overwhelming and bipartisan fashion (see Ballotpedia C41 2004) https://ballotpedia.org/Montana_Right_to_Wild_Game_Hunting_and_Fishing,_C-41_(2004). 

Now it seems they have turned on their own achievements and deemed them “very weak.” The truth is, if this bill had passed, lawyers would have been busy for many years litigating the meaning of some of the new constitutional language – something that has long been settled with the existing constitutional provision (and giving yet more power to the courts). In particular, the definitions of “present means and methods” and “necessary” provide the potential for a large number of lawsuits because their meanings will determine the relationship between the “right to hunt, fish, trap, and harvest” and the power of both the legislature and the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) to modify that right. For example, if FWP changes any “means and methods” for harvesting a particular species, there would likely be litigation over whether the change was “necessary” for the management of the species involved or whether it was even a “present” means or methods in the first place.

It is asked why I voted HB372 out of committee before ultimately determining it was not going to achieve the ends for which it was drafted. There was a space of 5 days between the committee vote and the hearing on the House floor in which time I learned of its failure the two sessions before, and came to better understand the concerns of opponents.

I did not make deals with anyone to kill 19 amendments as was asserted. Only six even made it to the House floor — the others having lost support before they could get that far. I own these votes outright and they were taken consistent with the constitutional conservatism upon which I campaigned, and I have gone to the people to sustain me in them.

While we’re on the subject, I would also point out that I did not deprive the electorate of a chance to decide the issue because these amendments did not originate with the people; they were rather, in this and other cases, the offerings of longtime lobbyists, and they are therefore vetted through the legislature.

In sum, the high bar of two thirds to amend a governing document (constitution) was established in order to transcend partisanship and achieve consensus. While we had the “letter” of the law met (supermajority), we still lacked the “spirit” of the law (consensus). This, together with the fact that nothing was to be gained for sportsmen obliged me to lay aside partisanship and stand upon the airtight amendment already passed by both parties, in both places (legislature and electorate). For more information visit my website (waynerusk.com) where my constitutional conservative position on many of these bills is explained under the voting record heading.

As a sportsman and gun owner I will always be found preserving, protecting and defending our sporting traditions and second amendment rights consistent with our constitutional system. Reach out anytime, 1-406-370-8486.

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. 

by Jessica Abell 

Ravalli Republic, February 2, 2024

Republican legislator Wayne Rusk of Corvallis, who currently represents House District 88, has filed a primary challenge against incumbent Republican State Senator Theresa Manzella of Hamilton to represent Senate District 44.

The primary challenge comes as divisions between hard-right and moderate Republicans have become center stage not only on the national level, but locally as well.

Filing opened on Jan. 11 for Montana residents wishing to run for office on the June primary ballot.

Ravalli County consists of four House districts (HD 85, HD 86, HD 87, HD 88) and two Senate districts (SD 43 and SD 44). All four Ravalli County House seats as well as one Senate seat, all currently held by Republicans, will be up for grabs in the 2024 election.

Rusk was elected to the House in 2022 and serves on the House Judiciary Committee and Human Services Committee. Rusk sponsored one bill that was signed into law during the 2023 Montana Legislature, HB 157: Generally revise laws related to alcohol.

Manzella is chair of the Montana Freedom Caucus, a group of about 20 hardline Republicans in the Montana Legislature. Manzella was previously elected to the Montana Senate in November 2020, and served in the Montana House of Representatives in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Manzella serves on the Senate Judiciary and Administration committees, and chairs the Senate Highway and Transportation Committee. Bills sponsored by Manzella that were signed into law during the 2023 session include SB 47: Revise commercial drivers license laws to comply with federal requirements; SB 57: Allow Department of Transportation to use alternative project delivery methods; SB 432: Require a report on the use of Help America Vote Act funds; and SB 518: Revise parental rights laws to increase parental involvement in education.

Manzella spoke at a Ravalli County commissioners’ meeting last week in support of a recently submitted ballot initiative calling for hand counts of election ballots in Ravalli County. She has also repeatedly backed former President Donald Trump’s claims of fraud in the 2020 election, and submitted three election security proposals backed by right-wing “election integrity” groups during the 2023 Legislature, all of which were rejected by the Republican supermajority.

Manzella has referred to those incarcerated or awaiting trial for their part in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as “political prisoners” and has repeatedly garnered criticism for her rhetoric regarding the LGBTQ community.

The primary challenge comes after Republican infighting between hard-right members affiliated with the John Birch Society and the county’s GOP establishment resulted in the Ravalli County Republican Central Committee voting in October to oust its longtime chair, Terry Nelson, in favor of former Ravalli County Commissioner Ron Stoltze, who was nominated by Manzella.

Prior to the vote on his ousting, Nelson said, “If your purpose here is to beat up on other Republicans, I don’t want to be a head of that.”

In a written statement regarding his decision to challenge Manzella, Rusk stated:

“It has been an honor to serve as your representative in Helena this past session. However, as a lifelong Republican, I must admit I was at times taken aback by the undue influence of hyper-partisanship and political faction that obtained in our party, and how on these occasions it tended to render us poor stewards — of our own positions.

In light of this, and after much deliberation, I determined that the most value I could bring to the voters of Ravalli County would be to give them a choice; a choice between the deep division my opponent continues to sow in our ranks, and the authentic, constitutional conservatism that informed my votes, and that can operate to return this seat to the people, and to its proper function of representation.

So come June 4th, (the primary election), we have a rare chance to be done with soapboxes, symposiums, and politics as usual, and instead elect someone with the courage to be generous; someone who has and who will put the people first — and the scorecards of special interests and narrow party factions — a distant second.”

Manzella was a supporter of Rusk’s primary challenger, local John Birch Society leader Alan Lackey, in what became an ugly Republican primary battle in 2022 where Lackey attempted to capitalize on DUI convictions Rusk received in 2014. Rusk says he quit drinking after his experience 10 years ago, and that quitting led to the personal growth that brought him to where he is today.

“It was a decade ago … I never hid it to begin with,” Rusk said. “It was a crucible through which I passed at that point, and it's in the past. I've never drank since. It was a time when I had to fight for my life, quite frankly, and did, and won by the grace of God by a ton of hard work.”

Manzella was accused of using state financial disclosure documents to target her fellow Bitterroot Republican by sending out personal letters to Rusk’s financial supporters on her official Montana Senate stationary in an attempt to sway their support to Lackey — a move she didn’t deny. Manzella responded to the criticism at the time without apology and defended her actions, citing campaign donations as public records she had the right to use.

“If I want to use my stationery and postage to write a personal letter expressing my support, that too, is my choice,” Manzella said. “This is America and my First Amendment right is fully intact. Political endorsements happen every day. I happen to take mine seriously.”

The move resulted in a change to the Montana Legislature’s Code of Ethics after fellow Republicans cried foul at Manzella’s use of state resources for campaign purposes — former Bitterroot Valley Representative Ed Greef and current Representative David Bedey among them.

Bedey sponsored HB 412 in the 2023 Legislature, expanding an existing prohibition on the use of public time or resources for solicitation of political campaign support to apply to legislators and judges. The bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte in May of 2023.

Rusk went on to beat Lackey 59.5% to 40.5% in the 2022 Republican primary. He beat his Democratic challenger Ko Moua in the 2022 November general election, 70% to 30%.

Manzella did not respond to repeated attempts by the Ravalli Republic to contact her via phone and email for this article.

Read the article here.