By Mike Wheat
Democratic Candidate For Montana Attorney General
Thank you to the Montana Tavern Times for inviting me to present myself and my credentials to your readers.
I am a candidate for the office of Attorney General. I consider myself to be a consensus builder. As Montana' Attorney General I will strive to work cooperatively with the individuals and groups in the tavern industry on any issue or problem that might arise.
The Attorney General is the head lawyer, chief law enforcement officer, and director of the Department of Justice for the State of Montana. The Attorney General is also a member of the Land Board which generates revenue for our schools through its management of 5.2 million acres of State land.
Our current Attorney General, Mike McGrath, has done a good job, and I plan to build on his record by enforcing our right to feel safe, secure, and protected.
In my administration it will be a priority to:
--Make sure that our law enforcement officers and county prosecutors get the necessary training and resources they need to keep our streets and communities safe.
--Utilize all the powers of the Department of Justice to protect our kids from drug dealers and internet predators.
--Defend consumers, veterans, and senior citizens against all forms of abuse and exploitation, such as identity theft, consumer and investment fraud, and elder abuse.
--Protect our environment against illegal pollution and degradation.
I encourage you to visit my web-site,
, and see in detail the qualifications and experience that I will bring to the office of Attorney General. You will see that I come from a blue-collar background, have worked as a union carpenter, and I am a Viet Nam combat veteran.
I graduated from the University of Montana Law School in 1978 and worked as a criminal prosecutor from 1978 to 1981 (Butte-Silver Bow). In 1981, I started a private practice with a law school friend representing friends, neighbors and business people from around the state.
In 2002, I was elected to the Montana Legislature and served two sessions in the Montana Senate--2003 and 2005--where I served on several committees including the Judiciary Committee and worked closely with the Attorney General' office on legislation.
I have been married for 34 years and have four children.
I believe that I have the life experience and legal skills to continue the tradition of excellence developed by Mike McGrath and other Democratic Attorney Generals before him.
Most importantly, I am seeking the office of Attorney General without a personal agenda or bias. I will remain fiercely independent and will make decisions which are in the best interest of the Department of Justice.
My experiences in life have instilled in me the values of hard work and discipline, teamwork and integrity, dedication and commitment. These are the values and skills that will guide my decisions and actions as your next Attorney General.
I would appreciate your support. Contributions can be directed to my web-site, .
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, May, 2008, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.