Most of you know Greg Gianforte as the man who started a highly successful company in Bozeman, Montana. I know Greg Gianforte as the man who raised all four of his kids here in Montana.
When I first met him, he was just in some small office starting up an unknown tech firm. I didn’t know him as Greg Gianforte the tech entrepreneur, I knew him as Greg the family man, who takes the whole family hiking the backcountry most weekends every summer.
I then had the privilege of watching him build his Montana company into a global business that employed hundreds of Montanans in high wage jobs. Greg is incredibly driven and hard-working, but, most importantly, he loves Montana. Greg set out to prove that Montana is a place where high tech businesses can have success, and he succeeded.
It was my honor to serve as governor of this great state for four years and I can tell you that a governor needs to have a big vision for the state, be willing to tackle hard problems, and challenge the status quo. With Montana languishing at the bottom of the nation in wages and 12 years of status-quo leadership in Helena, it’s time for a change.
Greg Gianforte will work to create a high-wage economy in our state. He will push back against federal overreach, he will continue to offer new ideas for education, and he will bring accountability to state government.
Unlike many in our state, Greg refuses to make excuses for Montana’s subpar economic and fiscal situation. He believes that Montana can do better, and he’s proven that in his business career.
With tough times ahead for our economy and declining state revenues, we need someone with business experience and a track record of success leading our state.
At the same time, Greg has also picked an excellent candidate for lieutenant governor in Lesley Robinson. Lesley is a Hi-Line rancher and county commissioner with a reputation for fighting for the interests of everyday Montanans.
Agriculture is our number one industry and county and local government, especially in rural areas, have unique challenges that are not always understood by state government. Lesley Robinson, as lieutenant governor, can bridge this gap.
Greg, as a tech guy and successful businessman from Bozeman, and Lesley, as a Hi-Line rancher and county commissioner, complement each other really well. However, the most important thing is that Greg Gianforte and Lesley Robinson are people of honesty, character, and integrity who got to where they are the same way folks here in my hometown of Butte did- hard work. I’m honored to endorse Greg Gianforte and Lesley Robinson to serve as Montana’s next Governor and Lt. Governor.
Judy Martz
former Montana governor