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NEWS
Visitors walk along the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park. BEACON FILE PHOTO
FEATURE
Storylines That Could De ne 2016
From elections to park milestones, here’s what to watch in the new year
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
Entering the new year, there are sev- eral interesting storylines worth keep- ing an eye on, including the race to the White House and the governor’s man- sion. Here’s a breakdown of what to fol- low in 2016.
Gubernatorial Election
Voters will have plenty of decisions to make on Nov. 8. The presidential race is heating up as the nation prepares to elect a new commander in chief for the rst time in eight years. In Montana, several other important o ces are up for grabs, including the governorship.
Incumbent Steve Bullock, a Democrat rst elected in 2012, is seeking another four-year term. Last week he named long-time state legislator and former Secretary of State Mike Cooney as his lieutenant governor and running mate. Cooney replaces Angela McLean, who resigned amid tension with Bullock and his sta .
Bullock’s potential Republican chal- lengers include Bozeman business- man Greg Gianforte and Public Service
Commission Chairman Brad Johnson. Both men announced in June that they were strongly considering candidacies for governor. Republican Mark Perea, Libertarian Ron Vandevender and Inde- pendent Christopher Zarcone have already led paperwork to run against Bullock. Casey Filler of Helena also led to run and has not declared a political a liation.
The lineup of o cial candidates will solidify by March leading up to the June 6 primary.
Bullock has an approval rating of 50 percent, according to a recent poll con- ducted by Montana State University Bill- ings. Democratic candidates — Bullock and Brian Schweitzer — have won the past three elections for governor. Before that Republicans rmly held the position dating back to 1989.
U.S. Representative Race
Another signi cant election this year is Montana’s lone congressional seat. Ryan Zinke, a Republican from White- sh, is running for a second two-year term in the U.S. House of Representa- tives. His challengers so far are Denise
Juneau, a Democrat who has served as the state’s superintendent of public edu- cation since 2008, and James St. God- dard, a Democrat and former vice chair of the Blackfeet Tribal Council. Juneau and St. Goddard will square o in the June primary. Republicans hold a strong advantage in the House with 247 seats to Democrats’ 188.
Forty-four percent of respondents approved of Zinke’s performance in o ce, while 21 percent disapproved, according to a recent poll of Montanans.
Voters in Montana will also decide on the attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, superintendent of public instruction, public service commission and several state lawmakers.
Grizzly Bear Delisting Proposal
Just over 40 years ago, as grizzly bears nearly disappeared from the landscape, the federal government listed the iconic species as threatened under the Endan- gered Species Act, enacting widespread protections for populations across the U.S. Montana, which is home to the larg- est population of grizzlies in the lower 48, is approaching a watershed moment
now that there are nearly 1,000 grizzlies in this area and another 750 in the Yel- lowstone region.
Federal o cials have said the species has recovered and is ready to be removed from the ESA list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to propose delisting the Yellowstone population rst followed by the population of grizzlies in the Northern Continental Divide Eco- system in this region by late 2016. This decision will surely spark debate; sev- eral conservation groups have expressed opposition along with tribal governments that oppose the possibility of hunting grizzlies.
National Park Service Centennial
On Aug. 25, 2016, the National Park Service turns 100. As part of the centen- nial celebration, the agency is hosting festivities throughout the year at sites across the U.S. and urging Americans to rediscover its scenic wonders or nd new ones to visit. The nation’s parks are already riding a wave of popularity; many of the most prominent sites, such as Yel- lowstone, set new visitation records in 2015. Overall visitation to national parks
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JANUARY 6, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM