HELENA (AP) — Republicans tried unsuccessfully Wednesday to block one of Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s appointments to a volunteer position overseeing the state’s nurses.

Senate Republicans said Brenda Schye’s past actions proved she was too politically biased to serve on the state’s Board of Nursing.

As treasurer of the Montana Democratic Party during last fall’s election, Schye’s name was required by law to appear on the party’s advertisements, including some negative flyers that Republicans said were “sarcastic, insulting” and “misleading.”

“To smear someone’s good name and then come to this body and ask us to approve their position in state government,” said Sen. Roy Brown, R-Billings. “I can’t do that, I won’t do that.”

He told the Senate that Schye’s named appeared on a negative ad directed at Brown that made his mother cry.

Sen. Terry Murphy, R-Cardwell, said he was friends with Schye for 25 years until her name appeared on a flyer that Murphy said falsified his voting record to say he had voted to raise taxes.

“I cannot shrug that off,” Murphy said.

Democrats responded that Schye had nothing to do with the attack ads and warned Republicans not to make the governor’s appointments a political issue.

“Once the Senate goes that direction the mudslide begins,” said Sen. Vicki Cocchiarella, D-Missoula. “Make it about their qualifications, not the party.”

Schye, a former teacher, was named the Montana Health Care Trustee of the year in 2002 and was previously appointed by former Republican Gov. Marc Racicot to an advisory council on children and families, according to Sen. Carolyn Squires, D-Missoula. Multiple attempts to reach Schye by phone were unsuccessful.

But Republicans said Schye’s character, not her credentials, were at issue and there were equally qualified people available to serve on the board who hadn’t attached their names to “hurtful” political ads.

“There’s plenty of people who can fit this board who could be someone we could all be proud of and wouldn’t do things like this that would make us all go ‘yuck,”‘ said Sen. Corey Stapleton, R-Billings.

The Senate voted in favor of Schye’s appointment 28-22.