Two-term Republican Rep. John Ward in a recent interview cast himself as the choice with the experience and the ability to work across the aisle to get things done in House District 84.

The incumbent faces a primary challenge from Mike Miller of Helmville. The district includes much of the northern Helena Valley, stretches north to Highway 200 and the Cascade County line, and extends westward to cover the southern half of Powell County. The winner of the June 3 primary faces a Democrat and a Libertarian in the general election.

“I believe that I’ve clearly demonstrated — coming from the conservative perspective — a willingness to work with and look for common ground across the philosophical spectrum for workable and fiscally responsible solutions,” Ward said in a recent interview. “I’m not saying that we found them, I’m saying I’m always willing to make the extra effort.”

At Ward’s lodge last spring, a group of Republicans met with administration officials to hammer out the compromise that ended the 2007 Legislature’s budget stalemate and wrapped up the ensuing special session. He said he’s taken some hits from conservatives for his role, but when asked why he did it, his answer is simple.

“The state’s more important than the partisan bull—— that was taking place,” Ward said.

Republicans had a slim majority in the state House, while Democrats held the governor’s office and a majority in the Senate.

“We went through the entire session holding the line, trying to get permanent tax cuts. We failed,” Ward said.

While some have attacked his conservative credentials, Ward rattled off the list of conservative groups to which he belongs, including the National Rifle Association, an anti-abortion group, and local business and building organizations. He spent his early life a Democrat, but gradually moved to the right and proudly considers himself a Republican.

Still, he knows answers sometimes can be found in the middle.

“I was taught, growing up and in my education, that the art of politics is seeking common ground,” Ward said. “I don’t think (Democrats) have horns and they shouldn’t think I have horns.”

In the interview, Ward said his biggest priorities for the coming session are education and the economy — with the latter discussion affected by both the severity of the wildfire season and the state of the national economy.

Ward has served two terms on the House Education Committee and said school funding will be back among the top priorities for the 2009 session.

He believes Montana should follow the example set by Wyoming, which has used the tax dollars gleaned from natural-resource development to fund its education system. Montana is the “Saudi Arabia of coal,” he said, and its time the state promoted development of those resources to fund its needs.

“In an environmentally sensitive manner, we’ve got to develop our resources so we increase our tax base to do the things that we need to do, education being the primary one off-hand,” Ward said.

“I don’t have any problem with scientifically based cautions and precautions put on a project,” he added, “but some of it’s pure obstructionism.”

Ward believes times will be more difficult for Montana during this session.

“We don’t see the budget surpluses that we had the last time around,” he said. “In fact, we’re not even talking about them.”

Ward raised $6,200 through May 17 and spent about $1,900, according to his campaign finance report. He loaned his campaign $1,300. He raised $705 from political action committees, including the Montana Coal Council, the Montana Gas and Oil PAC, the Montana Chiropractic Association, the Hospitality PAC and Citizens for Responsible Government. The rest of his funds have come from individual donors, with 36 people giving him more than $35.

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Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com