Independent Record

A longtime state employee with two decades' experience lobbying legislators now wants a seat in the Montana House.

Chuck Hunter, 54, filed this week for the House District 79 seat, now held by Rep. Dave Gallik -- who's barred from re-election due to term limits.

Hunter retired in 2005 after working 22 years as a state administrator overseeing Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), unemployment insurance, human rights and worker's compensation programs.

He's worked every legislative session since 1987 -- including a stint last year as a private lobbyist working on behalf of organizations representing community health centers and the arts -- and said he's grown to respect the institution -- though he wants to see a return to some of the more civil discourse of the past. Hunter said his lengthy experience would be an asset if he wins the seat.

"I'm ready to get started immediately," he said. "I've worked for Republican governors. I've worked for Democratic governors. As a state employee, you have to find a way to make things work and work with both sides of the aisle.

"The last couple sessions were dismal," Hunter added. "I'd really like to do some work as a legislator to restore some of the civility and the meaningful dialogue. The shrill partisan stuff, there's no room for it anymore and I'd like to change that."

Hunter got to work raising money early, and he said his campaign fund stands at just under $18,000. He wants to have about $20,000 on hand going into the election. According to the Secretary of State's Web site, he's so far running unopposed.

His primary goal is to improve Montanans' access to affordable health care. With thousands of uninsured kids in the state, he wants to expand eligibility for CHIP. And with tens of thousands more adults without insurance in Montana, he wants to expand the support for community health centers -- which offer services on a sliding fee scale, allowing patients to pay what they can.

"We've got a lot of people that really can't afford health care right now," he said.

"I think, long-term, we definitely need to move to a different national system than we have today, but it's going to take a long time to get there," Hunter said.

He believes citizens have the right to a system that covers basic health care needs, but he sees the insurance marketplace having a role as well in providing choices for consumers.

Hunter said his 22-year experience as a state administrator showed him the hard work and efficiency of state employees, but he said there are ways to improve this government's operations. For example, as a part of the budgeting process each department generates a large list of proposed improvements, which are then sent to the Governor's Office for consideration in the final budget proposal.

Most of those suggestions don't make it into the budget, and the lists are never seen by legislators or the public. Those documents contain a wealth of good ideas, Hunter said, and should be made available to legislators for consideration in the final budget.

Though he's never taught, Hunter earned a master's degree in education, and the subject is close to his heart. He wants to see an end to the disagreements over the state's public-education funding.

"I'd like to see everyone sit down in a room and agree on what it's going to take to make education work in this state ... and then have both sides live by the agreement they've reached," he said.

Hunter is part-owner of the Montana City Store and the Elkhorn Mountain Inn. He also operates a consulting business.

He's married with four children and has lived in Helena since the 1970s. Hunter has served as a board member for the Myrna Loy Center and the Intermountain Children's Home and is a member of the Montana Wildlife Federation. This is his first run for public office.

Click here to learn more about Hunter's candidacy.

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