Sensing an opportunity to swipe a major employer from Helena, three Butte legislators have written a letter to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana CEO Sherry Cladouhos, encouraging the health insurer to consider moving to the Mining City if a deal for a new building at the Helena Regional Airport falls through.

Reps. Jim Keane, John Sesso and George Groesbeck, all Democrats, said they have been reading with interest news stories about Blue Cross's plans for a new office building to house its 550 Helena employees.

"We could not help but notice the controversy during the site selection process and apparent hostility from certain folks in Helena over the pending decision," they wrote. "As legislators from the 'Can-Do City' we want to extend an offer to consider our historic landmark district for your new building."

In a statement responding to the letter, Cladouhos said that while Blue Cross has a commitment in place with the Helena airport and continues to work through local issues, "If we encounter any expected developments in this process, we will certainly explore all our options."

Cladouhos was traveling and could not be reached for further comment Thursday.

In a letter last month to both Blue Cross and the Helena Regional Airport Authority, two of Helena's five city commissioners, Alan Peura and Paul Cartwright, outlined a number of concerns they have about the process that led to Blue Cross signing a deal to move to the airport, including whether the airport's rules allow for long-term commercial leases and whether those rules were followed.

In response, the airport authority's board is preparing a report outlining the entire process. That report is expected to be complete by the end of the month. The lease is due to be signed by mid-December, with payments from Blue Cross, starting at $240,000 annually, beginning the first of the year.

Peura called the Butte letter "a diversion from the real issues here in terms of making sure the airport's rules for disposal of property are in accordance with state requirements."

Cartwright could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Dan Ellison, chairman of the airport authority board of directors, said news of the Butte letter got his attention.

"As a citizen of Helena and a homeowner and a taxpayer, any time I see another community looking to move one of the largest employers out of here, I'd be concerned and I don't want to see that happen," he said.

Ellison added, though, that while he wants to keep the wheels turning with Blue Cross, he doesn't want to consummate the deal until he's satisfied the process and the airport's rules have been fully vetted.

"Our goal is to proceed forward with the Blue Cross lease, and once the review is complete, if we find we acted in accordance with the rules for operating the airport, I'd like to see that project go forward," he said.

This isn't the first time Butte politicians have attempted to lure major employers from Helena. At a groundbreaking ceremony last week for a new downtown office building for Montana State Fund, Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena, said Butte legislators were "circling like a bunch of ravens looking for roadkill" during the last Legislative session, when the State Fund hadn't yet pinned down its building location.

"They're hungry for good jobs, and they've got resources to put into economic development," Lewis said Thursday. "We'd better be paying attention to the businesses up here. There isn't going to be anything that comes up that they aren't going to try to grab."

The Butte letter said the city can offer "tax and other financial incentives" to Blue Cross, and touted other economic development efforts underway in the city and a plug for the city's quality of life.

Airport manager Ron Mercer said he understands why Butte's politicians sent the letter.

"Butte doesn't miss a bet," he said. "I think any community would be happy to get Blue Cross. I don't hold anything against them. I'd be happy for our town to get a new business with 500 or 600 new employees."

Reporter John Harrington: 447-4080 or john.harrington@helenair.com.