A Helena Republican legislator has filed a political practices complaint against his primary-election challenger, claiming he misrepresented Ward's 2007 Legislature voting record.

House District 84 incumbent John Ward filed the complaint Tuesday against Mike Miller of Helmville. Miller distributed a pamphlet at a recent meeting claiming Ward had gone against the majority of House Republicans, siding with Democrats on 11 votes last year.

"He lied abut my record ... and that's what got me mad," Ward said Tuesday.

"He attempted to make me look like a goose-stepping Democrat, but I'm not a goose-stepper for either party," Ward added.

Miller, in a phone interview, said he gave the flier to three people at a meeting for Ron Paul supporters on April 29. He said he met with Political Practices Commissioner Dennis Unsworth on Friday and learned the pamphlets violated campaign laws in several ways. He said he will no longer distribute the information.

"I will not be using those in the future, so I believe this is a non-issue," Miller said. He questioned why Ward had filed his complaint after the problem, in his mind, had been resolved.

"I have no way of reading his mind," Ward responded in a subsequent interview.

"I have no way of knowing what he's done or not done. In my view, he could have asked me at any time ... he could have asked me on any of those things. He made no effort. He lied. That's the one thing that's illegal in Montana politics ... you can't lie about a guy's voting record."

Unsworth could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Miller said he learned the brochure violated campaign rules in three ways -- it did not include his campaign address, it did not include an affirmation statement saying he knew the information was correct to the best of his ability, and it did not specify which particular vote he was referencing for the bills.

The brochure listed the bills alongside "yes" or "no" statements for how House Republicans and Democrats and Ward voted on those issues.

Ward took issue with 10 of the 11 statements. In one case, Miller said Ward had voted for Senate Bill 201 when he actually had opposed the bill in a floor vote.

Ward also contested Miller's assertions that he had gone against the majority of House Republicans in nine of the bills listed on the flier.

For example, Miller said Republicans voted against House Bill 9. According to state records, 11 Republicans and Constitution Party member Rick Jore voted "no." That means 38 Republicans, including Ward, voted for the bill, which was sponsored by Brockway Republican Dave Kasten.

Miller characterized Republicans as voting against House Bill 330, when actually only 15 had voted "no."

Miller, when asked whether he agreed that he had mischaracterized the House Republican voting record, did not directly answer the question. He instead said he believed the issue had been resolved.

"It was an error on my part on the campaign flier ... and I've rectified it. It's a closed issue in my opinion," he said.

Ward was included in a list of so-called "socialist" Republicans distributed by Rep. Roger Koopman, R-Bozeman, earlier this year. Koopman worked to solicit primary challengers for the representatives and senators on the list.

Miller said he has spoken to Koopman several times but made his own decision to run. He wished to thank the person who brought the flier to Unsworth's office. Miller said he wants to follow the rules.

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