Why do you want to serve in the Montana legislature?

Robert Goffena: I have always served our community. I have been a County Commissioner for 12 years. I have been a leader on the dewatered Musselshell on Deadmans Basin Water Users Association and Chair most of 30 years. The DNRC sent me to other river basins to help them learn what we have done here with water rights, measuring devices, and education as well as to the State legislature on how we improved our water delivery shortages. I've served our youth as a 4-H leader for over 30 years. With my degree in Agriculture Business and Economics from MSU and being a 4th generation Montanan and following my Father and Grandfather in serveing the Citizens of Musselshell County It just seems the logical next step to serve our house district in the State legislature.

Greg Oblander: My desire to serve in the legislature stems from my many years of community service where I was actively involved in coaching baseball and basketball, serving in Boy Scouts and in Big Brothers and Sisters, teaching ATV safety classes, and involvement in the legislative process through my work in oil and gas, outdoor recreation and health care. I believe each of us has an obligation to give to our communities by doing what we can to make the places, where we live, better. This requires that we provide our time and experience to help others grow and learn. Being elected to the legislature allows me the opportunity to serve District 40 with the same goals and commitment I have used my entire life. Having been involved in the legislative process for several years provides me with a strong understanding of how to be effective and successful in serving our District.

Bruce Hoiland: I want to serve in the Montana legislature to give all voters in House District 40 a true voice. We need a representee that will work hard for all people in HD40. It is easy to say I won't support something or a particular issue or group of people. If the voters vote to pass an issue it is my responsibility to represent them. My voice will be the people voice.

John Nickelson: I have the honesty and integrity required of a Representative. I have the energy, determination and intelligence to find solutions to problems in areas like education and taxation. If elected, I will strive to represent the best interest of every citizen in District 40.

How would you describe your political philosophy?

Greg Oblander: My political philosophy is conservative, family-oriented and I am a staunch defender of both our US Constitution and Montana Constitution. Our forefathers knew exactly what they intended when writing these great documents and we, as legislators and citizens, must do all we can to protect our rights, freedoms and liberties that are granted through these documents. Each and every bill must be compared to the constitution and its protections.

Bruce Hoiland: I am a fiscal responsible Republican that believes in God and Country. When I am handling the people's funds it is very important that I work hard to research all possible cost saving ways to spend your money. Also, I will guarantee that all budgets will be annually audited and available to all people.

Robert Goffena: I am a Conservative Republican with a rural background including experience in farming, ranching, government and the oil field. I support coal and resource development. With 3 married children, 8 grand children and many relatives living in HD 40, I want a bright future for this community.

John Nickelson: I am conservative fiscally, legislatively and socially. I am thankful for the balanced budget amendment. I'm not in favor of creating volumes of new legislation over issues that are already addressed by the Constitution or Montana Code. I am against government efforts to influence social change. I support Montana's economic best interest.

What goals do you have serving in the 2023 legislative session?

Bruce Hoiland: My goals are many when it comes to serving. Once elected it is a goal of mine to serve on the Business and Labor committee. Being a business owner on main street Montana from 1971 to 1998 I have firsthand knowledge about how thing that our government does effect business. My second goal would be to serve on Government or FWP committees. I have worked at three government levels, City Government, County Government and State Government which gives me a InSite that very valuable. As far as the Fish Wildlife and Parks my personal volunteer work as a member of region 5 citizen's advocate committee give me an InSite that no other candidates have.

Greg Oblander: My primary goal is to hit the ground running. We only meet for 90 days every other year, so it is imperative that we are involved from day one. That means making sure we are on the best committees that we can be in order to utilize our experience and background in the most effective time we have. Often a new candidate that is not experienced with the legislative process will sit and watch without doing much. My experience eliminates that possibility because I have been there!

Robert Goffena: My goals are simple. I going to carry the problems and ideas of my district to the legislature. We are there to represent and defend them and serve them not our selves. We represent the wants and needs of our district and only our district.

John Nickelson: If elected, I will seek ways to influence how property taxes are levied and spent. Many areas in Montana are taxed at too high a rate and some Montana schools are interfering in the parent child relationship. I also hope to be involved in helping restore the balance between the Federal Government and the state of Montana's rights. Presently, the Federal Government is infringing on many of Montana's rights and working to suppress or traditional economic industries.

What governmental programs need modifying? If any?

Robert Goffena: Medicaid will be a big issue. The Federal Government sends money to the states and Montana pays the rest directly or as charity care. We will have to strike a balance to maximize Federal Payments and Minimize charity care in such a way that our rural hospitals will survive.

Bruce Hoiland: Being a licensed mine foreman in coal mining and agate mining I have an inside view perspective. Our State makes it very hard to get permitted to do anything in the mining industry. When permits are issued you don't see inspectors on the job, sometimes never again. Our attitude needs to change if we are truly interested in good results for our environment. If we would provide needed oversite to be helpful in getting a good result it would be better for all of us.

John Nickelson: I would like to see more oversight of Montana's Office of Public Instruction. I believe Montana parents should have more control of school curriculums. We should protect our children from gender influencing, Critical Race Theory and movements like the 1619 Project. There is plenty of room for improvement on the success of our efforts to graduate students with good skills in communication, mathematics, civics and history.

Greg Oblander: The Correctional System, The Department of Revenue and taxation criteria, DPHHS, all need to be evaluated and modified for clarification and reasonableness of taxation. This includes property taxes that have gotten out of hand. Work Comp. needs to be evaluated for fairness and equity. Too many criminals are being allowed back on the streets with little to no deterrent because they are not being held. They know they won't do jail time. People are fatigued from taxation. There is no relief and no break. Only more, more, more! The current 40-year high in inflation is also having a devastating effect on everyone with no end in sight. Mental health is impacting numerous individuals and we need to find answers and means of help for our fellow citizens.

Do you have specific legislation that you would like to see passed?

Greg Oblander: My desire is to pass bills that will protect small business owners from overly aggressive auditors. We need to make State rules equal to Federal rules instead of two different rules that are confusing and subject to interpretation by the auditor. I also want to pass bills to strengthen our constitutional rights as citizens. These bills, and others, will require due diligence of existing language in bills that need revised or clarified.

Robert Goffena: I am not out to change the world. As legislation is proposed I will decide what helps our district and what my community needs as related by our members. In general I am a conservative and have dealt with county, ranch, irrigation and family budgets. I believe in balanced budgets and limited increases in taxes.

Bruce Hoiland: I will offer legislation to put a fee on all electric vehicles. We currently pay a use tax for our highways if we use gas or diesel. These funds are used by cities and counties also to maintained roads. We must make everyone pay for maintained of our roads. At the present time electric vehicles pay very little or nothing depending if they are hybrid.

John Nickelson: I am in favor of legislation that restores Montana's Supreme Court to it's originally allotted five Justice seats.

Are there any political issues that you believe that there is no middle ground for compromise? What are they?

Bruce Hoiland: I am a strong Pro-Life candidate and I will stand tall when it comes to representing the unborn.

Greg Oblander: The 2nd amendment

Robert Goffena: There are political issues with no middle ground for compromise mostly because of the inability of some people to compromise in good faith. Subjects like abortion can be very heated. The legislature must compromise in good faith and do their best to come to consensuses.

John Nickelson: I will not compromise with those who seek to pass legislation that violates either the US or Montana Constitutions. Neither will I support any legislation that seeks to force our financial institutions to comply with the Environmental, Social and Governance movement. I believe there are many issues on which compromise between conservatives and liberals is required to arrive at the best solution. I believe in civil and honest debate on any issue.

Are the taxes that the state receives adequate or too high?

Robert Goffena: Taxes are to high. Fat needs to be trimmed and pork limited. Increased taxes should be limited to the inflation rate if at all possible.

Bruce Hoiland: The taxes are relevant to what the public needs require. When the public ask or votes on new things it requires money to implement these needs.

Greg Oblander: The question of taxes being too high or adequate is very general in its context. Each tax should be evaluated on its own merit. No tax is exempt from being scrutinized.

John Nickelson: Some areas in Montana are paying excessive property tax and receiving too little or inadequate service in return. I will not support any tax rate increases or the initiation of new taxes without the elimination of other tax programs.