Margaret MacDonald

Margaret MacDonald
Montana House of Representatives, District 54
Incumbent
In office
2009 - present
Term ends
January 5, 2015
Years in position	4
Party	Democratic
Compensation
Base salary	$82.64/day
Per diem	$105.31/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 6, 2012
First elected	2008
Next election	November 4, 2014
Term limits	4 terms (8 years)
Personal
Birthday	08/31/1951
Place of birth	Glendive, MT
Religion	United Church of Christ
Websites
Office website
Campaign website

Margaret "Margie" MacDonald (b. August 31, 1951) is a Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing the 54th District since 2009. Starting in the 2011-2012 session, MacDonald serves as a Minority Whip.

MacDonald's professional experience includes working as the following; director at the Montana Office of Community Service, executive director at the Montana Association of Churches, staff director at the Northern Plains Resource Council, and staff member at the Northern Plains Resource Council.

Issues

Campaign themes

2012

MacDonald lists the following issues on her website:

Providing Quality, Affordable Healthcare to all Montanans

I understand that health care costs are crushing Montana families and businesses. I supported the “Healthy Montana Kids” Initiative 155 which brings access to health care coverage to 30,000 Montana children who do not have it.

Investing in Good Teachers and Classrooms

I believe that good schools and good teachers lead to good, high paying jobs. In particular, I’ll champion affordable job training programs at our College of Technology. After years of shifting the cost of higher education onto students and their families—making it unaffordable for many—it is time to turn that around so all Montana kids can have access and opportunities for higher education.

Jobs and Energy

I know that the big oil companies are making enormous profits while high gas prices are busting our budgets. I believe we can build our own homegrown energy economy making affordable, renewable energy using Montana’s own sun, wind, and geothermal power for heat and electricity. We can invest in construction jobs weatherizing low income housing and building new energy star offices and homes. I am a leading champion of biodiesel that we can grow and process here in Montana. That helps our rural communities, creates new manufacturing jobs, and keeps our energy dollars circulating here, instead of exporting them to the Persian Gulf.

Protecting Hunting, Fishing Lands

I will continue to fight to protect Montana’s outdoor heritage and our access to public lands for hunting, fishing, and recreation. I’ll work together with landowners and sportsmen to boost successful programs such as Block Management, and I’ll oppose putting Montana’s public lands up for sale or charging fees to access our public lands and forests.

Fair Taxes for All Montanans

I know that during the 1990’s and early part of this decade, when Republicans ran Montana, they shifted the tax burdens from the largest and wealthiest businesses to homeowners and small businesses. I will work for a return to fair taxes for all Montanans.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, MacDonald served on the following committees:

Montana Committee Assignments, 2013
• Agriculture
• Judiciary
• Rules

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, MacDonald served on these committees:

Montana Committee Assignments, 2011
• Agriculture
• Ethics, Vice Chair
• Judiciary
• Rules

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, MacDonald served on these committees:

Montana Committee Assignments, 2009
• Agriculture
• Judiciary
• Transportation

Elections

2012

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2012

MacDonald won re-election in the 2012 election for Montana House of Representatives, District 54. MacDonald ran unopposed in the June 5 primary election and defeated David Lewis (R) in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.

Montana House of Representatives, District 54, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Margaret MacDonald Incumbent	58.7%	1,931
	Republican	David Lewis	41.3%	1,359
Total Votes				3,290

2010

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2010

On November 2, 2010 MacDonald won election to the Montana House of Representatives. She did not have any opposition in the June 8 primary. Dennis Lenz ran for the seat on the Republican ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.

Montana House of Representatives, District 54 General Election (2010)
Candidates		Votes
Margaret MacDonald (D)		1,208
Dennis Lenz (R)		1,164

2008

On November 4, 2008 Margaret MacDonald won the seat to the Montana House of Representatives for District 54, receiving 1,749 votes.

MacDonald raised $19,411 for her campaign.

Montana House of Representatives, District 54
Candidates		Votes
Margaret MacDonald (D)		1,749
Debra Bonogofsky (D)		1,641

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

2010

In 2010, a year in which MacDonald was up for re-election, she collected $17,839 in donations.

No contributions to her campaign were over $1,000.

Personal

MacDonald and her husband John, have two children.

Recent news

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Margaret MacDonald News Feed

• Honor Roll: May 12 - Cumberlink - The Sentinel

External links

Suggest a link

• Campaign website
• Montana House of Representatives - Rep. Margaret MacDonald
• Biography from Project Vote Smart
• Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2010, 2008, 2006

References

Political offices
Preceded by -	Montana House of Representatives District 54 2009–present	Succeeded by N/A