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Diane Smith (Montana)
Diane Smith was a 2012 Democratic candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the At-Large Congressional District of Montana. Smith was defeated by Kim Gillan in the Democratic primary on June 5, 2012.[1]
Biography
Smith was raised in Virginia. While attending law school, she worked for Sprint. After graduation, she joined Alltel, where she remained until 2001 when her family relocated to Whitefish, Montana. She then co-founded Auroras Entertainment, a Montana-based IPTV and advanced media services company. She is a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Montana.[2]
Campaign themes
2012
On her campaign website, Smith listed six issues. They are:[3]
- Jobs
- On her website, Smith says, "Diane proposes that we cut through these stale debates by 1) “rightsizing” regulation so that companies vital to our Nation’s prosperity are no longer allowed to self-regulate; 2) allowing small companies greater access to capital in order to spur innovation and a streamlining of the regulations they face as start-ups; and 3) ensuring nationwide access to the infrastructure necessary to support small business start ups and growth."
- Social Security and Medicare
- On her website, Smith says, "Diane rejects efforts to privatize these critical programs and believes that, having watched the volatility of the stock market and the meltdown of the financial markets in recent years, the risks of privatization have grown even more apparent. Diane supports the idea of letting the federal government negotiate for lower prices for prescription medicine for seniors, and knows that the rising cost of health care is what drives Medicare’s growth—not any problem with Medicare itself. She also believes that, working closely with care providers and encouraging effective use of new technologies, we can begin to lower the costs of health care."
- Protecting Montana's Natural Environment
- On her website, Smith says, "Diane Smith understands the value of Montana’s natural beauty and heritage. It’s a part of the reason she and her family fell in love with the state over a decade ago. She’s a believer in the value of conservation and a supporter of policies that balance economic activity with recreation."
- Education
- On her website, Smith says, "She believes in a strong, vibrant public education system because, among many other good reasons, it is also the best way to ensure America’s long-term prosperity."
- Women's Rights
- On her website, Smith says, "Having marched in support of the Equal Rights Amendment in the late 70’s and been a trailblazer in historically male-only businesses, Diane understands the challenges of being a woman in the workplace. Diane will fight against any efforts in Congress to erode women’s reproductive, professional, or civil rights."
- Gun Rights
- On her website, Smith says, "Diane Smith grew up in a family that enjoyed hunting, and supports the Second Amendment. She knows that guns are an important part of Montana’s culture, economy, and history and emphatically believes that government shouldn’t be in the business of intruding on our personal lives by limiting gun rights."[3]
Elections
2012
Smith ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Montana's at-large District. She sought the nomination on the Democratic ticket.[4] She faced Kim Gillan, Jason Ward, Dave Strohmaier, Rob Stutz, Franke Wilmer and Sam Rankin in the Democratic primary. Smith was defeated by Kim Gillan in the Democratic primary on June 5, 2012.[1][5]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Kim Gillan |
31% | 25,077 |
| Diane Smith | 15.6% | 12,618 |
| Dave Strohmaier | 14.1% | 11,366 |
| Rob Stutz | 3.2% | 2,586 |
| Franke Wilmer | 18.4% | 14,836 |
| Sam Rankin | 11.6% | 9,382 |
| Jason Ward | 6.1% | 4,959 |
| Total Votes | 80,824 | |
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Smith has been married to her husband, David Pickeral, since 1980. They live in Whitefish, MT.[6]
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Montana Secretary of State, "Election Results" accessed June 5, 2012
- ↑ Diane Smith for Congress, "About" April 18, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Diane Smith for Montana, "Issues" May 7, 2012
- ↑ Billings Gazette, "Whitefish businesswoman becomes 5th Democrat in U.S. House race," November 3, 2011
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Results," accessed July 23, 2012
- ↑ Official Campaign Site, "About Diane" accessed February 4, 2012
