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Kathryn G.H. Nicholes
Kathryn G.H. Nicholes (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the Montana House of Representatives to represent District 30. She lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Nicholes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 30
Incumbent Wylie Galt defeated Kathryn G.H. Nicholes in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 30 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Wylie Galt (R) | 82.2 | 3,990 |
 | Kathryn G.H. Nicholes (L)  | 17.8 | 862 | |
| Total votes: 4,852 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 30
Incumbent Wylie Galt advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 30 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Wylie Galt | 100.0 | 2,442 |
| Total votes: 2,442 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kathryn G.H. Nicholes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Nicholes' responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
I want: Legal marijuana and hemp End Daylight Saving Time Start using ranked choice voting
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am personally passionate about these areas of public policy: I support Right to Repair, because prohibiting owner repair or modification of proprietary technology artificially limits our freedom to do our best with what we have. I support individual civil rights and justice, because restricting anyone's freedom unjustly does damage to our common rights. I support an economic environment that sustains everyone's freedom to pursue happiness, because everyone's happiness is important to me.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to Adlai Stevenson, who said: My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Characteristics important for an elected official are: respecting, appreciating, and caring about everyone.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
As a parent, business owner, and household manager, I have faced decisions important to me, with lasting consequences, and created strategies that try to balance competing valid interests. I have talked issues over and come to consensus with my spouse. I have experience encouraging the health, morale and ambition of my community.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Montana's legislature stewards our state economy, arranging for services and infrastructure that support people's individual life plans, now and into the future.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
Early historical events in my memory are the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 (grade school), the first moon landing in 1969 (early teen), and the Vietnam War.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job was third shift at an answering service - a summer job.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Armistice Day is important to my family - my father's father fought in WW I.
What is your favorite book? Why?
How to pick one book? The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin speaks about what can be important in a human life. Black Beauty speaks about kindness and the evil of ignorance.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
The last song that got stuck in my head was the Grateful Dead's Ripple.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
I rely on making organized notes to make up for not having an excellent memory.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
Montana's senate provides more legislative community continuity because the 4-year terms are staggered - only half of our Senators may change every 2 years. Montana's house lets voters try someone with new ideas for just 2 years, so it is a venue for innovation.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
It can be beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics. There are many backgrounds that can be very useful. It helps to be a quick study (like me); no one knows every issue in detail, and legislators often face unexpected decisions and evolving situations.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Montana's greatest challenge over the next decade will be to defend personal liberty against modern abilities to monitor and control people's behavior. Treating citizens as responsible, trusted adults is a policy worth defending.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
The ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature is mutual trust that we are all honestly working for the good of Montana's people.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Of course it's beneficial to build relationships with other legislators. Cooperation is easier with familiar people, and I get good insights from talking over an issue with someone who thinks differently than myself.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Montana's current redistricting method by an independent commission seems to give us adequate geographical districts: the majority and minority leader in each legislative house each selects one commissioner, and those four commissioners choose one more as chair. (The Montana Supreme Court selects the fifth commissioner if they can't agree on one.) I'd enjoy seeing more "third party" participation, if the issue comes up at some point.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
My research, analytical, and strategic skills can bring new ideas and sound opinions to our Education, Energy, and Transportation planning areas, helping to develop our state's human resources and economic infrastructure.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
I'd love to be a Libertarian leader in our legislature. Point me at a job that needs doing.
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
I will try to be as much myself as I can be. I do my best when I think deeply and act sincerely.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
If I think I can be useful, and I am invited again to run, I will consider candidacy to serve in another political office. If not, I will probably work to organize a non-profit concerned with people's well-being and our economy.
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
I spoke with a veteran who makes good money as a house painter. He works mostly near Bozeman, but is homeless. He said he has applied to housing rentals many times. He believes there is a prejudice against veterans in housing rental; he thinks that they are assumed to be likely to be emotionally unstable.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Montana House of Representatives elections, 2018
- Montana House of Representatives
External links
Footnotes
