Link Neimark

Link Neimark (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Montana State Senate to represent District 5. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Neimark completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Neimark was a special election candidate who sought election to the At-Large Congressional District of Montana.^[1]

Biography

Link Neimark was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1975 and a graduate degree from the University of Alaska in 1979. His career experience includes working as a real estate investor, scientist, and coach/instructor.^[2]

Neimark has been affiliated with the following organizations:^[2]

Ducks Unlimited
Montana Conservation Voters
Montana Sierra Club
Whitefish Legacy Partnership
World Wildlife Fund
Montana Audubon Society
Professional Climbing Guide Institute
Nature Conservancy
Northwest Montana Climbers' Coalition
National Resources Defense Council
Professional Ski Instructors Association

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Montana State Senate District 5

Matt Regier defeated Link Neimark in the general election for Montana State Senate District 5 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Matt Regier (R)	74.3	9,157
	Link Neimark (D)	25.7	3,162

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,319
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 5

Link Neimark advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 5 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Link Neimark	100.0	1,015

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,015
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 5

Matt Regier defeated Marquis Laude in the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 5 on June 4, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Matt Regier	66.9	2,890
	Marquis Laude	33.1	1,427

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,317
= 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.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Neimark in this election.

2017

See also: Montana's At-Large Congressional District special election, 2017

Neimark sought election to the At-Large Congressional District of Montana in the 2017 special election. He was not chosen to be the Democratic nominee.^[1]

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Link Neimark completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Neimark's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Link Neimark. I have lived in Flathead Valley for over 20 years. I am a ski instructor, climbing guide, and real estate investor. I own property in Whitefish and Kalispell (and also Alaska and Wisconsin). I have bachelor degrees in zoology and psychology and a master degree in oceanography. In 2017, I ran for the US House of Representatives in the Montana special election. I have been an educator, a scientist, and an entrepreneur. As an educator, I learned how to inform and inspire, to communicate and collaborate. As a scientist, I learned to objectively gather information in order to reach unbiased, logical conclusions. As an entrepreneur, I learned that problems are really opportunities for innovation and success. I would love to bring my diverse knowledge, experience and creativity to bear upon the many challenges that affect the lives of all our citizens, regardless of their political persuasions. It is time that we work together and use some commonsense governance to improve the quality of life here in the Valley.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Let's stop the petty political bickering, and work together to improve the quality of life here in our wonderful state of Montana. Most citizens, regardless of their politics, share the same concerns including the high cost of housing and property taxes, quality education for the next generation, and preservation of our amazing wild Montana. Therefore, we all need to cooperate and collaborate to find compassionate, cost-effective, science-based solutions to these many challenges. I look forward to working with legislators on both sides of the isle to find commonsense solutions to these problems and thus improve the lives of all our citizens of this great state of Montana.
Expand Medicaid Enrollment. More than 134,000 Montanans lost their Medicaid coverage. This is incredibly disheartening. We should be increasing eligibility, not looking for ways to take away coverage from our neighbors who really need this support. Medicaid, a great program that benefits all Montanans, is funded primarily by the Federal government. This represents a multi-million dollar influx of money into our economy. It also reduces health care costs for the general population since people with Medicaid are not forced to seek care at emergency rooms, driving up costs for the rest of us. Sadly, without Medicaid reimbursement many rural hospitals might close. Expanding Medicaid is both the smart thing and the right thing to do.
Keep Public Lands in Public Hands. Montana is blessed with an abundance of Federal public lands. Most of the costs of managing these lands (including the huge expense of fire suppression) are borne by the Federal government. Transferring these lands to state control would then burden Montanans with over $300 million in annual costs. Managing these lands is neither cheap nor easy. I know. I worked as a management biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. If transferred to the state, the management costs would become unbearable and the State would likely be forced to sell off public land to private enterprises. Right now, we are in the absolute best position, enjoying millions of acres of public land for free.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1. Property Tax Relief - in the form of Homestead tax credits on primary residences. 2. It's a Woman's Right to Choose. A woman's health care is a private matter between her and her physician. It is not appropriate for old men in Helena to make these decisions. 3. Climate Change is an existential threat to the quality of life in Montana. We need to make responsible decisions to make a smooth transition to renewable energy. 4. Physician assisted dying for terminally ill patients must continue to be protected under Montana law. It reduces pain and suffering and allows passing with dignity. 5. Keep Public Schools Public. Vouchers and charter schools are Not the answer. They divert critically needed funds from public schools.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Book - Noam Chomsky - Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media. It explains how corporations use the media to further consolidate power and control.

Movie - Michael Moore - Capitalism: A Love Story
It highlights the failures and the successes of the American capitalist system where the richest one per cent have more than the bottom 95 percent combined.
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I have listed the above not because I do not believe in democracy and capitalism but because I believe these political and economic systems have been subverted by powerful corporations to enrich a relatively few people at the expense of the many. Perhaps by understanding how these systems have been hijacked, we may determine ways to make these systems more just and equitable and restore the integrity of these great institutions.
___________________________________________

One more great read that will help someone understand my political philosophy would be the United States Constitution.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, and common sense. An elected official should serve the people - not special interest groups and certainly not his self . He should listen to his constituents and legislate accordingly. There is no place for petty party politics. Elected officials must reach across the isle and work together to solve issues and improve the quality of life here in Montana.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I possess and use my commonsense. I have a sharp mind and I am well educated. I can "think outside the box" to find unique solutions to challenging issues. I have integrity - I cannot be bought. I am compassionate. I am a good listener. I am not in this for myself - I am running to help improve things for my neighbors.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

An elected official must seek to improve the quality of life for all citizens. An elected official must seek to establish the will of the people. The official should not impose his own (or his party's) ideology on the legislative process. Rather he should seek constructive solutions to issues affecting the lives of all of our citizens. Nor should he impose his own religious beliefs. An elected official must legislate in accordance to the US Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Montana.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like Montana to be a happier, healthier place in which to live.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

It was a summer job. I worked for Milwaukee County Parks picking up trash and adding chemicals to the wading pool. It paid $1/hour. I was thirteen years old then, and I have been working ever since.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Mighty Mouse - "Here I come to save the day! That means that Mighty Mouse is on his way".

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The governor serves as a check and balance on the legislature with his veto power. This seems ideal to me.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

1. Climate change may be the greatest challenge. Streams are heating up and impacting the survivability of trout smolt. The frequency of forest fires and their intensity is increasing. This destroys habitat, releases smoke and CO2 into the atmosphere, and results in skyrocketing costs for insurance. Glaciers are melting and the ski/winter sport season is impacted. Crops are not getting sufficient rain to flourish. Throughout America, people are dying due to extreme weather incidents. Montana needs to expedite transitioning to clean energy. This transition will create new jobs, bolster the economy, and ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty of Montana.
2. Managed population growth. Since the pandemic, and the airing of "Yellowstone", the population of Montana has been rapidly increasing. One effect is that housing costs (and property taxes) have sky-rocketed. It is hard for the average working man to afford shelter. Residents on fixed incomes may not be able to afford their property taxes and risk loosing their homes. Another negative impact is that the existing infrastructure cannot handle the influx of new residents.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Previous experience can be helpful in negotiating some of the logistics of the legislature, but it should not be a prerequisite. Too often the professional politician is consumed with getting reelected to stay in power. I prefer a candidate who is running for office for the right reason - to serve the people. I prefer a candidate who runs for office out of a sense of civic duty. I prefer a candidate who runs for office because of a strong desire to make his community a better place to live. These are the reasons that I am running for office.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. It is imperative that legislators work together for the good of the people. By building a relationship, you gain an understanding of that person. This builds rapport. You can now really listen to that person's ideas rather than ignoring them because they are from across the isle. We can then brainstorm, and look for the best ideas and reach a consensus. We all need to work together if we are going to make the world a better place.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Though some may fault his ideas, Jon Tester does a very nice job of reaching across the isle to get important bipartisan legislation passed - like the PACT Act which provides benefits to our veterans and their families. I really appreciate his willingness to look for areas of agreement and to compromise to achieve workable solutions to problems facing our communities.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I did run for US Congress in the 2017 Montana special election. I may consider a different political office in the future but now I am intently focused on my run for State Senate District 5.

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?

Recently, one resident in my district related a story about his wife who had a miscarriage. He was very grateful that she was able to receive emergency medical care. We discussed that in another state, like Louisiana which has strict prohibitions against abortions and harsh penalties for doctors, she may have been turned away from critical life-saving health care.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Q: How many congressmen does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Two—one to change the bulb and one to change it back again.
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Q: How are politicians like diapers?
A: They both need to be changed regularly, and for the same reason.
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Man: Two years ago, my brother ran for Congress.
Friend: What does he do now?
Man: Nothing—he got elected!
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Note: The above are funny because they point to some unfortunate truths about our government.

Hopefully, these situations will change if we elect the right people to our state and national legislatures. Vote wisely!

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

The use of emergency powers is usually just a grab for more power. I can think of very few instances when the use of emergency power can be justified.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I would consider introducing a bill to prohibit trapping on public lands (local, state, and federal). Trapping is a cruel, barbaric, torturous practice. Trapping on public lands poses a threat to pets, children, and endangered species which all might become accidentally trapped or ensnared. Leg-hold traps are outlawed in 88 civilized nations. A trapped animal might struggle for days until it dies of thirst or resorts to the desperate act of chewing off its own leg. Trapping has no place on public lands. People should be able to recreate on these public lands without the fear of being injured or maimed.

What committees interest you?

In 2023-2024 there were several Interim Committees that I would have loved to be part of:

1. Children, Families, Health, and Human Services
2. Environmental Quality Council

3. Education

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Citizens work hard for their money and have an absolute right to expect that their government will spend it wisely and will be completely transparent regarding all expenditures. Citizens have a right to a fiscally conservative, fiscally responsible government. Montana ran a surplus. That is commendable. Conversely, the Federal Government is now $34 trillion in debt. Annual interest on the debt is more than $1 trillion and exceeds our military budget. This debt is a crushing burden that impacts our economy and our national security. Future generations will find this growing liability unbearable and unsustainable unless we dramatically change course. Campaign financing is another area needing increased transparency. Right now huge amounts of "dark" money buy elections and buy politicians. Ideally, these PAC expenditures should be limited. (We can't really do that because of the horrible, unjustified Citizens United decision). At a minimum, the people of Montana have a right to know who is behind the "dark" money.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

I would support changes that would make it easier to put initiatives on the ballot, perhaps by requiring fewer signatures. We have a republic form of government where we elect legislators to make the laws. Unfortunately, too often the legislature ignores the will of the people. Ballot initiatives give citizens a direct voice in lawmaking.

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.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Link Neimark campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Montana State Senate District 5	Lost general	$9,653	$0
Grand total			$9,653	$0
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Lee Neimark Montana Congress. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Link Neimark - Google News

Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Montana Public Radio, "A Sixth Democrat Enters The Race For Zinke's House Seat," February 6, 2017
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 31, 2024

[show]

Montana's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Steve Daines (R)

Tim Sheehy (R)

Representatives

District 1

Ryan Zinke (R)

District 2

Troy Downing (R)

Republican Party (4)

[cong17-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Montana Public Radio, "A Sixth Democrat Enters The Race For Zinke's House Seat," February 6, 2017

[bio-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 31, 2024

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Link Neimark

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Montana State Senate District 5

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 5

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 5

Endorsements

2017

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign finance summary

Recent news

See also

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

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