Michael More
Michael More (b. June 14, 1963) is a former Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 70 from 2009 to 2013.
More's professional experience includes working in the following positions; freelance carpenter at More Rustic Finishes, sales at Terrell's Office Machines, sales at Rocky Mountain Timberlands, property management at Elk Ridge Ranch, and sales/marketing at Big Sky and Snowbird Resorts.
More earned his master's degree in dogmatic theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in 2010, and his B.S. in political science from the University of Santa Clara.
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, More served on these committees:
- Ethics, Chair
- Human Services
- Judiciary
- Local Government, Vice Chair
- Rules, Chair
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, More served on these committees:
Issues
Judicial elections
In the 2011 session of the Montana State Legislature, More sponsored House Bill 521, a bill that would require candidates for District Court and the Supreme Court in Montana to run on partisan labels instead of as nonpartisan office seekers.[1][2]. The bill, if approved, would refer a legislatively referred constitutional amendment to the November 2012 ballot to allow for partisan elections if voters statewide approve.[1]
More said, "The issue is greater transparency in the judicial branch" and that it would help voters see "the individual biases brought to the bench."[1] If Montana adopted partisan judicial elections, it would be the 15th state to do so.[2]
Montana prisons
A budget hearing in early 2011 brought up the idea of prisons earning their own money rather than relying on taxpayer funds. Members of the panel asked about privatizing some services at prisons and how could the state increase restitution payments from prisoners.
State prison officials told the joint subcommittee on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement and Justice that the department would need $170 million in 2012 and $180 million in 2013 to operate. There are about 12,000 people who are wards of the state in Montana with 8,000 of those on paroled supervision, officials said.
“Montana is tough on crime,” Gov. Brian Schweitzer's Budget Director David Ewer said. “We’re very compassionate people but we’re tough.”
Rep. Kenneth Peterson asked if privatizing some services had been considered and Ewer did not offer him much hope.
“We believe it is appropriate for government employees to deliver something as important as public safety,” Peterson said.
Peterson pointed out that the administration of Gov. Schweitzer does not traditionally advocate for private prisons or for shipping prisoners out of Montana to other facilities.
Mike Ferriter, director of the Department of Corrections, said it cost the private-run prison in Shelby $67.86 a day to keep a prisoner whereas Montana state prisons have a cost of $87.91 a day.
However, Ferriter added, Montana State Prison was becoming a prison that dealt with people who were sex offenders or had medical issues.
Peterson said he'd be interested in privatizing some prison services, but would not push the issue.
“I thought it would be good for the agency (DOC) to pursue,” Peterson said, adding that the state could privatize the prison ranch in Deer Lodge and send low-level offenders there to work.
Rep. More suggested the DOC look at ways to make prisoners pay restitution for their own incarceration.[3]
Elections
2012
More ran for District 3 of the Montana Public Service Commission in 2012. He faced James Brown, Edward McCrone and Roger Koopman in the Republican primary contest on June 5, which was ultimately won by Koopman.[4]
| Montana Public Service Commissioner District 3 Republican Primary, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
 Roger Koopman |
39.6% | 9,431 | ||
| James Brown | 31.5% | 7,519 | ||
| Michael More | 18.9% | 4,504 | ||
| Edward McCrone | 10% | 2,383 | ||
| Total Votes | 23,837 | |||
| Election results via The Montana Secretary of State. | ||||
2010
On November 2, 2010, More won election to the Montana House of Representatives. He did not have any opposition in the June 8 primary. April Buonamici ran for the seat on the Democratic ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.
| Montana House of Representatives, District 70 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Michael More (R)
|
2,835 | |||
| April Buonamici (D) | 1,736 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Michael More won the seat to the Montana House of Representatives for District 70, receiving 3,454 votes.
More raised $9,362 for his campaign.[5]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 70 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Michael More (R)
|
3,454 | |||
| Anne Millbrooke (D) | 2,784 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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External links
- Official campaign website
- Montana House of Representatives - Rep. Michael More
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2010, 2010, 2008
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 helenair.com, "Bill would make judge elections partisan," February 16, 2011
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Associated Press, "Bill Would Require Partisan Elections for Judges," 02-15-11
- ↑ "Rep floats idea of privatizing some services at Montana’s prisons," Montana Watchdog, January 8, 2011
- ↑ CSPAN, "Campaign 2012-Election Results From the Associated Press," accessed June 6, 2012
- ↑ 2008 Follow the Money's report on Michael's 2008 campaign contributions
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 70 2009–2013 |
Succeeded by Kerry White (R) |
