Ruth Weissman
Ruth Weissman (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Montana House of Representatives to represent District 59. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Weissman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Ruth Weissman's professional experience includes working as a psychologist. She earned a degree from The University of Tuebingen in 1978 and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1985.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 59
Incumbent Marty Malone defeated Ruth Weissman in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 59 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Marty Malone (R)  | 65.5 | 3,643 |
 | Ruth Weissman (D) | 34.5 | 1,921 | |
| Total votes: 5,564 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 59
Ruth Weissman advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 59 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ruth Weissman | 100.0 | 760 |
| Total votes: 760 | |||
| = 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 59
Incumbent Marty Malone advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 59 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Marty Malone | 100.0 | 2,290 |
| Total votes: 2,290 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tyler Vance (L)
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ruth Weissman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Weissman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I am running for office because, as a mother and grandmother, I have grown concerned about the state of democracy in Montana and the many challenges our communities face. From the affordable housing crisis to the suicide crisis, from declining open access to public lands to the underfunding of our public schools, we face problems that aren't "Republican" problems of "Democrat" problems--these are problems affecting us all. They threaten our cherished Montana way of life. For the sake of our peoples' and communities' health and economic well-being, and--importantly-- for the sake of future generations, we urgently need to deal with these challenges. These are problems that require that we listen to and work with local communities and work across the aisle to find solutions that work for the people in my District and in the State of Montana.
My career focused on improving public health by developing effective interventions and by teaching future generations the skills needed for making a positive difference in their communities. I wrote an economically viable youth suicide prevention plan for Montana; was chair of the Livingston HealthCare Foundation; and I volunteer for the Livingston Food Resource Center.
While I was not lucky enough to be born here, I was smart enough to choose Montana as my home. I love the people of Montana for their honesty, grit, and care for their neighbors. I will faithfully represent the interests of all people in Park County and the State.- The challenges we face require that we consider the diversity of the people living in District 59. We have ranchers/farmers; manufacturers and inventors; artists and public servants; tourism enterprises and retirees. Despite this diversity, we have so much in common. Montanans love the beauty of our lands, spend a great deal of time outdoors working or recreating, treasure our wildlife, and care about protecting open access to public lands for hunting, fishing, or camping. As Representative, I will work to build on existing models of success in finding a balance of access to and conservation of our natural resources, and finding solutions that are fair to all.
Addressing affordable housing is critical to people's personal well-being but also to the economy and the health of our schools and other civic institutions. Families are leaving because they can't afford the high rents or housing prices. Across the district, folks are worried that their children won't be able to live in our communities. People who want to come and work here end up turning job offers down when they realize they cannot afford housing costs. Unless we deal with the affordable housing crisis, our public schools (especially in small communities) are in a death spiral, if families have to move away. As Representative, I will support local community efforts to identify solutions, keeping in mind that one size won't fit all.
- Montana leads the nation in suicide deaths and lacks mental health resources. As a mental health expert, I know that these problems can be addressed effectively and without creating huge new budget burdens. Providing quality mental health care improves patients' well-being and productivity. It also saves people, businesses, and the State money. As Representative, I will ensure that the State invests in the infrastructure and staff capacity building needed to deliver quality care; reduces inefficiencies or costly bureaucratic policies; and fully utilizes federal funds to which we are entitled.
Most fundamentally, I believe that the responsibility of a Representative is to, as the name implies, REPRESENT the people in my district. This means that I will actively solicit the views and needs of the people I have been elected to represent. Because my constituents likely will have a wide range of views, it also means that I will actively work to forge common ground. I will make every effort to hear all perspectives, to use data and other sources of best practices, to be transparent in my decision making, and to propose solutions that integrate all sources of information.
I do not seek office to advance my personal interests or impose upon the voters my opinions. I am not beholden to any interest group and therefore can fairly represent everyone in my district.
I pledge to fulfill all three aspects of the role of Representative: I promise to...
1) PROPOSE LEGISLATION that address the major challenges confronting people in my District and the State.
2) ALLOCATE FUNDING prudently. People in Montana work hard and deserve a government that spends tax money thoughtfully. It is possible to balance public need and fiscal responsibility by reducing waste, implementing cost-effective programs, and investing in prevention.
Improved mental health services and suicide prevention
A workable plan to address affordable housing
Another memorable event was the State visit of Queen Elizabeth. A relative took me to watch her motorcade drive by. Again, she felt near God-like and both Kennedy and the Queen were perfect models of public service. It was a memorable moment because for the first time I felt the power of a political figure over a crowd.
Politics have become too tribal, and if elected, I will work hard to be open minded and establish respectful relationships with all my fellow legislators.
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
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 15, 2022
