Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 3

Obltuaritt, records 4 A Taxing session predicted SA Great Fads Tribune Tuesday, January 3, 1969 State officials sworn in, given solemn charge If 1" 1 mijf mm 'YT 4- 5 By SUE OTONNELL Associated Pre Writer HELENA Montana's top elected officials were sworn into office on Monday and given a solemn charge to keep the interests of Montana's people "foremost in your mind" during their years in office. As proud family members and supporters looked on in the Supreme Court chambers, the oaths of office were administered to 10 officials half of them new to their offices and all of them elected In the November general election. "This court wants to express its appreciation to each and every one of you for becoming public officers of this state," Chief Justice Jean Tumage said after the 41-minute ceremony. He told them he was confident they had earned the public trust and asked them to act with "the interests of the people of this state foremost in your mind." The ceremony took place shortly before the inauguration of Gov. Stan Stephens and Lt.

Gov. Allen Kolstad. Those taking their offices for the first time were: Attorney General Marc Raci-cot, who had previously served as head of the County Prosecutors Services Bureau in the Justice Department. Racicot, a Republican, defeated Lewis and Clark County Attorney Mike McGrath to win the post. The attorney general post opened up when Mike Greely, a Democrat, made an unsuccessful bid for governor.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Nancy Keenan, a special education teacher who had served three terms in the Montana House before running for the state schools post. Keenan, an Anaconda Democrat, defeated retired teacher Barbara Foster to win the post. Former Superintendent Ed Argenbright, a Republican, did not seek a third Secretary of State Mike Cooney calls the Montana House of 1989 Legislature. Representatives to order Monday, marking the opening the term In the office. Secretary of State Mike Cooney, a former legislator who worked for U.S.

Sen. Max Baucus before winning his office. Cooney, a Democrat, defeated Republican state Sen. Pete Story of Emigrant in the general election. The secretary of state's post opened up when then-incumbent Jim Waltermire, a Republican, decided to run for governor.

He was later killed in a plane crash. Chief Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court Ed Smith. Smith served three terms as chief clerk of the Montana House and also worked in the U.S. House, as chief bills clerk. He defeated Phyllis Neild-English, who was deputy clerk of the court.

Former Chief Clerk Ethel Harrison, a Republican, did not run for re-election. Public Service Commissioner Wallace Mercer, a Billings businessman and former state representative. Mercer, a Republican, defeated Democratic incumbent Tom Monahan to win the PSC seat representing southeast Montana. Also sworn in this morning were: State Auditor Andrea Bennett, a Republican who was unopposed in her bid for a second term. Public Service Commissioners John Driscoll, a Democrat, and Howard Ellis, a Republican.

Driscoll defeated his primary-election opponent, Rick Griffith of Butte, and was unopposed in the general election to win his third term on the commission. Ellis also was unopposed and won a third term. Supreme Court Justices Fred Weber and Russell McDonough. Weber was unopposed in his bid for a second eight-year term on the court. McDonough, also unopposed, had been appointed to the court in 1987 to replace Justice Frank Morrison, who resigned to run for governor.

McDonough was seeking his first full term on the high court. Legislature opens amid challenges Montana's 100th year of statehood. While lawmakers a century ago also faced numerous problems, Gait said, the issues now are more complex, due largely to court rulings and economic and climatic conditions beyond the state's control. Both he and Vincent singled out public school financing as one of the most pressing issues of this session. Lawmakers will be trying to devise a new funding system in the wake of a court ruling that struck down the current system as inequitable.

Legislators must face the issue early and "head-on," Gait said, warning that otherwise "the judiciary will be running our schools." Vincent said that later this week, LWftVWii looking to Stephens for strong leadership on education, economic development, the needy and resource management. "The leadership our new governor provides will do much to determine how this Centennial session is judged by history," he said. Senate President Jack Gait, R-Martinsdale, also noted that the session marks the beginning of Stephens officially starts term with a tittle help from a Mend M8. r4 i 9 Trlbgno Photo by Scott Cranaoif he will appoint a committee of four Democrats and four Republicans to study and develop solutions to the school funding problems. "I feel strongly that the issue of education funding is too important to be embroiled in politics," lie said.

Control of the two houses is split between the two parties. The Democrats control the House by a 52-48 margin, while Republicans control the Senate by a 27-23 margin. Gait and Vincent were elected to their leadership posts as the two chambers went through largely ceremonial functions on the first day of the session. Sen. Paul Sw LEGISLATURE, SA Stevensville, and Republican campaign consultant Chuck Brooke.

Thomas told Menahan he wasn't worried because "there's a lot more of us than just the ones that are here." Just like old times One Republican who was particularly enjoying the inauguration was former Gov. Tim BabcoeR. Until Monday, he was the last Republican sworn in as Montana's governor, and that was 24 years ago. "I'm pretty happy about Babcock said of Stephens' victory, between shaking hands with well-wishers. Babcock recalled that his 1965 Inauguration was "a gala and festive occasion, as they all should be." Asked whether Stephens' victory will spark a GOP resurgence in Montana after a long dry spell, Babcock said: "I think we're off to a good start." Gathering of governors Babcock, who served from 1962 to 1969, was among three of Montana's four living ex-govemors on hand for the inauguration.

Also present were former Democratic Govs. Thomas L. Judge, who served from 1973 to 1981, and Gov. Ted Schwinden, whose term ended Monday morning after eight years. Judge was Stephens' unsuccessful See NOTEBOOK, SA 1 I By SUE O'CONNELL Associated Press Writer HELENA The 1989 Legislature opened Monday amid warnings of the troubling issues to be addressed in the next four months and pleas for cooperation to help resolve them.

House Speaker John Vincent, a Bozeman Democrat, told his colleagues that voters expect "the business of government, not the gamesmanship of politics." However, he also issued a challenge of sorts to Gov. Stan Stephens, who was sworn in Monday as the first Republican governor in two decades. Vincent said the Legislature is Trfbuno Photo by Jomei E. Lorcombo the year's first, Amanda also was recognized as the first county baby of Montana's Centennial. Jan Noren of the Cascade County 89ers presented the Holskey's with a certificate noting the honor and a specially-made T-shirt emblazoned with the state Centennial logo.

The young lass also received a handmade quilt, an infant car seat and two $100 savings bonds from the hospital, and a variety of baby products donated by manufacturers. Fish and Game access laws. Also Monday, Stephens appointed seven people to his staff. They are: Glenn Marx, a former aide and campaign manager for U.S. Rep.

Ron Martenee, R-eastem district. Marx will be senior policy adviser on natural resource issues. Wayne Phillips of Missoula and Robert Ellerd of Bozeman, who will serve as legislative liaison. Phillips, a third-year law student at the University of Montana, was a legislative coordinator for GOP lawmakers in the 1983, 1985 and 1987 legislative sessions. Ellerd is a former eight-term state representative from Gal-See APPOINTMENTS, SA Tribune Photo by Scott Crondell Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Turnage and Gov.

Stan Stephens, former Montana Senate Republican leaders and close friends, pause during inauguration ceremonies Monday at the State Capitol. Patty and Dan Holskey of Great Falls are the parents of Amanda Dawn Holskey, the first child born in Cascade County in 1989. Centennial Baby gets gifts galore Reporters' notebook By STEVE SHIRLEY and CHARLES S. JOHNSON Tribune Capitol Bureau HELENA Gov. Stan Stephens was sworn in Monday by an old friend and colleague, Supreme Court Justice Jean Tumage.

They served together after Stephens was elected to the Montana Senate in 1969. They also worked closely together as legislative leaders. In fact, Turnage's decision to bow out and let other Republicans take leadership roles helped propel Stephens' political career. Tumage had been the GOP floor leader in the 1977 session, but stepped aside in 1979 so Stephens and Bill Mathers of Miles City could take the two top leadership posts. Likewise, Tumage served as Senate president in 1981 but decided not to seek the job in 1983.

Stephens took his place. Tumage said he stepped aside because he doesn't think any legislator "owns an office." Of the new governor and his inaugural address, Tumage said: "He's a tough act to follow when it comes to articulation. He's very good at it." Senate decor changes The Montana Senate looked different Monday than it did after Tumage left the chamber in 1984 to run for the Supreme Court chief justice's seat. The change? Fifty handsome gray chairs for the senators. The high-backed chairs, made by state prison inmates, cost about $13,000.

"I think it's fortunate the high-backed chairs weren't here when I was," the S-foot-6 Tumage told the senators while visiting to swear in new members. "Little guys like me wouldn't have been able to see." Back home again The cannon that fired the 19-gun salute in honor of Stephens during the inauguration ceremony Monday originally belonged to the Montana National Guard, but somehow wound up in Idaho years ago. "It belonged to the Montana National Guard, and for some reason it was taken off our books," said Col. Jack Walsh of the Montana National Guard. Walsh said no one is quite certain She is the official Cascade County Centennial Baby.

Seven-pound, 14-ounce Amanda Dawn Holskey entered the world at 3:40 p.m. on New Year's Day at Montana Deaconess Medical Center. Amanda is the first child of Patty and Dan Holskey of Great Falls. "She isn't quite a tax deduction," said her nonetheless proud father. "But that's OK," the little girl's how or when the 75-millimeter French cannon wound up in the Idaho National Guard's arsenal.

But Montana has had to borrow it back for every inauguration since at least 1972 for the 19-gun salute from the Capitol grounds during the inauguration ceremony, he said. Montana National Guard members spend a day cleaning, polishing and painting the cannon for the ceremonies, Walsh said. They shoot six practice rounds to make sure the World War I-vintage weapon still works, along with the ammunition, which has dates from World War II stamped on it. Idaho also uses the cannon for ceremonial purposes. Its inaugural ceremonies don't conflict with Montana's because Idaho picks its governor in the so-called off-election years like 1986.

The cannon is considered obsolete for contemporary military use, compared to the cannons used today that fire 105-and 155-millimeter shells, according to Walsh. Party repartee The House's resident wit. Rep. William "Red" Menahan, D-Anaconda, had a different weapon in mind as he gazed over the balcony at all of the prominent Republicans sitting below in the reserved seats at Stephens' inauguration one floor below. "One hand grenade will take care of all of you," Menahan yelled jokingly to Rep.

Fred Thomas, R- Stephens names Errol Gait to mother quickly added, "she's healthy and that's great." Patty Holskey said her labor began at 5 a.m. on Jan. 1, making for more than 10 hours of waiting. "I never thought she would be the first baby of the year, being born at 3:40 in the afternoon," she said. Neither did hospital officials, who had set up a "first baby" press conference for 2 p.m.

on Jan. 1. The press conference was rescheduled for Monday. Along with the honor of being field and Rosebud counties. Errol Gait is serving his second term as president of the Meagher County Livestock Association and is vice chairman of the Meagher County Farm Bureau.

A member of Ducks Unlimited, he also is a Republican state committeeman for the county and was an alternate delegate to the 1968 GOP convention. If his appointment is confirmed by the Senate, he would serve a four-year term. He also would be heading the board that sets policies for the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department, which was a defendant in a suit filed by the senior Gait challenging the state's stream- HELENA (AP) Gov. Stan Stephens, in one of his first official acts as governor Monday, appointed Martinsdale rancher Errol Gait as chairman of the Montana Fish and Game Commission. Stephens, who was inaugurated Monday, also named seven people to his gubernatorial staff.

Gait, 34, is the son of veteran state Sen. Jack Gait, who is serving as Senate president during the 1989 Legislature. The chairman-designate operates a ranch in Meagher County and also is ranch and land manager for his family's properties in Meagher, Park, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, Gar-.