KATHLEEN GILLULY
Active candidates for Senate District 27
Republican
Democrat
ON THE ISSUES
Answers here were solicited from legislative candidates via a written questionnaire in April 2024, conducted in collaboration between MTFP and the Montana League of Women Voters. Responses here are presented exactly as submitted, without fact-checking or editing for minor punctuation or spelling errors. Readers can access the league's Vote411 resource here.
Legislative candidates who haven't submitted answers to these questions can do so at any time by contacting montanalwv@gmail.com or calling 406-233-9015.
I was born in Seattle Washington. I will be 64 by election day. I live in Laurel and have been a resident of Yellowstone County most of my life. Although I have retired, I spent the past 15 years as a journalist and editor beginning at The Anaconda Leader and finishing at The Laurel Outlook. Prior to that, most of my working life was spent at non-profits. I also served four years of active duty in the U.S. Army, where I suffered injuries affecting my mobility. Because of the work I pursued, I understand the needs of Montana's low-income populations, veterans and folks with disablities. As a single woman who raised a grandchild, I can attest to the difficulties faced by Montana families. Before acting, I will ask, "Who does this help?"
Montanans are guaranteed privacy and thus bodily autonomy, but we must remain vigilant. I would support legalizing abortion and legislation allowing identity care decisions be between patients and doctors. Our Montana Constitution also guarantees the right to a clean and healthful environment. We must work at decreasing fossil-fuel consumption and do better at monitoring pollutants in our environment. Low-income, highly industrialized areas, like parts of Laurel, need air quality monitors and better information on the negative effects of pollution on our health. Other issues I am concerned with include: access to and protection of public lands; raising the minimum wage; expanding Medicaid; and protecting our agricultural industry.
While property taxes for homeowners has risen about 20%, industry has been given a pass. Overall, large industrial taxes have fallen. As an example NWE, the state's largest taxpayer, saw a decrease of 20%, paying $36 million less than the previous year. Reform of property evaluations need to be instituted, ensuring homeowners don't shoulder so much of the burden. To assist elderly and poor homeowners qualify for relief, I would support a system that automatically enrolls low-income property owners based on their state tax return.
Firstly, the state needs to re-enroll everyone who was kicked off Medicaid during the recent purge. Montana disenrolled more folks faster than almost any other state--adversely affecting not only the health of children and other vulnerable people, but endangering rural health centers and providers, which rely on Medicaid reimbursement to remain in business. Given that the federal government pays 90% of the related costs, Montana legislators should take advantage of that, and further Medicaid expansion.
The funding formula is extremely complex, but based primarily on the number of students enrolled in a school district, with a 3% increase every year. With inflation exceeding that number, the increase needs to at least match inflation so districts can keep up with expenses. Unlike school funding, teacher salaries are paid through the General Fund and determined by the legislature. I would support simplifying the formulary for funding schools and providing districts with some spending flexibility depending on their needs. The legislature needs to ensure quality educators are rewarded and should increase teacher base pay. No funds for public schools should be allocated to private charter schools.
MTFP COVERAGE
Election outcomes
Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
---|---|---|
KATHLEEN GILLULY | 1,152 |
Common voting questions
When are Montana’s 2024 elections?
Voters picked party nominees for the November general election in the June 4 primary. The November General Election that will decide the ultimate winner in each race is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Who runs Montana’s elections?
Montana elections are administered at the county level. The process is overseen by county clerks and election administrators, who help to train and monitor the volunteer election judges that staff the polls. Ballots are typically processed and counted at central county locations, with the results reported to the Montana secretary of state’s office via a statewide software system called ElectMT.
Once polls close, the secretary of state’s office provides results through its website. The state-level office also provides guidance to local election administrators to ensure compliance with state election laws. Additionally, enforcing compliance with some laws governing political campaigns, particularly those involving campaign finance, falls to a separate office known as the Commissioner of Political Practices.
Do I need to be registered in order to vote?
Yes. If you’re unsure about your registration status, you can check it through the Montana secretary of state's My Voter Page. You can register to vote by stopping by your county election office any time during regular business hours to pick up an application. After you’ve filled it out, you’ll need to get it back to your county election office by mail or in person (the latter option is strongly recommended close to Election Day to ensure your application is received in time). If you do present your application in person, you’ll have to provide a photo ID or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you happen to be applying for a Montana driver’s license or identification card before the election, you can register to vote at the same time.
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
Yes. The state Legislature has sought to enact an earlier registration deadline, but under a March 2024 ruling by the Montana Supreme Court, same-day voter registration remains legal in Montana. Residents can register to vote or update their voter registration at their county’s election office prior to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Does Montana have voter ID requirements?
Yes, you will be required to present identification when voting at the polls. However, under the Montana Supreme Court’s March ruling, changes made to those requirements by the 2021 Legislature remain blocked. The current forms of identification voters can use at the polls are a current Montana driver’s license, state-issued photo ID, tribal or military photo ID, a U.S. passport or a student ID. If you don’t have a photo ID, you can use a utility bill, a bank statement, a voter confirmation card or any other government document that shows your name and address.
Are there situations where I wouldn't be eligible to vote?
According to state law, you can't vote if you'll be under age 18 on Election Day, are not a U.S. citizen, or have lived in Montana less than 30 days. Convicted felons who are currently incarcerated in a penal facility and people whom judges have ruled to be of "unsound mind" are also ineligible to vote. Otherwise, you're good to go.
Can I vote online?
No, that’s not an option in Montana.
Can I vote by mail?
Yes, you can sign up as an absentee voter by checking a box on your voter registration form. If you’re already registered to vote, you can fill out a separate form and submit it to your county election office.
If you’re registered as an absentee voter, a ballot should be mailed to you a few weeks in advance of each election day. You can make sure your address is current via the My Voter page. County election officials are slated to mail ballots to voters for the November 2024 General Election Oct. 11.
You can return ballots by mail, or drop them off in person at your county’s election office. Either way, the election office must receive your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to count it.
How do I vote in person?
If you plan to vote at the polls, just be sure you know where your polling location is and head there between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day. You'll need to provide a photo ID or other accepted form of identification and sign the precinct register, at which point you’ll get your ballot and be directed to a voting booth. If you have any technical questions or run into any problems, the election judges at your polling place should be able to help you.
I have a friend or family member who isn't able to drop off his or her mail-in ballot. Can I do it for them?
Yes, you can. The Montana Legislature did make some changes to ballot collection laws in 2021 related to paid ballot collection, but those changes have also been blocked by the Montana Supreme Court.
Who should I vote for?
That’s your call, not ours. We hope the information we present on this guide is helpful as you make that decision for yourself, though.
About this project
This guide was produced by the Montana Free Press newsroom with production by Eric Dietrich, web development by Eric Dietrich and Jacob Olness, editing by Brad Tyer and Nick Ehli and contributions from Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Mara Silvers, Alex Sakariassen, Amanda Eggert and Stephanie Farmer. Questionnaire responses for legislatiive candidates were collected with help from the Montana League of Women Voters, through the league's Vote 411 program. Contact Eric Dietrich with questions, corrections or suggestions at edietrich@montanafreepress.org.
Montana Free Press is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit, reader-supported news organization serving Montana. MTFP's donor base includes supporters from across Montana's political spectrum, including some Montanans who are candidates in this year's election. MTFP's major donors are listed here and a current list of other supporters is available here. MTFP's news judgments are made entirely independently from donor involvement.
This material is available for republication by other media outlets under Montana Free Press' standard distribution terms.