Particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, what policies would you propose to help provide Montana workers with access to good jobs?

I’ve helped communities all around the world rebuild after natural and manmade disasters, and would bring the same sense of urgency to rebuilding Montana’s economy and creating jobs.

First, I’d ensure the virus is under control. A healthy economy requires healthy people.

Second, I’d assemble a diverse and strong recovery team to represent every corner of the state, and make half of that team women.

Third, I’d bring in expertise from outside the state to help us prepare for the economy of the future. Relationships matter, and I’ve spent over 30 years building relationships with job creators, trading partners, business and philanthropic leaders, and public health experts from across the globe.

Fourth, I’d protect our greatest asset, Montana: our public lands, clean air and clean water.

Finally, I’d ensure that all Montanans have access to affordable, high-quality secondary education, ranging from community colleges to four-year universities.

If the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic causes a state budget crisis, how would you propose to address it? If you support tax increases, who specifically should pay more? If you support budget cuts, where specifically would you look to make cuts? (We assume that working to minimize waste, fraud and abuse is a given.)

Let me be clear: I do not support raising taxes on working families, and I oppose a sales tax.

The state will have to look at every expenditure just like Montana families have had to do.

And Montana is going to need revenue to balance our budget.

That’s why I think it’s time to legalize having small amounts of marijuana for recreational use for people 21 and older. We should regulate it, tax it, and quit pretending that it's not already here and not already legal in states around us.

State figures show that it would raise nearly $100 million per biennium. That will go a long way toward shoring up the budget.

It is a common-sense approach and Montana will need the revenue.

States like Washington and Colorado have seen significant increases in tax revenue from the sale of marijuana, and Montana can and should do the same.

We could face a budgetary crisis in 2021, and it’s time that the wealthiest among us pay their fair share.

If elected governor, how would you attempt to bridge partisan divides to work with Montanans who don't share your political orientation in order to ensure their concerns are considered by your administration?

I will be a governor for ALL of Montana. While the rest of the nation may be caught up in the polarization of national politics, I believe that our Montana values should always overcome any partisan divide. We Montanans work together to get things done.

As a businesswoman, and having worked in and with government at both the state and federal level, I welcome the opportunity to find common ground and help folks all across Montana. I’ve often worked alongside Republicans to solve tough problems, as I did with the Trump administration to help Puerto Rican farmers recover and rebuild after the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria.

The first step in solving any problem is listening to everyone. This means that all of Montana, from Wibaux to Superior, will have a seat at the table in my administration. Partisan politics aren’t my priority — helping folks from all across the state is the essence of any effective governor.

My door’s always open and my phone’s always on.

Should Montana’s minimum wage of $8.65 an hour be raised to $15 an hour, as some advocate?

I support raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour. No one in our state should live in poverty. And while our minimum wage is tied to inflation, it hasn’t kept up with the cost of living in Montana for decades.

Real wage growth across the nation has been stagnant for decades, and this is an opportunity for Montana to be a leader in the national discussion for worker’s rights. Montanans have this in common: we all know somebody that has left the state for work or education, and too often they don’t return home. Raising the minimum wage will not only incentivize workers to stay in Montana, but it will also allow for rural Montana to retain skilled workers and ensure that our small towns thrive.

Do you favor legalizing marijuana use in Montana beyond the state’s existing medical marijuana program? If so, what sideboards would be appropriate?

I am a proponent of legalizing the use of up to one ounce of recreational marijuana for folks age 21 and older. Other states have legalized recreational marijuana, and the increase in tax revenue is significant.

We must find a regulatory and tax solution that works for Montana, and we will. Along with legalizing recreational marijuana, the state must invest in mental health and addiction treatment services. While marijuana hasn’t been found to be a particularly addictive substance, it’s imperative that we understand its long-term effects and ensure safe consumption in the state.

I look forward to working with the Legislature to guarantee that the necessary safeguards are put in place so that we can grow Montana’s economy and keep our communities healthy and safe.

What steps would you support as governor to reduce the number of missing and murdered indigenous people in Montana?

First, I would listen. This is a complex law enforcement issue where tribal, state, and federal law enforcement have to work together. We can and should work more closely with tribal law enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s office, and federal law enforcement to keep our tribal communities safe. We all need to be on the same page and make sure that the epidemic of murdered and missing indigenous people is addressed.

A budget is a reflection of our values and priorities. The last legislative session provided funding for one specialist in this area, which is a good start, but simply not enough. This is a full-blown crisis, and we must draw more attention to it and put more effort into addressing it.

That takes a governor willing to stand up for all of us – to go above and beyond to help make Montana’s tribal communities seen and heard.

I will not stand by as this problem grows. We must bring attention to the issue, and then take steps to adequately address it.

Do you support state-funded pre-K education? If so, should pre-K schools run by churches or private entities be eligible for funding?

I fully support state-funded public preschool education. I do not support using hard-earned tax dollars to fund private or religious educational institutions.

We are one of nine states without a fully funded, public pre-kindergarten system. And it has to change. We have made strides in providing state funded pre-K, but it simply isn’t enough. In Missoula it costs about $900 a month to send one child to preschool, and that is simply not affordable for most families.

This is an educational issue, an economic issue, and a women’s issue. The science of the brain clearly shows that starting formal education at the age of four has cascading effects on the development of our little learners. An extra $900 per month in the pockets of Montanans will not only help families, but it will help our economy at large. It will also allow the primary caregivers, oftentimes women, to work outside of the home if they choose to do so.

Should the state incarcerate fewer people? If so, are there specific criminal justice reform measures you support?

Yes. Democrats and Republicans at the state and national levels agree we should move toward more emphasis on treatment and intervention, and less on incarceration. It’s both good public policy and makes economic sense for the state, because incarceration is one of the most expensive things that the government does. We must focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment and give folks the opportunity to reenter the workforce as productive members of society.

In addition, we also need to focus our efforts on preventative measures like mental health and addiction treatment services. When folks are heard and supported, they are far less likely to commit a crime.

When the state legalizes small amounts of marijuana for recreational use, we should release and expunge the records of anyone convicted for something that would not be a crime under the new law.

Finally, I oppose private prisons. It is wrong for private companies to profit from the incarceration of citizens.

As governor, how would you ensure that journalists who cover your administration on citizens’ behalf have ample opportunity to understand how you are governing the state? Specifically, would you pledge to 1) Conduct weekly press briefings? And 2) Provide the public with comprehensive daily calendars detailing whom you have met with in your official capacity as governor?

I will make public my daily calendar including all official activities as governor. I will conduct press briefings as often as necessary and I’ll always be available to journalists who are covering governmental issues. I’ll also make my tax returns public so that Montanans will be confident that my actions as governor are always in their best interest.

I’m so proud to have the endorsement of former Governor Brian Schweitzer, and just like Brian, my door will always be open.

Montana political candidates often tout their Montana roots and face criticism if they were born and raised elsewhere. Is it important for the governor to be a lifelong Montanan?

I’m a sixth-generation Montanan and have been fortunate to live in our state most of my life.

Embracing Montana values is what folks can and do expect. More important than having lived in the state every day of your life is embracing the values that we all share as Montanans.

My parents come from Butte, America, and they instilled in me the value of taking care of family, friends and neighbors. And being a leader — doing what you love, doing it with grit and determination, and most of all, fighting for what you believe in.

Fortunately, I have spent most of my life in Montana. I care most about what Montanans care most about — their families, their neighbors, their friends, their communities, their faith, and the beautiful place that we call the Treasure State, the Big Sky State, but, most of all, the Last Best Place.

Montana — it’s home.