Don 'K' enters senate election

Whitefish businessman Don Kaltschmidt has announced his candidacy for the state Legislature, setting up a heated battle for Whitefish’s Senate District 3.

The Republican joins House Majority Leader Rep. Keith Regier in a face-off for the primary election. The seat is open with outgoing Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell, having reached term limits.

The district includes the more progressive Whitefish and Big Mountain area, as well as the rural areas of West Valley and north to Olney.

Kaltschmidt, 59, is owner of the Don K vehicle dealerships in Whitefish. He says he’s uniquely qualified to represent the diverse area of District 3.

“I am a principled conservative and I have conservative values,” Kaltschmidt said. “Yet, I’ve lived in a progressive town and I’ve been able to reach out to people from different areas and work things out. That’s the skill that the Lord gave me, is to be able to work with everyone and bring people together on common ground.”

Kaltschmidt says he’d like to go to Helena in the spirit of his friend and former state Sen. Bob DePratu, who died two years ago. He said DePratu, who owned DePratu Ford in Whitefish, always encouraged him to get involved in politics.

“Bob and I are a lot alike,” Kaltschmidt said. “We’re both automobile dealers, we’re business people and we both live in Whitefish.”

“I’d like to be like Bob DePratu was. No matter what end of the spectrum you were on politically, everyone had respect for him because he was a man of his word. He was known as a statesman. That’s what I’d like to do.”

Calling himself a fiscal conservative, Kaltschmidt says he’s interested in helping the economy grow and putting his business aptitude to work for the state.

“I have 102 employees and a multi-million dollar payroll,” he touted. “As a job creator, I’ve been on the front line of that and I think I can help.”

He says his upbringing has given him a distinct affinity for the working man.

“I’ve been on both sides,” he said. “I used to work in the woods sawing logs with my dad and I’ve got a scar across my knee to prove it. I’ve signed the back of a pay check and I’ve signed the front of a pay check.”

His view on protecting the environment is one area where Kaltschmidt admits he strays from his Republican counterparts.

“I am a conservationist,” he said. “I do believe in protecting the environment. I’m probably left on that issue.”

Regier, of Kalispell, reached his term limit after serving four consecutive legislative sessions representing House District 4 in the Bad Rock area. He previously told the Pilot that the open SD-3 seat presents an opportunity to continue to represent the Flathead Valley in Helena.

Kaltschmidt says that while both he and his opponent are conservatives, there are some differences.

“The main differences are my business experience and my experience in the community,” Kaltschmidt said.

“Keith doesn’t have any ties to Whitefish. There is no comparison as to my knowledge of this community.”

Already, Kaltschmidt has the backing of some big names in state politics. He says U.S. Congressman Ryan Zinke is backing his candidacy, as well as former state Sen. Bob Brown. DePratu’s wife, Bea, also has endorsed Kaltschmidt.

The candidate filing period ends March 14. Montana’s primary elections are June 7. No Democrats have filed to run as of press time.

Whitefish was located in Senate District 2 prior to the recent redistricting of the state’s legislative boundaries. Voters in 2012 elected Sen. Dee Brown, R-Coram, to that seat. Another Republican, Zinke, held the SD-2 seat from 2009-2011.

The last Democrat to represent Whitefish was Dan Weinberg, who held the SD-2 seat from 2005-2009.