Libertarian candidate for U.S. House visits Whitefish
Mark Wicks, the Libertarian candidate for Montana’s U.S. House seat, is holding an “Ugly Truck Contest” Saturday in Whitefish.
Wicks is running against Republican Greg Gianforte and Democrat Rob Quist in a special election on May 25.
The event takes place at the Firebrand Hotel parking lot between noon and 2 p.m.
The contest stems from a recent candidate debate when Wicks compared himself to a work truck.
“I see Mr. Gianforte as a luxury car,” Wicks said in the debate. “It’s really smooth and comfortable getting down the road, but at the end of the day it just wants to be parked at the country club with the other luxury cars. I see Mr. Quist as a little half ton pickup. It’s shiny and bright and has a good sound system, but when you look underneath the hood it only has a six cylinder, and when you start to work it you lose the clutch and there it sits on the side of the road. Now, me I’m the work truck. I’m the guy when you’re pulled over on the side of the road you want to see behind you. I’m the guy that has the tow rope, the chains, the tools, everything to get the job done. Send the work truck to Washington.”
Folks are invited to talk to Wicks, get pictures taken with him and his work truck as well as show off their own trucks. The contest will feature three categories: ugliest truck, fanciest truck, and most serious work truck. Best truck in category will win a much coveted Wicks for Congress T-shirt.
Wicks will also be a guest at a Friday event in Whitefish featuring Libertarian and Tea Party organizer Matt Kibbe.
Kibbe is the president and chief community organizer of Free the People, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting libertarian ideals. His latest book is “Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff.”
Kibbe is the main speaker in the first in a series of events called the Think Bash. The series is meant to encourage discussions about important political and philosophical ideas with unique and noted thinker, according to a press release from the Flathead County Libertarian Party.
“Why am I coming to Montana? Because Montanans fundamentally get in their blood this notion that we are free people who come together in voluntary cooperation and do these awesome things,” Kibbe said in a prepared release. “When I say, don’t hurt people and don’t take their stuff, in Montana, people look at me like, ‘Well yeah. How else would you do it?’”
The Friday, May 12 event will be at Casey’s in Whitefish beginning at 5 p.m. and will be emceed by Jeff Krauss the three-time mayor of Bozeman and Libertarian.
The first hour of will feature a question and answer session with Kibbe, including interaction with people viewing the live cast that will be streamed across Montana. The second hour will feature breakout discussion groups.
The entire event will offer weird snacks, booze, and Grateful Dead music, according to the Flathead County Libertarian Party.
For more information on the Think Bash, visit http://flatheadcountylp.org/think-bash/