Congressional candidate stumps in Whitefish

Congressional candidate Democrat John Heenan made a stop in Whitefish last week.

Heenan, who announced his candidacy last month, met with folks during an evening event at Indah Sushi downtown. The Flathead Democratic Party in a release noted that the event was his first fundraiser in the Flathead Valley.

The Billings attorney and restaurant owner is seeking the Democratic nomination for Montana’s lone seat in the U.S. House. The seat is held by Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte.

A special election this spring to fill the seat vacated by Ryan Zinke, who is now Secretary of the Interior, drew national attention. Gianforte defeated Democrat Rob Quist in the race.

The election also got the attention of Heenan.

“But for that special election I wouldn’t have run,” Heenan told the Pilot between meeting with folks at the event last week.

“I’m running because I was offended by the special election,” he said. “Montanans deserve someone who will represent them and they are not getting that.”

Gianforte has said he will run to retain his seat.

Heenan, who has no previous political experience, said he previously thought of himself as a “bystandard” when it came to politics until the May special election.

Heenan said that Gianforte spent millions of his own money to run for office and he felt like he was buying the job.

Gianforte lent his campaign $1.5 million as part of the about $4.8 million spent. Rob Quist’s campaign spent $6.7 million with the candidate not contributing any dollars himself.

Heenan also made reference to Gianforte’s vote to pass the Financial Choice Act, which would roll back financial regulations on large financial institutions.

“I want to represent Montanans, not big banks,” he said.

Heenan says as a consumer protection lawyer, he has spent his career taking on big banks and other special interest groups in court on behalf of Montana citizens.

Heenan worked with the Commissioner of Political Practices Office to prosecute a case against Art Wittich, a former Republican state representative from Bozeman who was found guilty of campaign finance violations.

He points to his campaign slogan, “For the people,” saying that’s what he stands for.

“I’m not a big partisan guy,” he said. “I’m independent-minded and Montanans are independent.”

During his stop in Whitefish, Heenan acknowledged that he is an unknown candidate and packed his suitcase to travel the state.

“Montana is a big state,” he said. “Not a lot of people know me. I’m trying to get around and meet people.”

Heenan was born in Pennsylvania and attended the University of Montana. Heenan is married to wife, Meagen, and they have four children.