Information about Main Street Advocacy

Radio ads are being run around the state by a group referring to itself as ‘Main Street Advocacy’. The ads typically mention the name of one candidate in a Republican legislative primary, in the context of a positive issue. For example, "Call John Smith for information about government accountability," or something similar.

Some people have mistakenly developed the belief that these ads are in some way affiliated with or sponsored by the Montana Republican Party. The Montana Republican Party wants to make clear that it is not affiliated in any way with the Main Street Advocacy, nor has it sanctioned or approved of the ads being presently run by Main Street Advocacy.

We have investigated the ads and determined the following: The ads, placed by an out-of-state ad agency, were identified by that agency as "Montana GOP" ads. Although that assertion may have been innocently intended, the reality is that ads,  which are labeled Republican ads and are running in Montana, appear to use the party’s name and also imply the party's endorsement. We have been in contact with at least one radio station that has expressed the intention of not running the ads until they are better identified in a way that does not implicate the MT GOP.  

Also, it appears that when some individuals connected with this group were originally trying to form a Political Action Committee under Montana law, they worked with Lorna Kuney as treasurer. Lorna is well-known to many Montana Republicans as a professional bookkeeper who serves as treasurer to some of Montana's most prominent Republicans, like Denny Rehberg and Roy Brown. She is also the assistant treasurer of the Montana Republican Party, under the elected Treasurer Shirley Warehime.

However, that attempt to form a PAC did not materialize, no bank account was ever opened, and later on the individuals in question placed the ads using an out of state group.  The Party has determined that Lorna has never participated in these ads. The group paying for them does not employ her.

Party Chairman Will Deschamps investigated the ads, and spoke to Senator Jon Brueggeman of Polson. Senator Brueggeman told Chairman Deschamps that he is involved with the group running the ads, and anyone with questions is welcome to contact him.

We remind the reader that the Montana Republican Party takes no position on any legislative primary, and does not endorse in contested primaries. We hope that by presenting all the information we have gathered, we can put to rest any questions about the MT GOP being associated with Main Street Advocacy.

Any group has the right to campaign and operate within the paramaters  of  Montana's campaign laws, whether it's Main Street Advocacy, Montana Conservative Alliance, or any other. But any use of the name Montana GOP is inaccurate. Again, the Party do not take any side in any Republican legislative primary.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Executive Director Bowen Greenwood at the party headquarters: 442-6469 or bowen@mtgop.org