Speech
Governor Judy Martz Professional Announcement
GOVERNOR JUDY MARTZ PROFESSIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
State Capitol
8/13/2003
Thank you for being here.
It was four years ago, after serving as lieutenant governor for four years, when I announced my plans to seek the most challenging, demanding and rewarding job in Montana.
That was the right decision at that time. It was right for my family, it was right for me, and I know it was right for Montana.
The opportunity to serve the people of Montana, guided solely by my principles, has been a distinct honor.
I knew the job wouldn’t be easy. This is not a job one seeks to prove political worth.
This is a job that demands an ability to govern and make tough decisions. Politics must come second to, and not stand in the way of, effective government.
That is why decades of working in government are not necessarily an indicator of success. The willingness to do the right thing for people you serve is the best indicator.
That is I why sought this office: not as a capstone to a career or a stepping-stone to another office, but to make Montana better.
That means difficult decisions must be made, and difficult tasks need to be completed, without a regard for public opinion polls.
Frankly, the future of Montana dims a little each time an elected official transforms into a politician.
It’s very simple. In very difficult times, that demanded true leadership, I have done what I said would. I think everyone would agree that I have always been upfront and honest with my neighbors.
Maybe even too honest and frank, but I have resisted political temptations and done what is right.
And I have never backed down from challenging situations.
This administration inherited an energy crisis that we are still working to correct by keeping the needs of consumers first.
Tragic events in the autumn of 2001 tested our economic and financial resolve. But my office kept Montana focused on sound economic development and now we are turning the economic corner.
Through careful, cautious, and creative leadership Montanans stared down a budget deficit not of our making.
The difficulty had the potential to cripple our state. We pulled together, protected education, funded needed services, and made Montana whole once again.
I have not done all this alone. I have been blessed with a great staff and cabinet who are dedicated to the state of Montana.
Each of them comes to work every day wanting to make the state they love better. I’m here to tell each of them that they have.
The first member of my team that I picked was Karl Ohs. We could wait a lifetime and never find a stronger, more devoted Montanan to serve this state than Karl.
Karl thank you for all you have done. You have much more to offer and I look forward to following your continued service to Montana
When I ran for governor, I said I had several priorities for my administration – tax reform, economic development, education, health care, resource development and reaching out to Native Americans.
Last session we passed the first major personal tax reform in Montana in three decades.
Montana’s families are going to keep more of what they earn, and they will in turn make Montana stronger.
We kept our promise not to increase the net taxation placed on the backs of Montanans.
That tax reform is a key part of our economic development programs.
Through clustering, cooperation, recruitment, and plain old hard work we have worked to ensure the state of Montana has the means to foster growth and enhance our economy.
The first ever Office of Economic Opportunity has done a great job and our hard work and vision is paying off.
Montana’s unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since 1973. It is one of the lowest in the nation and it is well below the national average.
Our quarterly income growth at times has been as high as second in the nation. We have led the nation in annual job growth and we have jumped as many as 4 notches in average income.
We all know how a good workforce and a healthy economy are dependent on a good educational system from kindergarten to college.
Montana enjoys one of the strongest systems in the nation. Our teachers do a wonderful job, our students are enthusiastic, and our parents are involved.
While many states have had to slash funding or reduce service, I worked to protect schools, because this is an issue that has remained high on my list of priorities. When it comes to our children, the status quo can never be good enough.
And while protecting K-12 from reductions last session we also passed an automatic inflationary funding increase for our schools. Finally, school districts will have advanced knowledge of what the state’s contribution is going to be.
We also created the Montana K-12 Public School Renewal Commission. For the first time we will bring all of the right people from education, business, labor and agriculture together to find real solutions for the legislature to improve our schools.
Very simply, it is better to strengthen our schools than to rebuild them from scratch.
That is why I have not sat quietly by while federal mandates have been passed down that have the potential to adversely impact the good work Montana’s teachers and administrators do for our students.
That is why I was the first governor to raise concerns about portions of the No Child Left Behind Act and potential changes to special education and Head Start.
The needs of Montana children must come before political labels and allegiances. This is not a fight between Helena and Washington. It is a fight for quality schools.
As such, we have successfully reached out to our First Montanans.
I was the first Governor to visit all seven Indian reservations in my first year in office. We cannot move Montana forward without working with every citizen of this state.
I saw this most recently at the Little Bighorn Battlefield as every person, regardless of ancestry, worked together to erect a long overdue monument. We all took another step in the healing process by achieving peace through unity and prosperity for all Montanans.
We have also unveiled an award to recognize school districts that implement the constitutional language to enact a Native American education curriculum. We all know that understanding brings cooperation that will last generations.
I care deeply about the health of our citizens. We have supported critical services like CHIP and breast and cervical cancer treatment, and done everything we could to preserve human services programs.
By the end of this year I will have hosted 2 Healthcare Summits to address rising medical costs and the uninsured.
I conducted several roundtables around the state to give all Montanans an opportunity to give their thoughts about the human services budget.
On another vital issue to Montana’s families, I have worked hard to crack down on drunk driving. We lowered the legal intoxication limit to .08 and increased punishment for repeat offenders.
And, I can tell you plainly, that we will have an open container law next session.
Some of our biggest legislative successes have come in the area of natural resources, a critical part of Montana’s economy. Protection and use of our natural resources has always been near my heart.
Particularly, in the area of forest health, I have led the charge in Montana and around the West.
As chair of the Western Governor’s Association, I hosted the Forest Health Summit in Missoula to have a civil discussion about the future of our forests.
Beyond just that summit, I have spent every day of my administration working to put an end to destructive forest fires by making sure that our independent sawmills stay open and allowing loggers to do their job and.
There have been achievements in other areas of natural resources as well.
We used Montana’s one and only EPA “Silver Bullet” to expedite the restoration of Libby. The citizens of Libby have finally found a true advocate for safety, health, and economic revitalization.
I have put the focus and power of my office behind the removal of Milltown Dam. It was the right decision for the health and safety of the residents of Missoula County.
We secured the title of Otter Creek Tracts 1, 2 and 3 from the federal government in exchange for the minerals from the Crown Butte Mine.
It took us a while, but hard work, not rhetoric, is bringing positive results.
We have toured farms, irrigation systems, and towns affected by the future development of coal bed natural gas. We have listened to all sides of the issue.
As such, we are working to bring the energy supply, economic benefits, and state revenue enhancements that will come from environmentally safe utilization of this natural resource.
I have worked quietly not politically, to reopen Montana Resources in Butte.
We must empower our highly skilled workers by making sure they have a place to work.
Another valuable component of our economy is agriculture. This administration has worked hard on behalf of our farmers. We have brought two major ag facilities to Montana.
A new malting plant in Great Falls and a new malt storage facility in Sidney that I dedicated yesterday will encourage new crop rotation, and will bring added value to every crop grown in Montana.
This is real economic development that provides good paying jobs, not just words that bring questions and skepticism.
A final area that I would like to talk about is energy. I have established a high level task force to address this problem on behalf of consumers. We have passed legislation to address these issues. I will continue to lead Montana through this difficult period.
There is something else that needs to be said. We must remind our corporate neighbors that they are, in fact, our neighbors.
I will continue to work with them and send the message that the focus needs to be placed on accountability and responsibility to consumers, shareholders, and employees. There is no other option.
Finally, I have the finest job in the world. It is for that reason that it is very difficult to make a decision about reelection.
Some have asked how it could be so difficult to decide after some the problems I experienced early in this term.
Among the difficulties, we have dealt with tragedy and adversity, some self-imposed, some stemming from misperception, and some the result of staff.
I regret to think that these difficulties may have been a distraction. I know now that this office is focused and serving admirably.
Frankly, those problems have not diminished my love for Montana and my desire to see her succeed.
And succeed we have. We have worked hard for Montana and accomplished what we wanted. I came to this office with a vision and have enacted that vision with the passion, vigor and vitality that the people of Montana demand from their leaders.
I promised and followed through. The question I have to answer is, do I want to continue the particular service I love? I have worked with the finest staff and cabinet ever put together by any governor.
I have been humbled by the cards, letters, and calls from Montanans of every political stripe encouraging me to seek another term. I appreciate them all greatly.
I have been talking to my family, working with my friends and calling on my faith to help me make my decision. Just as in 1999, I have reached a decision that is right for my family, best for me, and has the interest of the state of Montana at heart.
Much has been made of my willingness to tell others to run for governor. It is healthy for the state to have an active discussion about their leaders. I am not going to chill discourse. That would have weakened the process.
My decision has been made without regard for other candidates.
My decision has been made with what is best for Montana and what is best for Harry, Justin, Stacy, Abe and the rest of the Martz’s both present and future.
As you know I have been away from home for nearly eight years. That has been very difficult. It is about to become more difficult. Later this year, I will be a grandmother for the first time.
I have accomplished what I set out to do. I have enacted my vision. That is why I have decided not to seek a second term as Montana’s Governor. When my term is completed it will be time to return home and tackle new challenges.
We must keep in mind that we have much work ahead of us. I will work for the state that I love right until January of 2005.
The Martz Administration will continue to serve the people of Montana to the end.
Once my term is complete, I will remain active. I will continue to play a role in policy and government. I will continue a role in advocating for Olympic athletes and public safety and I will continue to extend the virtues of faith.
I will be working on behalf of the people of Montana for a long, long time.
I thank you all for all you do. Now that the question has been answered, let’s get back to work.
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