Art Wittich
Art Wittich (b. December 25, 1957) is a former Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 68 from 2015 to 2017.
Wittich served in the Montana State Senate, representing District 35 from 2011 to 2015. In the 2013-2014 session, Wittich served as Majority Leader.
Biography
Wittich earned his B.S. in economics and environmental studies from Utah State University in 1982, and his J.D. from the University of Montana in 1985.
Noteworthy events
Civil action
In May 2014, Jonathan Motl (D), the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, filed a civil action against Wittich and eight other Republican candidates who ran in the 2010 elections. Wittich was accused of coordinating with and taking illegal corporate donations from American Tradition Partnership, a self-described lobbying group against the "radical environmentalist agenda" that was then known as Western Tradition Partnership. State law bans a corporation from spending money to support or oppose candidates or parties. Had the claim been upheld in court at that time, Wittich could have been removed from his Senate seat and barred from running in the 2014 election. Wittich responded with a counterclaim accusing Motl of participating in a conspiracy with former commissioner Jim Murry, state Sen. Bruce Tutvedt (R) and 20 others to have him ousted.[1][2]
Motl filed new charges against Wittich in January 2016 alleging additional campaign finance law violations.[3] A five-day jury trial was scheduled to begin on February 22, 2016.[4] The trial ultimately began on March 28, 2016.[5]
On April 1, 2016, ten of 12 jurors agreed with Motl's findings that Wittich underpaid for Western Tradition's services, did not keep proper records and illegally coordinated with National Right to Work-affiliated "dark money" groups, which do not name their donors. The lawsuit was not entirely settled by the jury trial; a separate "quid pro quo" charge remained to be decided by Judge Ray Dayton.[6]
Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Wittich served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • State Administration |
| • Rules |
| • Human Services, Chair |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Wittich served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
| • Public Health, Welfare and Safety |
| • Rules, Chair |
| • Taxation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Wittich served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Fish and Game |
| • Local Government, Vice Chair |
| • Taxation |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2016
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016.
Bruce Grubbs defeated David Andes in the Montana House of Representatives District 68 general election.[7][8]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 68 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Bruce Grubbs |
74.37% | 3,700 | |
| Democratic | David Andes | 25.63% | 1,275 | |
| Total Votes | 4,975 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
David Andes ran unopposed in the Montana House of Representatives District 68 Democratic primary.[9][10]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 68 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | David Andes (unopposed) | |
Bruce Grubbs defeated incumbent Art Wittich and Michael Comstock in the Montana House of Representatives District 68 Republican primary.[11][12]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 68 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Bruce Grubbs |
45.12% | 712 | |
| Republican | Art Wittich Incumbent | 38.15% | 602 | |
| Republican | Michael Comstock | 16.73% | 264 | |
| Total Votes | 1,578 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
2014
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10, 2014; minor party and independent candidates had until June 2, 2014, to file. Ashley Stevick was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Art Wittich was unopposed in the Republican primary. Wittich defeated Stevick in the general election. Incumbent Kelly Flynn (R) ran in District 70.[13][14][15]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Art Wittich |
69.2% | 2,256 | |
| Democratic | Ashley Stevick | 30.8% | 1,003 | |
| Total Votes | 3,259 | |||
2010
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2010
On November 2, 2010, Wittich won election to the Montana State Senate, defeating Diane Elliot. Wittich defeated Shawn Moran, Dave Ponte, and Bruce Samson in the primary.[16][17]
| Montana State Senate, District 35 General election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Art Wittich (R)
|
6,625 | |||
| Diane Elliot (D) | 2,962 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Montana scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2017
In 2017, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 2 through April 28.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Lewistown Tea Party: 2017 House and Senate scorecard
- Republican legislators are scored on whether they vote with the Republican Party.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues pertaining to the interests of the construction industry.
- Montana Environmental Information Center: 2017 Senate and House voting records
- Legislators are scored on bills related to the environment.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to agriculture.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to property owners' interests.
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 5 through April 28.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 to April 27.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2016 Republican National Convention
- See also: Republican National Convention, 2016
| Art Wittich | |
| Republican National Convention, 2016 | |
| Status: | Delegate |
| State: | Montana |
| Bound to: | Donald Trump |
| Delegates to the RNC 2016 | |
| Calendar and delegate rules overview • Types of delegates • Delegate rules by state • State election law and delegates • Delegates by state | |
Wittich was a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Montana. All 27 delegates from Montana were bound by state party rules to support Donald Trump at the convention.[20] As of July 13, 2016, Trump had approximately 1,542 delegates. The winner of the Republican nomination needed the support of 1,237 delegates. Trump formally won the nomination on July 19, 2016.
RNC Rules Committee
- See also: RNC Rules Committee, 2016
Wittich was a member of the RNC Rules Committee, a 112-member body responsible for crafting the official rules of the Republican Party, including the rules that governed the 2016 Republican National Convention.[21]
Appointment process
The convention Rules Committee in 2016 consisted of one male and one female delegate from each state and territorial delegation. The Rules of the Republican Party required each delegation to elect from its own membership representatives to serve on the Rules Committee.
Delegate rules
Delegates from Montana to the 2016 Republican National Convention were elected at the state convention in May 2016 and allocated to the winner of the statewide primary. Montana's delegates were bound on the first ballot unless their candidate's name was not placed in nomination at the convention.
Montana primary results
- See also: Presidential election in Montana, 2016
| Montana Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
|
Donald Trump |
73.7% | 115,594 | 27 | |
| Ted Cruz | 9.4% | 14,682 | 0 | |
| John Kasich | 6.9% | 10,777 | 0 | |
| Jeb Bush | 2.1% | 3,274 | 0 | |
| Marco Rubio | 3.3% | 5,192 | 0 | |
| Other | 4.7% | 7,369 | 0 | |
| Totals | 156,888 | 27 | ||
| Source: The New York Times and Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Delegate allocation
Montana had 27 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, three were district-level delegates (representing the state's single congressional district), and 21 served as at-large delegates. Montana's district and at-large delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the plurality winner of the statewide primary vote received all of the state's district and at-large delegates.[22][23]
In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention. The RNC delegates were required to pledge their support to the winner of the state's primary.[22][23]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Wittich and his wife, Candace, have two children.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Art + Wittich + Montana + House
See also
- Montana State Legislature
- Montana House of Representatives
- Montana House Committees
- Montana Joint Committees
- Montana state legislative districts
External links
- Office website
- Art Wittich on Facebook
- Art Wittich on Twitter
- Official campaign website (Archived)
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- American Tradition Partnership website
- Campaign Contributions: 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ Associated Press, "Senator: Governor, commissioner trying to oust him," May 17, 2014
- ↑ Missoulian, "Motl says state Rep. Wittich should be removed from office for corruption," December 8, 2015
- ↑ KTVH, "Motl outlines campaign-finance case against GOP Rep. Wittich," January 22, 2016
- ↑ Bozeman Daily Chronicle, "Art Wittich gets 2016 jury trial in political practices case," January 21, 2015
- ↑ Montana Standard, "Rep. Wittich's political corruption trial starts Monday," March 26, 2016
- ↑ Independent Record, "Jury finds Wittich guilty of campaign violation," April 1, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Election Canvass," accessed June 30, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide General Election Canvass," accessed November 16, 2015
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2010 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Legislative Primary Canvass - June 08, 2010," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Contractors' Association, "Stronger Together: Political Representation," accessed November 5, 2015
- ↑ Montana Weed Control Association, "2013 Legislative Report & Scorecard," accessed September 17, 2014
- ↑ Montana GOP, "Montana’s National & Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention," accessed June 13, 2016
- ↑ Ballotpedia's list of 2016 RNC Rules Committee members is based on an official list from the Republican National Committee obtained by Ballotpedia on June 24, 2016
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 68 2015-2017 |
Succeeded by Bruce Grubbs (R) |
| Preceded by Gary Perry |
Montana State Senate District 35 2011–2015 |
Succeeded by Gordon Vance (R) |
| ||||||||||
