Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemakeing.
Proverbs 24: 1-2
The political drama that has been transpiring in Musselshell County is like watching kabuki theatre.
On Monday morning, July 6, 2020, Musselshell County Attorney Kevin Peterson delivered a letter asking Musselshell County Commissioner Adam Carlson to immediately vacate his position as county commissioner. In attendance to this spectacle was a cast of characters both for and against the county attorney's demands.
In attendance were Maryrose Beasley, chairman of the local Republican central committee, Robert Goffena past county commissioner, unseated by Mr. Carlson and currently a Precinct 6 committeeman within the local Republican party, Wendy & Dwane Snook members of the republican central committee, Dan McCaffree, Mark Higgins, Bruce Hoiland, a past candidate who opposed Mr. Carlson in the 2018 election primary, Robert Pancratz, current Republican candidate for the District 1 seat of county commissioner Nicole Borner, Dave Liggett, Melissa Carlson, Mike Goffena, Debi Adolph, Andrew Harper & Kevin Peterson.
Peterson's actions were due to a July 1 letter submitted by Beasley. The letter submitted on July 1, 2020, from the Republican central committee and signed by chairman Beasley was crafted by J. K. Kuzara. Also listed as officers within the party, vice chairman, Ronnie Burns, secretary, J. K. Kuzara, treasurer, Judy May, state committeewoman, Kathy Wiley, state committeeman, Bill Berthoud, and finance director, Scott Wiley.
The letter in part states: "It is the understanding of the Musselshell County Republican Central Committee that Mr. Adam Carlson, now a sitting Musselshell County Commissioner having been elected on the Republican ticket, has moved out of the county commissioner district from which he was elected. Reportedly he is residing at and receiving his mail at (address omitted), which address is certainly not in his district.”
"If it is true that Mr. Carlson no longer resides in his district, the MCRCC's review of applicable sections of the Montana Code Annotated suggests that Mr. Calson is disqualified from holding his county commission seat. Resolution of this matter appears to require your urgent attention and action.”
Signed Maryrose Beasley.
The county attorney took immediate action and delivered the following at Monday mornings county commission meeting.
"The County Attorney received a complaint from the Musselshell County Central Committee dated July 1, 2020, which in a nutshell states that you have changed your residence from District 3 to District 2, specifically to (address omitted). This address is in District 2, according to current districting information. You were elected to represent District 3, which included your former residence. According to the election cycles, you are in year two of your six-year term.
After review of the Montana Cadastral information (2020) that reflects your primary residence and as the owner of the same and having received documentation of the Deed of Trust and Special Warranty Deed confirming the information, it appears your primary residence is (address omitted). If this is disputed, you may provide documentation that your primary residence has not changed. Documentation must establish your present primary residence has changed since your election and is in District 3 by July 9, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. Time is of the essence where the County may be without a governing quorum...
Please advise the Board and the County Attorney of your intentions so that operations of the County may be secured with a quorum and disruption minimized as much as possible under the circumstances.”
Signed Kevin Peterson
One observer stated "that it was strange that the so-called Republican central committee would file a complaint against a sitting republican office holder, typically those sorts of things are done from the opposing political party.” “Why was the same claim not directed at past commissioner Tom Berry whom everyone knew did not live full time in Roundup?"
Peterson’s relationship with local elected officials has been strained and tense since taking the position as county attorney. Peterson backed and advised Ronnie Burns during the Sheriff’s race in 2018. Two of Peterson’s employee’s Teresa Fauth and Shirley Marking filed Commisioner of Political Practices campaign complaints against Deputy Lesnik during the campaign. Burns lost in the Republican primary, then ran as a write-in candidate, he lost again, then, sued the county over believed election improprieties, which resulted in the case being decided by the Montana Supreme Court in favor of current Sheriff Shawn Lesnik. The contested Sheriff's legal battle cost county taxpayers over $45,000 due to Peterson's unwillingness to defend the county. The county in the last year has had to pay an additional $44,000 in outside attorney fees.
Peterson has berated and insulted in person and via email, a score of elected county officials. Peterson is notorious for not attending weekly county commission meetings. He is continually at odds with Sheriff Lesnik and has been heard complaining about his workload and being underpaid. County Commissioners Borner and Carlson did not approve a pay raise during this fiscal year for Peterson. Peterson receives approximately $99,000 per year from Musselshell and Golden Valley counties.
When Berry resigned his position as a county commissioner in March, without giving any reason, many thought the timing was curiously suspicious and potentially had the fingerprints of Peterson. "The timing of the resignation of Tom Berry as a county commissioner in March of 2020 was suspicious at best and coordinated at least." According to a source that has asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. The source also said, “Peterson has used his authority to intimidate fellow county employees and his knowledge of the law into silencing potential whistle-blowers.”
The local Republican central committee has been involved in this ongoing scandal all the way back to the spring of 2018. Emails from within the Republican central committee indicate direct involvement in this continuing scandal. Musselshell County has received more negative press statewide for its election problems than any other county in Montana. Some in the community have described the local party as the local mafia. A person close to the situation but has requested to remain anonymous stated, "the citizens of Musselshell county are being forced to install two new individuals as county commissioners that were never voted for!" The individual also said, “Kevin Peterson, Maryrose Beasley, Larry Lekse, and the second in command after Peterson is Robert Goffena, are at the center of this ongoing scandal in the county."
The Republican central committee did not endorse Adam Carlson. He was the candidate who won his Republican primary race in 2018, nor did they support Shawn Lesnik for Sheriff. He also was the candidate that won his Republican primary.
The current list of Republican precinct people are as follows. Precinct 1 committeeman Mark Higgins, Precinct 3 committeeman Douglas Newton, Precinct 5 committeeman Gary Eliasson, Precinct 5 committeewoman Phyllis Eliasson, Precinct 6 committeeman, Robert Goffena, Precinct 6 committeewoman, Judy Rongen, Precinct 8 committeeman, Michael DeVeau and Precinct 8 committeewoman, Julia May. The membership of the Republican central committee also has its doubts—this from email threads brought to this paper's attention. "From my perspective, our Musselshell County Republican Central Committee is being manipulated into a situation that can only spell disaster for us in Musselshell County. STOP and THINK about the ramifications of rushing blindly into this affair at the behest of people known and others lurking in the shadows!" "The only two choices we have in terms of an experienced commissioner are Bobby Goffena or Sue Olsen. Both of those individuals, particularly Bobby Goffena, are in part to blame for the fiscal mess Musselshell County finds itself in." Another thread from Beasley; “To date, I have received one resume from Bruce Hoiland for consideration, for the job of commissioner. Bob Goffena stated to me that he would like the commissioner position. Sue Olson plans to bring a resume with her to the meeting. She would like to be a commissioner for a year or two until things get straightened out, and then resign. We would have to look for a new commissioner at that time.” “She says she considers herself more of an Independent than a Democrat.” Another thread; “Mr. Peterson advised that the compensation board would vote to put a person on the commissioner board, in order of the shorter term left to fill, which would be Tom Berry, which means, in all likelihood, they would ratify Mike Goffena he said, because Adam was in his second year of the term, the same rules apply as did for Tom. The compensation board would fill with one person and Adams place will go unfilled until January 1. Then, the person we name on the ballot will begin to finish Adam’s term. According to Kevin, we will only have two commissioners until January 1st. Since Kevin is the one who will interpret the law and stop anything we say that he doesn’t agree too, we have to do it the way he sees it or he’ll stop it. On the other hand, though a Democrat politically, Sue Olsen is far and away a better choice for submission as an experienced temporary Carlson replacement, especially during county budget preparation. Sue is much more level headed, has a commanding knowledge of budgetary matters, and is much more fiscally conservative than Borner or Goffena ever dreamed of being. If we submit inexperienced people to serve temporarily, that person will be at a distinct disadvantage to counter Borner’s tax and spend philosophy during the now ongoing FY 2021 budgeting cycle. An extremely steep learning curve would severely handicap that individual to the point, I fear, that he/she would be quite ineffective. The same holds true should Mike Goffena and another inexperienced person prevail in November.” A further thread; “Hello everyone I just have a question If Mike Goffena is ratified then that would mean that Adam’s District would be vacant till January unless you have someone on the ballot by July 31st. As I understand Mr. Goffena would not be eligible to fill Adam’s seat. He’d only eligible in Tom’s District. If that is the case then why couldn’t another be appointed if found before July 31st.” Mayor Sandra Jones
One final thread; “Both of those individuals, particularly Bobby Goffena, are in part to blame for the fiscal mess Musselshell County finds itself in. Goffena, along with now departed Tom Berry, proved utterly shameful in the treatment of fellow commissioner Borner, like her politics or not. There is nothing to suggest that Goffena would perform otherwise should we submit his name for a temporary Carlson remaining term replacement. In addition, Goffena and Larry Lekse have very publicly advocated pursuing Borner over that idiotic Cameron Road affair. So, I can’t see Goffena working with Borner in any capacity and should Mike Goffena prevail in November and if we name Bobby Goffena to be placed on the Nov. Ballot and assuming he might prevail, there would be even more chaos between serving brothers who have a history of intense dislike for each other whether Borner prevails over Pankratz or not.”
If the Republican central committee were to put forth Sue Olsen’s name as a replacement for Adam Carlson, it would violate a prime tenet of Republican politics, which is, never, ever, endorse a Democrat!
The political drama will continue when the Republican central committee submits its choices for the two vacant county commissioner seats in the weeks to come. We will follow this story as it devolves.
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