‘Ordinary’ Montanan makes Senate bid

By SCOTT McMILLION Chronicle Staff Writer

Patty Lovaas is proud of the fact that she’s not a career politician. She said people like her are what the founding fathers had in mind when they framed the American system of government.

“Ordinary citizens have the need and the ability to help the country,” said the 56-year-old accountant from Missoula.

Born in Minnesota, Lovaas came to Montana in 1981 and graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in accounting in 1985. Her only previous political experience was as a school board member in Onamia, Minn.

The daughter of a career Navy man, she moved extensively as a child. As an adult, she has coached sports teams, taught at a vocational education center, and served on the Missoula Housing Authority Board. With her husband Orville she has owned the Elkhorn Hot Springs resort in Beaverhead County for 12 years. She has two grown sons, Paul and Brian.

She described her politics as moderate and said that her connections in the liberal stronghold of Missoula will be an asset against incumbent Democrat Max Baucus.

He can’t be unseated without support from Democrats and independents, she said.

“I’m not a hard party liner,” she said. “I’ll do what’s best for the majority of the people.”

Through her independent accounting firm, she has met people from all walks of life and said she fears for the economic health of the nation. Many people are suffering economically, she said.

“Our country could be in not just a recession but a depression if a change in focus is not made,” she said.

The government is spending more than it takes in, but the people cannot afford any more taxes, she said.

She favors keeping American troops in Iraq.

“I believe we absolutely need to stay there,” she said. “Regardless of the reason we went in, we’re there.”

Iraq remains too unstable to withdraw now, she said.

“I would not want the resulting consequences on my conscience,” she said. “I don’t believe anybody would.”

Lovaas has been concentrating her activities in western Montana, working her contacts and attending candidate forums.

She described her campaign as very much a grassroots effort. She said she’s raised only $1,500 in campaign money, but is not worried about that. Major funding won’t be needed until after the primary, she said. Her business contacts have given her a good education in the issues, she said.

“I absolutely know the issues affecting small business and the economy,” she said.

If elected, she vows to serve no more than two terms.

Her Web site is at www.pattyforsenate.com.

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