Dems back more tribal candidates

PABLO – The Montana Democratic Party kicked off the first of its 2014 Spring Statewide Native American Community Lunches at Salish-Kootenai College in Pablo. Attendees talked with Democrats about issues facing Indian Country and the 2014 election.

 The lunch brought together nearly forty Salish-Kootenai tribal leaders, activists, and community members with leaders of the Montana Democratic Party, the Montana Indian Democrat Council, and local Democratic legislators and candidates.

Andrea Marcoccio, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party, gave an update on the Democratic Party and its candidates, Senator John Walsh and House candidate John Lewis.

Caryn Kallay, chair of the Lake County Democrats, also spoke of the work local Democrats are doing to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

Local legislative candidates joined to talk about their role in strengthening Indian Country during the next legislative session in 2015.

 Attendees also heard from current and founding leaders of the Montana Indian Democratic Council. MIDC is a chartered organization of the Montana Democratic Party focused on training, recruiting and electing Native Americans in Montana. Currently, the Democratic Indian Caucus has eight members in the House and Senate while Republicans have zero Native Americans elected.

 The 2014 Spring Statewide Native American Community Lunches includes stops on all seven of Montana’s reservations.

 “It’s great to get out and talk with community leaders about issues important to Native Americans,” Marcoccio said.

 Montana Democrats have a long history of championing issues important to our Native American communities from voting rights to access to quality, affordable healthcare to preserving Native culture,” Marcoccio said.