The following story ran in the Missoulian and Montana Standard on April 27, 2008:

HELENA — A Democratic candidate for attorney general says Montana must do more to combat prescription drug abuse, which is now the state’s No. 1 drug priority according to a top narcotics officer.

“While our vigilance against meth cannot end, we must also mount a battle against this invisible epidemic,” said Steve Bullock, a Helena lawyer and one of three Democrats vying to be attorney general.

Bullock outlined a plan earlier this month to address the problem, which includes tracking prescriptions for certain narcotic medicines and making it a crime to seek the same narcotic prescriptions from many different doctors.

About 240 Montanans died last year after using some of the top 20 most commonly abused prescription drugs, said Mark Long, chief of the narcotics bureau in the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation. That division is under the Department of Justice, headed by the attorney general.

Only eight Montanans died last year due to methamphetamine overdose.

Click here to continue reading this story

Click here to read a column by Steve Bullock on the issue

Click here to listen to a Northern News Network radio story on the topic

All times are unofficial. Times may vary in post race official results.

AFSCME Council 9 Latest to Endorse AG Candidate

(Helena) Montana Council 9 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union today became the latest in a series of unions to endorse Democrat Steve Bullock for Attorney General.

“Put simply, Steve Bullock is clearly the best candidate for this important office,” said AFSME Council 9, Montana Executive Director Don Kinman. “Steve has the right combination of relevant experience, passion for the issues and boundless energy to be successful from day one as our next Attorney General. I watched him work tirelessly on the minimum wage issue in 2006 and his leadership made the difference in giving Montanans a long past-due raise. We’re pleased at AFSCME Council 9 to endorse Steve and plan to work hard to make sure he is elected,” Kinman continued.

In 2006, Bullock was the Director of Raise Montana, the group that helped write and organize the effort to raise Montana’s minimum wage. The measure was passed with 73% of the vote in November of 2006, giving an estimated 25,000 Montana workers a raise in the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years.

Bullock has served as both the Executive Assistant Attorney General and Acting Chief Deputy Attorney General. During his nearly four years with the office, Steve undertook complex civil and criminal cases – from defending challenges to Montana’s Stream Access Laws to keeping criminals behind bars.

In his statewide private practice, Bullock has worked closely with unions. “I’ve worked with Steve directly and his dedication to hard work, honesty and justice will serve him well in the campaign and as Attorney General,” Kinman concluded.

“This is an important endorsement,” Bullock said. “Working together we can build a bright future for Montana and I pledge to the members of AFSCME Council 9 and to all Montanans that this campaign will be one of which all of us can be proud,” Bullock said.

AFSME Council 9 is a statewide organization whose membership of 1,600 includes a wide range of public employees, law enforcement, and health care workers.

Listen to Kinman talk about the endorsement

(Billings) Joe Dwyer, Secretary/Treasurer of Teamsters No. 190, announced today Teamsters Local No. 190 has endorsed Democrat Steve Bullock in his bid to become Montana’s next Attorney General.

Bullock and four other candidates have filed to succeed incumbent Attorney General Mike McGrath who is prohibited by term limits from seeking a third term.

“Through his legal work and his efforts to increase the minimum wage, Steve has stood side-by-side with working families across Montana and we are proud to stand with him,” Dwyer said in announcing his 1,700 member union’s endorsement of the 42 year-old Montana native.

“This represents and important opportunity to participate in shaping the future of Montana and Steve has the experience and the vision to be a truly outstanding Attorney General,” Dwyer continued.

The only candidate with experience in an executive capacity in the Attorney General’s office, Bullock has served as both the Executive Assistant Attorney General and Acting Chief Deputy Attorney General. During his nearly four years with the office, Steve undertook complex civil and criminal cases – from defending challenges to Montana’s Stream Access Laws to keeping criminals behind bars.

In his statewide private practice, Bullock has worked closely with the Teamsters and other unions. “Steve has consistently been in the trenches, fighting for our members. I expect he will do the same for the people of Montana as our next Attorney General,” Dwyer said.“I’m honored by this important endorsement,” Bullock said. “My campaign is about standing up for Montana families and helping build a bright future where our kids are safe and prosperous. The support of Teamsters 190 is very meaningful in that effort and I’m looking forward to working closely with Joe and his membership in the coming weeks to spread our message across Montana,” Bullock concluded.

Teamsters Local No. 190 covers Southeastern Montana, and membership includes city and county employees, law enforcement employees, school bus drivers, prosecuting attorneys, truck drivers, construction workers, as well as many others.

Click here to listen to Dwyer talk about the Bullock endorsement

21st Century Democrats Call Bullock “an exceptional candidate”

(Helena, MT) The prominent national progressive group 21^st Century Democrats today announced its endorsement of Steve Bullock in Montana’s Democratic primary for Attorney General. This is the first major endorsement of the election cycle for the Democrats and comes from a national group with a successful track record of helping elect progressive Democratic candidates across America. Bullock is one of only 10 candidates endorsed today by the group.

On January 22, 2008, accompanied by his wife Lisa and their three children, Steve Bullock officially filed for Attorney General at the Secretary of State’s office in Helena.

Steve’s filing came just one day after his formal announcement in Billings.

View Billings Gazette article

View statewide coverage of Steve’s announcement here

View Steve’s Announcement speech here

Public service has always been at the core of my values. I believe we have an obligation to one another, to leave our state and our world in a better place than we found it, and to improve opportunities for our children and grandchildren.

Because when all is said and done, more important than the money we make, the awards we win or the monuments we build, is the legacy of service we live and leave for future generations.

Our next Attorney General can be in a position to shape that legacy. And I need your help.

This is an exciting time around the Bullock house. Caroline turns 6 in April, her little sister Alex is three and their little brother Cameron had his first birthday in October. It goes without saying that Lisa and I are busy and focused on these energetic kids.

In many ways, it is the focus on my kids – and by extension to the future of all Montana’s children – that drives me to seek this important office.

Having served in the Attorney General’s office as both the Executive Assistant Attorney General and as Acting Chief Deputy Attorney General, I know the critical role the office can play in shaping our future. For me, it all comes back to our kids.

I want to do everything I can to provide for my kids, and for every child, all the promise and potential this state holds.

If I am fortunate enough to serve as your next Attorney General, I will start every day by asking whether we are doing everything we can to protect Montana’s kids – on their playgrounds, in their homes and on their computers. Even here in Montana, our corner of the world is changing, and we must have an Attorney General who is anticipating and addressing those changes, not simply reacting as the train passes us by.

Are we doing all that we can to protect Montana’s treasures – our rivers and our quiet places?

Are we fostering a business environment that builds on our natural assets and protects workers and consumers from fraud and abuse? Are we doing all we can to support and assist local law enforcement?

Are we respecting our small business and farm and ranch heritage by ensuring that Montana interests get a fair shake in an increasingly global marketplace?

When a parent or a small business gets taken advantage of by an unscrupulous lender, the adults are not the only ones who pay the price. When a Montana small business is faced with having to pay more for its products because of illegal price-fixing, the change in company’s bottom line has an impact in the households of employers and employees alike.

I will be spending the eleven months visiting with Montanans about the future – about what we can do – as communities and individuals – to transform and improve our state.

Doing   so will take a lot of time, a lot of work, and a financial sacrifice. My family and I have made this commitment willingly because we want to make sure that the Montana in which our kids are raised is even better than the Montana in which my wife and I were raised.

I hope you will join me in this journey.