JUSTICE TOUR 2007-2008
| Run with Steve in your town! |
Kicking off at the 2007 Governor’s Cup, Bullock’s Justice Tour of Montana will consist of running at least a 5 kilometer race in each of Montana’s 56 counties, culminating at the 2008 Governor’s Cup next June.
Entry 20: Colstrip Days (3.5 mi; 28:15)
June 28, 2008; Rosebud County
Colstrip Days is celebrated each year the weekend prior to the 4th of July, and is the community’s largest celebration. There was a parade through town, then the community gathered in
Entry 19: Crow Native Days (4mi; 31:10)
June 27, 2008; Big Horn County
The best campaign stops are those where I gain more than I give, leaving a community with a better understanding of the identity and the needs of an area than when I arrived. This trip was no exception. At the invitation of Crow Tribal Chair Carl Venne, I spent the day at Crow Agency during Crow Native Days.
I am glad I did not sign on to run across this County, as
Entry 18: 112th Boston Marathon (26.2 miles - 3:21:58)
Juggling campaigning, fundraising, and practicing law, while endeavoring to maintain a meaningful family life, is challenging to say the least. While one might imagine that a marathon is the last thing that should be piled onto that schedule, the longer training runs help maintain some sense of balance and sanity.
Entry 18: Friends of Arlee School Buttercup Run (10K - 40:58)
March 29, 2008; Lake County
Among many other responsibilities, the Attorney General is in charge of consumer protection — safeguarding the public against deceptive practices and scams. And, while it is a great run and is for a wonderful cause, the 250 runners showing up on a cold morning in Arlee for the Buttercup Run were snookered! About 20 degrees, max, and not a buttercup to be seen along the entire route. Next year, maybe a name change to the Snowflake Run would be more appropriate.
Entry 16: Whitefish & Seeley Lake (Half Marathon - 1:37:48)
February 22nd, 2008 (Flathead & Missoula Counties)
The campaign trail offers amazing moments, reinforcing and that no matter the sacrifice in running for office, I continue to receive more through this process than I give.
This was a record year for the Cheetah Herders, with over 350 runners joining in the 13-mile loop around the lake. Notwithstanding the painful length, it is hard not to be happy when running the Snow Joke. The race is well-organized, the runners are great, and the course is beautiful (although a little icy).
Entry 15: To Hall and Back (15 mi - 1:58:33)
February 12, 2008; Granite County
This was a crazy campaign week, with a candidate forum in Bozeman on Sunday, a central committee meeting on Monday, a fundraiser on Tuesday, meetings and a Central Labor Counsel appearance on Thursday.
On one of my trips between Helena and Missoula, I took a little side trip to get a run into the schedule.
Old Highway 1 spans about 60 miles from Drummond to Anaconda. Not many places you can take a nice country run along a major highway, but this is one of them. Approaching cars typically cross over the median, allowing plenty of room while frequently offering a wave or tip of the hat.
Entry 14: Sanders County Democratic Dinner, Thompson Falls (3.5 mi - 27:48)
October 27, 2007; Sanders County
Highway 200 between Missoula and Thompson Falls twists and turns, following along the Clark Fork River. It is visually stunning. A herd of big horn sheep wandered to the road’s edge, the only kind of traffic jam one might expect in the area.
And a run in Thompson Falls is no less spectacular than the drive to get there. You can literally taste the air as you breathe in the pine trees that surround you. A distant ring of a hunter’s gunshot fills the air, while several deer lazily rest in a tree-filled yard. The few cars that have passengers are certain to smile and wave as they pass.
I finished my run right in time for the Sanders County Democratic Central Committee Dinner. My guess is that close to 200 people turned out for the event. Sen. Jon Tester gave the keynote, the food and conversation was great, and the attendees were engaged and excited. Judy Reall, the County Chair, did a heck of a job putting it together.
Trips like this remind me of why I run — on the roads and for the office of Attorney General. The people showing up at a dinner in Thompson Falls do so because they believe that their participation matters and can make a difference, and that government can play a meaningful and constructive role in our lives. I believe this to be true as well.
Entry 13: Montana Cup (8k - 34:43)
October 27, 2007; Missoula County 
More often than not, I run alone. I use the solitary time to unwind, to think through things, or just let my mind drift. All runs are meaningful, even if every run isn’t memorable.
Notwithstanding the sport’s individual nature, Montana boasts a remarkable running community. Helena offers group runs three times a week, welcoming everyone without regard to skill or level or participation. There are also Tuesday track workouts coordinated by Pat Judge, drawing 30+ regular participants. While a nagging Achilles injury kept me away from the track most of this season, the motivation and support the Tuesday “nooners” provide one another epitomizes the ideal of community. (More information is available from the Helena Running Club).
The state running community was out in force in Missoula for the Montana Cup. Fifteen years strong, the Montana Cup is a cross-country meet for runners of all ages. The event was held on the University of Montana Golf Course, immediately following the Big Sky Conference College Cross-Country Championship.
There is friendly competition among the cities – this year, the Missoula hosts changed the location the morning of the event. It was an 8k, or a little over 5 miles. It was a beautiful day, a mostly flat course, and over 200 runners supporting one another to achieve their best.
Entry 12: Park County Democrats Dinner (5K - 25:15)
October 4, 2007; Park County 
Running doesn’t take much concentration, so your mind can travel as freely as your feet. It is also low maintenance, inviting a person to run almost anywhere and anytime. My run this week was after the annual Park County Democratic dinner at the Elks Club, in downtown
100+ people showed up for the local dinner in
The combined effects of the energy of the dinner and the need to work off a full plate of Andy Scott’s lasagna made a run a necessity before leaving
No matter which main street of which Montana town, we can only hope for the same: a main street full of businesses, offering a safe place for kids to gather, and that are as inviting to the newcomer as they are to the life-long resident.
Entry 11: Combating Predatory Lending in Montana Conference (10.75 mi - 1:28:44)
September 23, 2007; Lewis & Clark and Jefferson Counties
The campaign stayed close to home this weekend, as I attended a conference in
Given the recent crisis in subprime lending, media attention has been focused on the interest rates people must pay to receive and maintain housing loans, with Congress calling some of the practices in the lending process “unconscionable and deceptive.”
All the while, here in Montana it is perfectly legal to charge hard-working Montanans an interest rate of up to 650% APR for short-term loans. The process sounds simple: a borrower goes into a payday lender with a post-dated check and proof of employment or income. The borrower gets up to $300 cash, but must then write the check for $400. The lender cashes the check a couple of weeks later, pocketing a “finance charge” of up to 25%.
All sounds like a great service, right? This is not necessarily a quick fix to a short-term financial crisis; it often leads to a cycle where the borrower can only cover the first loan by visiting another payday lender, and incurring yet another 25% haircut. Continue this cycle for a year, and a borrower could end up paying a whopping $1,500 in interest for a $250 loan.
During the conference we heard from a state employee, a small business owner, a divorcee, and a gentleman on SSI/disability: they turned to these lenders of last resort when a crisis kept them from making ends meet in a month, they weren’t necessarily told what they were getting into, and they ultimately faced months, and in some cases years, of financial ruin.
Almost one-fourth of the states ban these types of loans entirely. Earlier this year, Congress recognized the impact that payday loans were having on our servicemen and women and their families, and capped the rates that could be charged to military personnel at 36% APR (compared to our 650%). Of those states allowing them,
The word “justice” means different things to different people. Some might argue that justice can be best attained when government is least involved. If true, there would be no child-labor laws, no overtime laws, no worker-safety laws and no minimum wage.
The debate over payday lending — and the practices that are employed — is only beginning. Be it through consumer protection litigation or by requesting legislation, I intend to be a part of shaping that dialogue as our next Attorney General.
Entry 10: Havre Festival Days (5K - 20:45)
September 15, 2007; Hill County 
Almost each of the organized runs brings with it a “first.” This was not only the first time I have ran in Havre, it was also the first time a race director has told me about his experience running into rattlesnakes along the race course. That discussion provided the incentive to move a little faster!
The run was held in conjunction with Havre Festival Days, so it was a fun-filled day. I started with the parade, followed by a Kiwanis pancake breakfast where over 1,000 were served. Upon finishing the run I attended a nail-biting football game between MSU-Northern and UM-Western, wrapping up the evening with a wonderful banquet hosted by the Hill County Democratic Central Committee.
My good friends Paul Tuss and Pam Hillery, and their kids Dolan and Caroline, served as hosts and guides during my visit. Dolan added to the firsts, by joining me and participating in his first 5k run.
I left that night with a better appreciation of the town and its people. There is a genuine sense of community in Havre. The people are friendly and neighborly. They are engaged in state and local policy and politics. And they, like me, see challenges on the horizon, but also see opportunity to make this place we call home even better for all of us now, as well as the next generation that will follow.
You can read more about my visit to Havre by clicking here
Entry 9: Kalispell Candidate Forum
September 13, 2007; Flathead County
Not every run along the way can be part of an organized race, and when I was in Kalispell as part of a candidate forum for the Montana Tavern Association , I took the opportunity to sneak in a little run. In running down the backstreets behind the Outlaw Inn, I stumbled upon
The candidate forum highlighted yet another aspect of the job that is not well known by many. For the past 20 years, certain forms of gambling have been regulated at the state level. In addition to being the state’s top elected lawyer, the Attorney General also oversees the Gambling Control Division. This is not an insignificant responsibility – on the one hand the Department serves as the investigatory and regulatory body, yet on the other the Division is tasked with doing what it can to make the interface between business and government as reasonable as possible.
The Attorney General’s duties encompass much more than fighting crime. The officeholder wears many hats, including needing to be a seasoned lawyer – experienced in many different facets of the law – and a seasoned manager. I am running because I believe I have the experience, background, education and vision to effectively serve the public wearing all of the hats.
Entry 8: Big Sky Mountain Festival
September 3, 2007; Madison County
This is the third year in a row that we have spent all or part of Labor Day weekend at Big Sky. On Saturday they always hold their Mountain Fest, an outdoor gathering with food, live music, and huge inflatable slides for the kids. It is generally pretty quiet that time of year at Big Sky, and my family uses the weekend to recharge — hiking, relaxing, and letting the kids enjoy a weekend at a swimming pool.
As part of this year’s festival, they hosted a 5k run. I am convinced that few other counties would design a course that runs up a mountain, but I guess that’s what one should expect at a ski hill! We started at an elevation of just under 7600’, and by the end of the first mile we were a little over 8000’. The nice thing is that it is (almost) all down hill from there. As the attached newspaper article shows , it wasn’t the most crowded race, but my cheering section was solid.
The next day after attending the local pancake breakfast and taking a family hike to
Entry 7: An Ri Ra Irish Festival (10k - 45:21)
August 10, 2007; Silver Bow County
The history of much of
On the one hand, you are not “from”
As part of the annual Montana Irish Festival, the Gaelic Cultural Society sponsors a 5 and 10k run through uptown
To make sure to offset any of the positive health effects from my morning run, afterward I joined Bill O’Leary for breakfast at Gamer’s. From sharing the counter seats with County Attorney Bob McCarthy, to seeing the State Economic Development Director Evan Barrett, to chatting with Sen. Steve Gallus and his wife Jen Hensley, a couple hours in Gamer’s gives you a better sense of what is going on in Butte (and much of Montana) than any news program or public opinion poll could ever provide.
Entry 6: Black Nation’s North American Indian Days (3.35 miles - 26:56)
July 14, 2007; Glacier County
I have been to Browning several times, but never been a part of the community. This past weekend provided that opportunity. Once a year, there is a four day celebration of dance, drumming and socializing in
Click here to see more pictures from the North American Indian Days
Entry 5: Choteau Run (3.15 miles - 25:30)
July 14, 2007; Teton County
Anyone that has stopped at the rest stop and ice cream store in Choteau will recognize the dinosaur!
Entry 4: Smoking Boomer Fun Run (5k - 21:00)
June 16, 2007; Wheatland County
The Festival of the Wind celebrates the 90 tower turbine farm located between Harlowton and Judith Gap. This was the first of what is sure to be an annual festival – the friendly folks pulling the festival together are reason enough to return.
The people of the community make runs like this memorable. The race volunteers came primarily from
One of the people that particularly sticks in my mind is Adrie Min, the race director (with the colorful wind turbine hat!). Adrie is quick with a smile, and rumor has it that, if he chose to participate, he was sure to win the Festival of the Wind windbag contest! He is a native of
Click here to see more pictures from the Smoking Boomer Fun Run
Entry 3: 2nd Annual Hamilton PTA Fun Run and Walk (10K - 46:25)
June 9, 2007; Ravalli County
It was a beautiful morning in the Bitterroot for
the 2nd annual Hamilton PTA run.
Click here to see more pictures from the Hamilton Fun Run & Walk
Entry 2: 2007 Governor’s Cup (Half Marathon - 1:35:54)
June 2, 2007; Lewis & Clark County

The Governor’s Cup always serves as a reminder of some of the reasons I love running. 4,000-plus people, all ages, shapes and sizes, all entering the races with different expectations. Some are out to accomplish specific time or distance goals, some just to have fun, but all should finish the morning with a sense of accomplishment. In my book, everyone that crosses the finish line on Governor’s Cup morning wins.
As the kick off to the “Justice Tour,” the Governor’s Cup half-marathon also provided me the personal reminder that the wheels of justice do not always move quite as quickly as one might like! I started the run strong, but those last five miles uphill from the valley were a killer. Altogether, though, I was pleased with the run, and had a great morning afterwards with friends at our open house.
Click here to see more pictures from the Governor’s Cup
Entry 1: Race for the Cure
May 19, 2007
My oldest daughter Caroline (5 years old) wanted to run (and walk) the race together. We started at a mad dash, and were playing “I Spy” by the second mile. Not exactly a personal best time, but one of my best races. I can’t expect that she will always think running with her Dad is cool, so I need to enjoy these times while I can…besides, another ten years and she’ll be beating me into the ground!
Click here to see more pictures from the Race for the Cure