Miller picks PSC's Gallagher as running mate
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Miller picks PSC's Gallagher as running mate
HELENA — Republican candidate for governor Ken Miller on Wednesday named state Public Service Commissioner Bill Gallagher of Helena as his running mate for lieutenant governor.
Miller emphasized the significance of picking a political running mate.
"It's not as important quite as picking your wife for life, as I like to call her, but it's a real close second because I plan on working with that person day in and day out," Miller told a crowd of supporters in the Capitol rotunda. "I wanted someone that had like values and like goals for the state of Montana."
Miller cited Gallagher's experience in education, business and natural resources and energy as prime factors in choosing him.
Gallagher said being named to the ticket was "an indescribable honor."
In 2010, Gallagher unseated Democrat Ken Toole for a seat on the PSC. Gallagher, 52, also has worked as a teacher, insurance agent, farmer and attorney.
If elected, Miller said Gallagher would play an important role in the administration's plans to reform the education system and speed up the state permitting for natural resources and energy projects.
Gallagher said he and Miller share a common goal of lower taxes and less government.
In a shot at some of their opponents, Gallagher said, "The choice is very clear from my perspective. The choice is the country club or the country boys." He did not specify which country club opponents he meant.
"Those country club politicians, they will do everything they can to avoid making and taking a stand on those hard issues," Gallagher said. "It's always the middle of the road."
Miller and Gallagher's philosophy is simple, the running mate said.
"Government works for the people, not the other way around," Gallagher said. "Two, the federal government gets its authority from the states and not the other way around. Three, get your hands out of our pockets. It's not your money. We earned it. It's ours."
When interviewing for the post, Gallagher said he asked Miller why he was interested in him. Gallagher said other candidates typically fill the lieutenant governor's slot "with a token representative that represents a demographic or a group that the primary candidate for governor otherwise could not reach out for."
Miller's response, Gallagher said, was: "Bill, I don't want a ribbon-cutter. I want a working lieutenant governor."
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