A new congress assembled today (Jan 3, 2024) and it’s the first time since 2007 my schoolmate of yesteryear and dear friend of today won’t be there. It’s a new era.
I’m referring, of course, to Big Sandy’s own Jon Tester, former teacher and school board member, former President of the Montana Senate, former senior US Montana Senator , and current farmer and neighbor to Big Sandy residents.
He’s gone from Congress, and Montana lost a powerful ally and advocate; it’s the nature of our political system. Tenure brings with it more influence--power and influence to benefit the elected member’s constituents. This sort of influence for a member’s state takes years to build. Montana, especially rural Montana had a voice at the “big” table. Mike Mansfield gave us a voice at the “big” table and Jon Tester did as well. I hope rural, working Montana will again have an influential voice like this someday. If you are interested, you can look up the “real” accomplishments via Dr. Google or ChatGPT, but he fought and achieved gains for the little guy in Veteran’s health care, financial regulation, marriage equality, and health care reform. For the country in general, improvements in infrastructure investment.
Throughout his Senatorial career, Jon emphasized bipartisan collaboration. Many of us say how we are tired of Washington’s infighting and not getting anything done. Jon was one of the top 10 most bipartisan Senators as ranked by the Lugar Center, working across the aisle for the working man: focusing on legislation that addressed both national concerns and the specific needs of Montanans. He approached his job exactly like he has approached everyone since I’ve known him: with personable authenticity and an open mind. That said, he wasn’t afraid to speak truth to power as well, knowing it would cost him politically. This is a unique quality in Washington. If you haven’t seen Sen. Cory Booker’s remarks on the senate floor about Jon and his honorable character, it’s worth a YouTube search. While there, I would suggest watching Jon’s own farewell speech. To read an honest, open, yet brief parting interview with your neighbor, look this up: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/departing-sen-tester-on-why-congress-is-broken?
Lost from the list of notable “national” successes, is one closer to home. When Wells Fargo decided to move out of Big Sandy, it was Jon that called the president of Glacier Bank and bragged about the nature of Big Sandy and how Glacier Bank would do well with a branch there. Jon was a friend to small banks. From his Wikipedia page: “He became one of the Democrats in the Senate to support the 2018 Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, a bill that partially repealed Dodd-Frank and relaxed key banking regulations. As one of at least 11 other Democrats, he argued that the bill would “right-size post-crisis rules imposed on small and regional lenders and help make it easier for them to provide credit”. Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren vehemently opposed the legislation. Tester became the first Democrat endorsed by Friends of Traditional Banking, a political action committee that had previously endorsed Republicans.”
A call from this ranking Senate member on the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee carries some weight: the weight earned from years in the Senate. Jon was an advocate not only for Montana but for Big Sandy. It’s highly doubtful there would be a Glacier Bank branch in Big Sandy without that push from one of your neighbors. Well done, Jon, thank you.
Jon and Sharla, you have the gratitude of many for sacrificing your family time and probably some of your health as you fought for Montana and our rural communities. Regardless of one’s partisanship (we all know, or should know, we get bent political information from different media sources), having your neighbor in the US Senate gave you an advocate, a voice. If you ever had to contact Jon, he would have done his best to help you. You may have disagreed on policy but if you truly needed help, he would have given you the push of a US Senator as a neighbor. You’ve brought honor to Big Sandy, Jon, and I am and have been very proud to call you a schoolmate, friend, Senator, and farmer from the town I grew up in and loved.
Again, well done.
