Daniel Zolnikov

Daniel Zolnikov earned a B.S. in business administration, information systems, marketing, and management from the University of Montana, Missoula, in 2010 and an M.B.A. from the University of Montana in 2019. His career experience includes working as a management consultant at Zolnikov Consulting, a sales and marketing manager in a Billings, Montana, small business startup, and as an implementation consultant at Fast Enterprises.[1]

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What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Energy Policy

Technology and Data Policy

Economic Development

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I have worked tirelessly on energy policy and civil liberties. Montana has large energy development opportunities on the horizon and I don't want the state to miss out on these large investments.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Collaboration

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

The ability to understand the perspectives of my colleagues and constituents.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

My core responsibility is passing well thought out, long term policy that can guide Montana for years to come.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would rather have left and impact and had no legacy than had a legacy without an impact. Politicians are forgotten over time although our policies can impact the state for decades to come.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

9/11 occurred when I was 14.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

As a teenager, I was a lifeguard and worked on a farm for multiple summers.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

I enjoy Halloween and Christmas.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I thoroughly enjoyed the book the Road Less Traveled.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Batman, of course.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

The kitchen. I enjoy cooking.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

School has never come easy.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

I appreciate the different mindsets of the two bodies. One is a bit more wise and patient, the other a bit more excited and full of ideas. The balance is brilliant.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do not. It takes all types, and experience has to be derived from a beginning at some point.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

We need to look at a big picture for economic development. We think in stages of two years and should by thinking in terms of ten.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

Our governor is rarely involved. It would be nice to have more communication so we can identify and tackle the common ground.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Definitely. At some point, you will need to rely on their insight or their support.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

Energy is a much less political committee than other committees. We get to focus on policies.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

No.

From Zolnikov's website:[13]

Daniel Believes In…

Fighting the wasted and inefficient use of our tax dollars.

Working to make Montana job friendly.

Allowing for the safe extraction of our natural resources.

Limiting the growth of state government.

Preventing tax increases.

Ensuring our constitutional rights to bear arms.

Standing up for the rights of Montanans.

Increasing access to our public lands for outdoor enthusiasts.

Supporting a parent’s right to be involved with their child’s education.