Esther Fishbaugh

Esther Fishbaugh earned a bachelor's degree from the College of Great Falls in 1984 and a graduate degree from Montana State University in 1991. Her career experience includes working in property management.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Esther is a native Montanan raised on a dryland wheat farm. She earned her BA from the College of Great Falls and her MS from Montana State University. Married for 49 years and the mother of two daughters, she built 42 years of business experience contracting with the federal government in campground management, overseeing more than 30 properties and 40-plus seasonal employees across Montana and Wyoming. She is committed to holding government accountable through transparency so citizens can clearly see how much is spent, on what, and how much is collected in taxes and fees. An avid outdoor recreationalist, she prioritizes responsible stewardship of public lands and the preservation of access for multiple uses, including hunters, while strongly supporting the Second Amendment. Esther believes excess business regulations should be pruned and property taxes administered fairly, with increases kept below the rate of inflation. Strong businesses help build stable communities, and strong families cement them. She affirms that parents are the primary decision-makers for their children and that government should stay out of family matters. Ultimately, she supports individual autonomy paired with individual responsibility and a return to the foundational liberties secured in our Constitution.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Greater government transparency is vital for fostering trust and accountability in society. By providing citizens with access to information about the budget, policies, and actions of their government and public schools, transparency ensures that the public can actively engage in the political process and hold elected officials and school boards accountable for their actions. Moreover, increased transparency serves as a powerful deterrent against corruption, as it makes it more difficult for those in power to engage in illicit activities or abuse their authority without facing public scrutiny and potential consequences.To protect the financial well-being of Montana families, it is essential to address excessive property tax increases. Increases of 30% or more in a single year, such as those experienced in 2023, far exceed the rate of inflation and place an unsustainable burden on homeowners. Property tax bills should provide a clear, itemized breakdown of all components used in determining property valuation. For example, until last year, my husband and I continued to pay taxes on a 16' x 36' building that had been removed from our property in 1998 despite having three on-site assessor inspections. Greater transparency and accountability are needed regarding how mills are calculated and how property values are assessed.Accountability for Judges

It is crucial to maintain a judiciary that is transparent, unbiased, and committed to upholding the rule of law. Judges must be held accountable for their actions, ensuring that they adhere to the principles of fairness and impartiality in their decision-making processes. Addressing corruption within the ranks of the judiciary is essential in preserving the integrity of our legal system and restoring public trust in the institutions that govern our society.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Restoring the sanctity of the traditional nuclear family, defined as a marriage between one man and one woman, is essential for the well-being of American society. The government must respect and support the fundamental role of parents in raising their children, ensuring that any intervention is based on solid evidence of harm to the child rather than unfounded bias against the parents' religious beliefs. By upholding the time-honored institution of marriage and empowering parents to make informed decisions regarding their children's upbringing and education, we can foster a stronger, more resilient nation where families thrive and flourish.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Jesus Christ, George Washington, Thomas Sowell, Elizabeth Elliot, my dad.

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

honesty

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

research issues thoroughly

What legacy would you like to leave?

Hard worker that defended the people.

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

Truck driver for harvest.

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

Balancing work and family.

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

A governor will lay out his priorities and the legislature will vet and implement them.

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

Fraud and abuse in elections must be addressed and a judiciary that legislates must be curbed.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise can never be about core principles or moral issues but all else deserves an honest appraisal.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Montana Family Foundation

Montana Shooting Sports Association

Member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses

Member of National Rifle Association

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

Assassination of JFK. Next was moon landing.

Esther Fishbaugh did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.