Mark Thane

Mark Thane was born in Missoula, Montana. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Montana in 1980 and a master's degree from the University of Montana in 1985. Thane's career experience includes working as a teacher and administrator. He has been a member of the Montana Federation of Public Employees and the School Administrators of Montana.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Missoula native, University of Montana graduate and recently completed a thirty-nine year career in Missoula's public schools. My wife Mary and I are the proud parents of two adult daughters, Lindsay and Emilie. I currently serve on the board of directors for Partnership Health Center (Missoula) and the United Way of Missoula County. Previous board service includes the Missoula Economic Partnership, Missoula Family YMCA, SPARK! Arts Missoula, Missoula Education Foundation and Young Audiences of Western Montana. My campaign for House District 99 has been endorsed by the PAC of the Montana Federation of Public Employees as well as the PAC of Missoula Firefighters Local 271.

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?

As a member of the Montana House I will advocate for affordable and accessible healthcare and case management services.I support a high-quality K-12 public school system and the Montana University System, including our two-year colleges and workforce development programs (certificate programs, apprenticeships, trades).Public lands and waterways are a great asset and significant driver of economic activity in Montana and access must be defended.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a career educator, I am passionate about high-quality education from pre-K through the university system. Workforce development is critical in order to continue to advance Montana's economy. I will advocate for and support apprenticeships, certificate programs and the trades in addition to K-12 programs and the Montana University System.

Affordable and accessible healthcare and case management services are quality of life issues. I support Medicaid expansion and will advocate for the restoration of the positions which have been cut from the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). Early intervention and appropriate case management will save significant resources in the long term.

Our Montana heritage includes complete access to our public lands and waterways for hunting, fishing and other recreational pursuits. Montana's outdoor recreation economy supports over 71,000 jobs and generates more than $7.1 billion in annual economic activity. Access to our public lands must be defended.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"The Obligation of Constructive Dissent" - Newton Holt

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

Servant leadership is an important attribute in an elected official. One must be an active listener, seeking to fully understand the issue before attempting to formulate a solution. Elected officials must be willing to take advantage of the collective capacity of colleagues and constituents to find the most reasonable solutions to problems.

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

I consider myself to be a collaborative problem solver. I listen well and am willing to invest the necessary time to study the issues. I am approachable and have always maintained an open door policy. I am committed to serve all citizens, but particularly the most vulnerable and underserved members of society.

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

All legislators must be responsible to fully invest themselves in the process, do their homework and commit to serving the best interests of the state and its citizens. Legislators must be attentive and discerning when listening to testimony and must utilize the best available data to inform decision making.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be regarded as a person of integrity who recognized the "big picture" and effectively served the best interests of the state and its citizens.

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

Throughout my early childhood I recall watching the launch of a number of missions in the space program leading up to the moon landing in July of 1969 (when I was ten years old). I marvel at the capacity of our nation to rally around an event that required such amazing commitment, planning and technological advancement. I believe the display of unity, national pride and collective commitment to the project is instructive for us today. While we currently face a number of significant issues, climate change is one such issue that I believe can be successfully addressed if we are able develop the collective will and apply our scientific and intellectual capacity to seek solutions. The effort will require committed leadership and a level of personal sacrifice; however, the accomplishment will be one of the greatest feats in our history

What is your favorite book? Why?

Call of the Wild by Jack London is my favorite novel. The basic struggle, the fierce commitment and the power of the writing impacted me. (I have read it multiple times.)

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

The shorter terms in the house cause representatives to be more responsive to the electorate. The two year election cycle result in legislators returning to the district to attend meetings/functions and to meet to voters through door-to-door campaign efforts. The longer terms state senate guarantee the preservation of a certain level of institutional knowledge. To enact legislation requires approval of the house, senate and the governor. Having three "checks" in the system affords us greater opportunity to be certain legislation is in the best interest of all of our citizens.

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

While it is important to have some level of institutional knowledge preserved in the legislature from session to session, I believe infusion of new personalities, new ideas and fresh perspective is healthy for state government. I believe it is critical to have a true "citizen's legislature".

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

One of the great challenges facing the state of Montana will be continuing to support the state budget in the era of declining revenue from taxes on resource extraction, particularly coal. Property tax and state income tax cannot sustain the budget given the loss of revenue from resource extraction. Revision of the state tax structure will be a significant challenge over the next decade.

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

The governor and legislature must work collaboratively in order to produce the best legislation to serve the people of the state of Montana. While there may be ideological differences between those charged with the responsibility to govern, all parties must be willing to seek solutions that are in the best interest of the stae and its citizens. Having your say doesn't necessarily mean getting your way. The ability to navigate the political minefields and find room to compromise/collaborate is the mark of good leadership.

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

Developing relationships with other legislators is necessary in order to establish credibility and foster healthy dialog. It is difficult to collaborate if you don't have established relationships. The collective capacity of the legislature is enhanced if its members have established relationships founded on mutual respect.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

My preference would be to serve on the appropriations committee. Dedicating the appropriate resources to support the priorities of the state and its citizens is a challenging but essential function of the legislature. As a career educator, the education committee is naturally a significant interest.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

As a first-time legislator my intent would be to immerse myself in the process and learn as much as possible during my first session. I certainly aspire to leadership; however, I recognize that I have a significant learning curve as a new legislator.

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

There are attribute I have seen in a number of legislator which I would hope to evidence in my role. I would practice active listening, seeking first to understand then be understood. I value being collaborative and solution-oriented.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Not at this time.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have been impacted by the testimony offered by constituents from a number of Montana's rural communities that special education services are significantly hampered by the lack of funding to support special education cooperatives. In a rural school there may be a small number of students who require physical therapy, for example, due to a disabling condition. The school district doesn't have enough demand to hire a full time therapist, so they depend of a cooperative that serves multiple schools/communities. These cooperatives; however, are woefully underfunded and are in jeopardy because of budget deficits. Service to some of our most vulnerable students may be lost unless a solution is identified and supported.