Shane Morigeau

Shane Morigeau was born in Ronan, Montana, and lives in Missoula, Montana.[1] Morigeau earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Montana School of Forestry and Conservation in 2007, a J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 2010, and a master of laws from the University of Arizona in 2011. Morigeau's career experience includes working as a prosecutor and attorney with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.[2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Ronan, Montana, and I currently lives in Missoula, Montana. I earned my B.S. from the University of Montana – W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation in 2007, then my Juris Doctor from the University of Montana School of Law 2010 and my Master of Laws from the University of Arizona – James E. Rogers College of Law in 2011. Previously I worked as an attorney for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and now I am the Deputy Executive Officer for the Tribes.

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?

The MT State Legislature should focus its resources on providing the most basic services and providing those services well. I am referring to quality and affordable education, healthcare, and housing, a working economy for all, equal access to Montana's iconic public lands and wildlife, and a tax system that is reasonable and fair.It is critical this session to focus on building a coalition of legislative members who have an eye toward improving the services we provide with the taxes we collect. These days there are too many members of the Republican party who aim to dismantle critical government services and our only means of defense is building a majority of legislators who will combat these member's wrongheaded efforts.I will be focusing on alleviating the tax burden on property owners and income taxes and start addressing the outdated tax system in Montana. This will not only provide relief for property owners, but this will also help first-time home buyers and our renters since homeowners pass the tax increases to their renters by increasing their monthly rent payments.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public Education, consumer protection, housing affordability, public lands, protecting our justice system from politicization, fighting to protect women's reproductive rights, fighting for a fair and balanced tax system, and job creation.

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased May 14, 2020

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a native Montanan, raised in Ronan MT in a family of modest means, with the desire to advocate and fight for others. I'm a proud member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). I grew up fishing and hiking, and I was a wildland firefighter in the summers. I got a BS in Forestry from the University of Montana School of Forestry and Conservation. On the urging of my mother, and because I liked the policy classes in forestry school, I attended law school and got my law degree from the University of Montana School of Law, and a Master of Laws from the University of Arizona. I worked as a prosecutor, lawyer, and advocate for the CSKT at the MT Legislature in 2013 and '15, advocating for laws including Montana's Medicaid Expansion. I was elected to the MT Legislature in 2016, and am currently representing MT House District 95. I voted to reauthorize MT Medicaid Expansion in 2019. Among other bills I sponsored: I passed strict new legislation expanding the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse. The only group to oppose this bill was the insurance industry. I'm running for Auditor to return accountability and transparency back to the office, fight for fair and affordable insurance rates, and protect public lands on the Montana Land Board, on which the Auditor has a seat.

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?

I will fight to ensure that health insurance rates are fair and affordable for all Montanans.I will seek creative ways to promote business growth by clarifying laws and regulations. And, I will protect Montanans from investment fraud.I will bring American Indian representation to the MT State Auditor's office for the first time in history. I will listen to and engage with our rural and underserved communities to ensure all Montanans have a firm advocate in the Auditor's office.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1) I am passionate about addressing healthcare parity gaps via access to quality, affordable, meaningful health insurance coverage. In general, I know that insurance is an important mechanism for protecting Montanans from different kinds of risk, and I want everyone to be able to afford quality access.

2) I'm passionate about public land and conservation - I attended forestry school because I wanted to work in the outdoors, and I have a deep respect for public lands and working lands. We live in Montana partly because of its amazing public lands, and I will do everything I can to increase access, and work with landowners to help them increase public access to public lands, instead of fighting landowners, as the current Republican-majority Land Board has.

3) Laws and regulations must protect victims, and protect Montanans from becoming victims. In the legislature, I passed the strictest new laws to protect victims of childhood sexual abuse. I will use my skill set as a lawyer and former prosecutor to prosecute bad actors and let them know that Montanans will not fall victim to fraud, junk insurance, or any type of insurance or securities scam.

4) I am passionate about transparency and education of the public. When Montanans are informed, we make informed decisions. I want people to be as informed as possible when purchasing insurance, or making investment decisions.

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

Someone in this office must listen to Montanans concerns, to be their best advocate. The office needs a strong communicator who will meet people where they are at and share the best and most up-to-date information with them. We need an auditor who is ready and able to cooperate and work with others to protect Montanans, for example, by promoting policy ideas for consideration by the State Legislature. And, the auditor must be ready to fulfill the regulatory duties of the office by investigating, prosecuting, and holding insurance companies accountable.

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

My first job was changing pipe for my neighbors, which I did seasonally throughout middle and high school.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

I consider the responsibility to protect Montana consumers as most important. Additionally, it is very important that Montanans have access to fair and affordable insurance coverage, which meaningfully covers what it purports to cover. This office is a criminal justice and regulatory agency, whose primary mission is to protect Montanans. It is my top priority to protect people from bad actors, and ensure Montanans have access to affordable and quality insurance.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The State Auditor sits on the Montana Land Board, which consists of Montana's top five elected officials. The Land Board decides how Montana's millions of acres of state trust lands are managed. Because this office is a Land Board seat, it plays a vital role in protecting Montana's public lands.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

My nearly ten years of legal experience, including having won cases at the MT Supreme Court and federal court, and practiced in tribal, state, and administrative courts, will serve Montanans well. I have the legal background to lead a concerted charge against bad actors.

I've served in the MT House of Representatives for two terms, both in leadership. My legislative ability, from my passing of nine bills, all with bipartisan support, shows I can listen to and work with Montanans with varying political preferences to get things done.

I have a real interest in policy, and delving into policy details. That's a vital skill for an executive in charge of a regulatory agency to have.

I have proven I'm all in for Montana, and my record is public. Additionally- I don't come from the insurance industry or the securities industry, so you know I will put Montanans first.