Senate District 21 Candidate Profiles

This week and next, CrowNews.Net is publishing profiles of the candidates for Senate District 21.  This district includes Hardin and the Crow reservation.  The candidates are: Norma Bixby(D), Kenneth Phillip Brien Jr.(D), Randen Schoppe(R), Sharon Stewart-Peregoy(D), and Chip Watts(D).

Jon Tester and Susan Stewart-Peregoy

Sharon Stewart-Peregoy(D)

Lodge Grass, Mont.

Age: 54

I am Sharon Stewart Peregoy, age 54, a child of the Big Lodge Clan
and a member of the Piegan and Ties the Bundle Clan. I am an enrolled
member of the Crow Tribe. My parents are Alvin H. and Alvina Iron
Stewart who are both deceased. I have a Bachelor of Science in
Elementary Education and a Masters of Education.

First of all, I
consider myself a bilingual educator and a longtime advocate for the
revitalization of the Crow language and culture on the Crow
Reservation. One of my dreams is open our own Apsaalooke immersion
school.

I live eight miles north of Lodge Grass on old highway 87
in the valley of East Sandcreek. I have lived in Senate District 21 for
over 45 years. I currently work for the Crow Tribe as a Research and
Development Analyst for the Economic Development Office. Also, I am a
co-facilitator for Crow Agency Horizons Project, a Northwest Area
Foundation Program to reduce poverty in rural communities.

I chose
to run for Senate District 21 to bring a fresh view to the issues that
are impacting residents at the local and state level. I have not held
any political office. However, I believe through my work in economic
development and the Horizons project, I understand the people's
concerns about employment, housing, drug and alcohol abuse, the need to
expand infrastructure, sustaining small businesses and the difficulty
faced by farmers and ranchers in the area due to outsourcing and rising
costs of operation.

If elected senator for District 21, I would
advocate for all citizens. My goal is to ensure that the quality of
life improves for the citizens of this district and county, one of the
poorest counties in the United States.

Norma Bixby (D)

Kirby, Mont.

Age:67

Norma Bixby is the current representative in House District 41. She
was first elected in 2000 and has served every consecutive term since.
Bixby has a very strong background in education receiving her B.S. in
elementary education from Eastern Montana College in 1975 and a
Master's degree in elementary administration from New Mexico State
University in 1980. She has served as an administrator for the Northern
Cheyenne Tribal Education department for 23 years.



Her role in the Tribal Education department is what first got her going
to Helena on a regular basis, lobbying and fighting for improvements in
the state education system. Her experience in Helena is what first
caused her to run for congress in 1999 when she was asked by Nancy
Keenan.



Bixby said if elected she will focus on education, tax relief and
natural resource development. She stressed that she will work to make
sure that the legislature takes the time needed to ensure responsible
resource development and the passage of laws that will hold companies
responsible for their actions in this arena.

Randen Schoppe (R)

Hardin, Mont.

Age: 26



Randen Schoppe is the youngest of five current Senate District 21
candidates at 26 years old. He is the chair of the local Republican
Party. He is the only Republican candidate running for Senate in
District 21.



Schoppe is a defense attorney in Hardin and on the board of trustees
for the new lawyers division. He also serves on the board for the
Hardin Food Bank. Schoppe was active in the college Republicans as an
undergraduate student and remained active during his time in law
school. He graduated in 2006.



Schoppe said he has always had an interest in politics and said he
views his age as an advantage. He said he will bring more energy to the
legislature. When asked why he chose to run, Schoppe said, “Sitting on
the sidelines is entertaining at times but if you want change you have
got to get involved.”



If elected, Schoppe said he will work to increase economic growth in
the area. He plans to try to cut taxes - specifically the business and
equipment taxes. He also said he will work to change the statutes so
that the detention facility could be opened. This would create
approximately 100 jobs, according to Schoppe.



Schoppe also said that he is very interested in what the people in his
district have to say. He plans to hold meetings around the area to hear
from local citizens about their priorities.

Profiles of Chip Watts(D) and Kenneth Phillip Brien Jr.(D) will be published next week.