Helena Republican makes AG bid official

By DANIEL PERSON Chronicle Staff Writer

In a fly-about tour of Montana on Tuesday, Helena attorney Tim Fox made official his widely expected run for Montana attorney general.

Fox, a Republican, touched down at Gallatin Field Airport at 3 p.m. and was greeted by about 20 people, many donning Fox’s red and blue campaign stickers. In a prepared speech, Fox said he would use his position as the top law enforcement official in Montana to widen the fight against drugs, combat Internet predators and make government less intrusive and more pro-business.

In the drug war, he said, Montana must not be satisfied with only the Montana Meth Project to fight methamphetamines.

“We must look at ways to build a truly cooperative state-federal-local and tribal counter-drug program,” he said.

He also said he would bolster the attorney general’s Sexual or Violent Offender Registry by updating the list to include photos of the offenders -- a feature Fox said was already required but unused n and by creating an e-mail list for people who want to know when a sexual predator moves into their community.

Turning to what he called “federal encroachment,” he said he would prevent the federal government from “infringing on our private property rights or trying to take away our guns” and “defend your right to worship as you choose.”

Perhaps the crowd’s biggest applause during Fox’s speech came after he criticized the Real ID Act of 2005, which could render Montana driver’s licenses invalid for several federal purposes, including boarding an airplane.

“[Federal officials] have failed to seal the borders, but they want every American citizen to carry a national identity card,” he said. “I am prepared to defend Montana’s stand against the Real ID Act in court.”

Lastly, Fox said he would cut down on lawsuit abuse, a problem he said has “created an anti-business environment through the threat of lawsuits.”

“I will reduce the lawsuit abuse happening all over Montana by supporting reform at the Legislature, to help businesses survive these frivolous lawsuits,” he said.

So far, two Republicans, including Fox, and three Democrats have filed to run for attorney general. The deadline to file for the position is March 21.

Fox will meet fellow Republican Lee Bruner of Butte in Montana’s June 3 primary.

In an interview after his speech, Fox called the attorney general post “more influential in Montanan’s lives than any other state official,” he said. “It can be used to help all Montanans.”

On his Tuesday tour, Fox began in Helena and stopped in Great Falls, Kalispell, Bozeman and Billings.

Fox, 50, was born in Hardin.

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