John Fitzpatrick, who represented House District 77, including Anaconda and Granite County in the 2023 Legislature, announced on March 10 that he is a candidate for the Republican nomination to represent new House District 76. The Legislative Redistricting Commission radically altered the boundaries of several legislative seats in southwestern Montana. It created HD 76 by combining the Georgetown Lake area, where Fitzpatrick resides, with all of Granite and Powell Counties along with the Seeley Lake area of Missoula County and Canyon Creek northwest of Helena.
Mike Hopkins, who has so ably represented Seeley Lake for the past eight years is “termed out” and is ineligible for reelection.
“I served with Mike on the Appropriations Committee and I will bring the same commitment to Seeley Lake that he demonstrated to the next Legislature,” Fitzpatrick said.
During the 2023 Legislative Session, Fitzpatrick’s principal focus was on obtaining funds to assist local governments with infrastructure repairs. Through the passage of several bills, he secured just short of $1.1 million for Philipsburg, over $650,000 for Drummond, over $1.0 million for the City of Deer Lodge and a half million for Anaconda. He also sponsored House Bill 817 and HB 5 which appropriated $220 million to replace obsolete inmate housing and make other infrastructure and security improvements at Montana State Prison, $43 million for building renovations at Montana Tech and $17 million for improvements to the campus at Warm Springs.
“I was very pleased to represent HD 77 during the 2023 session,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was a very successful session not just for the district but all of southwestern Montana.”
“I look forward to serving the people of Seeley Lake. I have a strong background in natural resources having worked in the metal mining industry for years and have close ties to the folks in the timber industry,” Fitzpatrick said.
“In 2023, I served on the House Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee F, which reviews the capital building projects for the state and a variety of grant and loan programs designed to assist local governments and community organizations. If re-elected, I will request those same committee assignments,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s the best possible location to assist our area of Montana.”
For additional information please contact John Fitzpatrick at 406-459-8407 or by email at fitz5051@outlook.com
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