Polson software entrepreneur Nancy Lindsey announced her run for State Senate District 6 this week after the previous candidate withdrew from the race.    The District is an open seat previously held by Republican Sen. Carmine Mowbray.  Mowbray was defeated in the GOP primary by the embattled TEA Party state Rep. Janna Taylor,  the number one recipient of government farm subsidy cash in the Montana Legislature. With a candidate of this caliber now in the race, the seat is seen as up for grabs.

“I know first-hand what it takes to start a successful small business in this state and what it takes to create a thriving community,” continued Lindsey.  “As State Senator, I will work hard every day to make sure our community’s values are well-heard and well-represented in Helena.  And I won’t let partisan politics get in the way.”

After graduating from Polson High School, Lindsey studied engineering and business management.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from MIT, and later, a master’s in business management.  She is the co-founder of Black Mountain Software.  The successful company streamlines the budgeting and billing process for their clients across Montana, and twenty- two other states. Black Mountain’s software also allows clients to cut costly waste by allowing for paperless purchase requests and tracking accurate real-time budget information.  After 20 years of steady growth Black Mountain employs 34 people, 25 in the Polson office and 9 at their Helena office.

Lindsey will be a formidable opponent to Taylor, who made waves in the Montana legislature for her hypocrisy in government spending and her statement that the death penalty is needed to address prisoner spitballs.

Taylor was the gal, mind you, who said that Governor Schweitzer had “grown government” so much that “the governor’s residence needs to be fumigated when he leaves office.” And here is a peach of a response from Rep. Taylor, when confronted with the fact that she’s been on the dole to the tune of a 100 grand annually for the last decade: “I don’t control federal dollars. Talk to Senators Baucus or Tester.”

“The people of Lake and Flathead Counties deserve better than the partisan gridlock we’ve seen in Washington,” says Lindsey.  “I’m running for the legislature because, like all Montanans, I believe creating jobs is more important than scoring political points.  That’s the vision I’ll bring to the state legislature.”

Lindsey says she will focus on job creation, education, and ensuring our state remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Her candidacy is endorsed by Polson Mayor Pat DeVries and CSKT Council Member Steve Lozar. She will appear on the ballot this November.

Lindsey has also worked as a teacher, an early childhood educator, an aide for children with disabilities, and an assistant for the elderly.  She is a child of educators and raised her three children in the public school system.  Lindsey previously served on the Polson School Board from 1993 to 2001 and was elected to serve again in May of 2011.

Senate District 6 runs from Lakeside in Flathead County to Ravalli in Lake County and includes the towns of Polson, Ronan, Charlo, and St. Ignatius, and other small communities within the district.