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Somers representative respected by both sides

Jim Mann | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 8 months AGO
by Jim Mann
| March 3, 2013 6:05 PM

Whether he’s running the state House with precise parliamentary patter, talking business on the floor with Democrats and fellow Republican representatives, holding court with media or strategizing with GOP leadership, House Speaker Mark Blasdel seems at ease with his new role in Helena.

“It’s an interesting ride,” said Blasdel, in his fourth and final term as a representative from Somers. “You hope you’re doing things right. Every day is a different day.”

So far, the general buzz in the Capitol is that Blasdel is doing a fine job as speaker.

“Fair and accommodating,” says Rep. Ed Lieser, D-Whitefish, describing how Blasdel is regarded by the House Democratic caucus. “I can say that unequivocally. I haven’t got one complaint.”

Lieser, the lone Democrat in the Flathead legislative delegation, said he greatly appreciated having opportunities to visit with Blasdel in the speaker’s office to talk about issues of importance to him.

“Blasdel is doing a great job,” Sen. Jon Sonju, R-Kalispell, declares. But that’s probably to be expected, coming from a lifelong friend who has been Blasdel’s roommate in Helena for the last eight years.

“I’ve chummed around with Mark since we were in kindergarten together at St. Matthew’s,” Sonju said.

Blasdel spent his elementary years at St. Matthews and went on to Flathead High School, graduating there in 1994. During that time, Blasdel also was tied to his parents’ restaurant business in Somers.

“I started washing dishes when I was 5,” recalls Blasdel, who went on to earn a degree in hospitality and business administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

His mother closed the restaurant in 1991, but when Blasdel returned to the Flathead in 1997, he took the lead in reopening and building the Vista Linda restaurant. In addition to the restaurant business, it is now one of the largest catering operations in the Flathead Valley, he says.

“I’ve only been back home once” since the legislative session started in early January, Blasdel said just after the House adjourned for transmittal break last week.

Being a citizen legislator can be particularly challenging if you have a business to run, but Blasdel said he is fortunate: “I’ve got a great family and employees who have been running it for me.”

Having competent people to work with in the Legislature is also a key to Blasdel’s guiding philosophy as speaker of the House.

“I think you have to have a lot of communication, and you have to put people in a position where they can be successful,” he said.

And that’s particularly important when the 100-member House has 39 freshman representatives. “One of the difficult things is managing people’s expectations,” he said, observing how many legislators don’t get what they want.

In addition to being speaker, Blasdel said this session is different from his past experiences in another significant way.

“I think one of the interesting things is we have a new governor,” he said. “With Governor Schweitzer, you knew it was going to be combative and adversarial.”

But it remains to be seen how it will be with Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, who has mostly been maintaining a relatively low profile and organizing his administration during the last couple months.

“I think for him it’s a good move in the beginning. In the first 45 days it’s about ideas,” Blasdel said. “Now will be the time for him to engage in the process and have his say in it.”

Blasdel said he has meetings with Bullock every two or three weeks that are “very cordial” with an open-door understanding between the two. “Now those discussions will happen more frequently.”

Under eight-year term limits, Blasdel cannot seek re-election to the House in 2014, and he says his opportunities to run for the Senate may be limited.

With redrawn legislative district boundaries taking effect, Sen. Janna Taylor’s Senate District will encompass Blasdel’s current House district. That Senate seat and the seat held by Jon Sonju will up for election in 2014.

“I’ll wait and see” what opportunities may come around for a future in politics, Blasdel said. If nothing else, he said, he will be content to put more attention toward the family business and spend time with his wife, Renae, and their children, Elizabeth, 7, and Isaac, 3.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.

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