Johanna Clark is running at the Republican candidate in the race for House District 93. 

In an election year dominated by contempt for the current political system, Republican Johanna Clark is running for Montana’s House District 93 as the peoples’ candidate.

A rancher from St. Ignatius, Clark serves as the executive director of the Flathead Joint Board of Control and has been a vocal critic of state lawmakers during the irrigation group’s efforts to oppose the water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. She said the experience illustrated a disconnect between elected officials and their constituents. 

“As I came to discuss issues of importance it didn’t appear they were taking the time to listen,” she said. “I think they have forgotten about taxpaying citizens.” 

Although Clark said she would still oppose the controversial compact if it came back in front of the House, the issue has not become a political platform.  

“Everyone knows my position,” she said. “I haven’t run my campaign on that.”

Instead Clark has advocated for policies aimed at supporting local businesses and families. 

She said she would like to eliminate stifling taxes and policies, including obligations under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. 

Clark also noted Lake County’s recent budget woes, which officials have pinned on an inability to garner revenue from tax-exempt tribal land. Clark said she looks forward to working with both tribal and state governments to identify a possible solution.  

“All citizens residing in county need to share in the cost of running the community,” she said. “The ability is there, but there’s so much tension right now.”

As a concerned mother, Clark said she’s also an advocate for abandoning Common Core standards in Montana’s public schools. She recalls working on homework with her youngest son while he was sick with chickenpox. Clark said the material was so convoluted, she could not understand what the questions were asking.

“(Common Core) has distanced us from our children’s education,” she said. 

While adopting the standards brings in federal funding, Clark warned that the money comes with too many strings attached. Clark said the solution is to provide the state with the financial fortitude to fund its own programs, rather than relying on outside sources. 

“I think our state needs to stand independently,” she said.

While her issues touch on contentious subjects, Clark said she prides herself on running a clean campaign against her Democratic challenger. For the self-described “voice of the people,” the foray into government has been a rewarding experience, once she would recommend every citizen take part in.

“It would bring government back to the people,” she said. “We’ve gotten lazy. We’re willing to let someone else make the decisions.”