Gunderson says experience separates him from other SD 1 candidates

Libby resident Steve Gunderson is touting his experience as one reason to support him in the upcoming Republican primary election for the Montana Senate District 1.

Gunderson, the former four-term House District 1 Representative, is running against Eureka’s Neil Duram and Libby’s Vince Backen in the June 2 primary. Absentee ballots were mailed May 8, but polls will be open June 2 in Libby, Troy and Eureka.

The winner will face Democrat Jonathan Jameson in the general election in November.

Gunderson also cited his work help creating the Libby Asbestos Superfund Oversight Committee. The mining, transportation and use of asbestos-contaminated asbestos has killed hundreds of people and sickened thousands.

“It’s what I’m most proud of and there is an amendment that would strengthen LASOC, ensuring all property owners have clean property with no cost to the homeowner,” he said. “Our work revealed more than 250 properties that weren’t inspected and cleaned up, so we continue to check properties.”

During a recent forum in Libby, the candidates were asked what they would increase or cut in the general fund.

“I’m not on the budget committee, but it would take more than one session to figure it out,” Gunderson said. “A DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) system, where we go to each department and get rid of waste and fraud could be effective.”

He also said Montana needs free markets. 

“One of my goals would be to curtail forever conservation easements,” Gunderson said at the forum. “Easements, like the 21,000-acre one proposed by Stimson Lumber and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, means the land can’t be developed.

“Developments, houses are one way we generate property taxes,” Gunderson said.

Numerous polls have shown the importance Montana residents place on public lands and access.

According to the 2026 Voter Survey on Public Lands, 90% of Montanans say that conservation issues are an important factor in

deciding whether to support an elected public official.

Easements, such as the Stimson Timberland Legacy Conservation Easement, typically preclude development, but not logging or mining activities.

Creating jobs, through the logging and mining industries, are his priorities if elected.

“If we create jobs, we create income taxes,” he said. “The more of those jobs we have, the more ancillary jobs we’ll have, such as people working in restaurants. And forestry and mining helps bring taxes to our communities.”

Gunderson said efforts to increase tourism are, “A fool’s errand. Solar and wind power don’t create taxes, like tourism, doesn’t create a lot of dollars.”

Lincoln County hasn’t had a working mine of significance since the closure of the Troy Mine in 2015. It began operations in 1981 until a shutdown in 1993, but various circumstances saw it close and re-open. 

The mine saw a resurgence in 2005 when Spokane-based Revett Mining Company reopened it. A few hundred people worked there until copper and silver prices plummeted during the Great Recession in 2008. Employees took pay cuts and the mine stayed in operation.

In 2011, the mine netted $30 million and profits increased the following year.

But in 2012, multiple underground rock falls closed the mine. The mine struggled with rock falls in the past, including in 2007 when a miner was killed during a roof collapse. Stabilization efforts allowed work to resume in 2014, but it also caused a depletion of company financial reserves. Copper prices fell in 2015 and 70 Revett employees were laid off.

Hecla bought the mine in 2015 and closed it, citing poor quality ore. Company officials expect reclamation work to finish this year. 

Hecla is now focused on seeing if the Montanore Mine, now known as the Libby Exploration Project, can provide the ore necessary to mine.

The Trump administration expedited permitting for the project in 2025, but owing to its proximity to the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness, environmental groups sued, citing possible effects to animal and aquatic species.

Gunderson is hopeful the mine will create a large number of jobs.

“Hecla is a pretty good steward of land and they are the kind of business we want in Libby and they can’t be bled out (from litigation),” Gunderson said. “Also, we don’t mine like it’s 1889. With technology and legislation, it’s a whole new realm to how we mine.”

Gunderson said his work in the industry has helped him understand the issues associated with mining.

“I helped build the security fence at Montanore Mine, so I know the issues and the plan,” he said. “It helps me write bills that protect the environment.”