Helena, MT – In a new column, former state auditor Mark O’Keefe and former state legislator Dorothy Bradley explain why Montanans cannot afford to have James Brown as Montana’s next state auditor.

O’Keefe and Bradley note that Brown has a history of putting out-of-state corporations ahead of working Montanans. As Chair of the Public Service Commission, Brown slapped ratepayers with a historic utility bill increase of 25 percent.

Perennial candidate James Brown was also called out in the column for “moonlighting on other jobs” while getting paid six-figures as a full-time employee by Montana taxpayers.

According to O’Keefe and Bradley:

“He’s executive director of two Montana associations, and he practices law as an additional gig. It's certainly not too much to expect Montana’s full-time elected officials to work full-time.”

In contrast, Brown’s Democratic opponent John Repke has a “four-decade background in corporate finance. He’s negotiated insurance plans. He’s testified before the Securities and Exchange Commission in the largest fraud case in the U.S. prior to Enron. He understands that regulations are necessary and protect those who follow the law. Not everyone follows the law. He knows how to enforce the law and protect consumers.”

Mark O’Keefe was Montana’s State Auditor from 1993-2001 and Dorothy Bradley served in the Montana Legislature from 1971-1979 and again from 1985-1993.