My friend, Judy Martz

One summer afternoon, prior to the 1996 Montana gubernatorial election, I was baling hay and my wife came out and waved me down to say the governor had called and wanted me to come to a meeting at the Governor’s residence in an hour.  I wanted to finish the hay but had worked for four governors and knew that if the boss called, you went. I took a shower and drove to town.

I got out of my truck just as Judy Browning, chief of staff, pulled up.    

We went to the door and Gov. Marc Racicot met us. He thanked us for coming in and said there was someone he wanted us to meet.   We were seated in the living room and this striking lady in a red suit came in to the room.  I remember it clearly because I had no idea who she was.  Marc left the room and said he just wanted Judy and I to have a visit with her.  She introduced herself and talked about her history and her family.  It was a nice half hour, and then she left room and Marc came in and told us he was thinking of her for Lieutenant Governor.

I was amazed. I had thought Denny Rehberg was the probable choice and had no idea a change was in the wind.  My recollection is that I agreed Judy was a very impressive lady but pointed out she had no political background or experience in government. My memory is that Marc said that is why he liked her.  So that was the beginning of my experience with Judy.

I found her to be very hard working and eager to learn.  She asked lots of good questions and learned fast.  She was an excellent candidate and her background in rodeo and Olympic speed skating provided wonderful grist for connecting with the public.

After the landslide election of 1996 she sat in on most policy discussions and followed the Legislature closely.  She was a good partner for Marc and won election to governor in 2000.  I retired from state government and ran for the Legislature the same year.  Judy was very loyal to her staff and friends. 

I served on the appropriations committee and was appointed chairman in the 2002 special session. It was a tough year and required steep cuts in the Governor’s Budget.  I heard from her staff she was very concerned, but we had no choice. The same situation in 2003.

Judy called me down to her office once to express her displeasure with the cuts we were making.  I went through the numbers and told her Appropriations cannot spend more than we have.  It was a hard conversation.

She was always professional and hard working.  Differences of opinion aside, she always told me how much she liked Karen, my wife, even though she sometimes had doubts about me.

So this is where I differ with Darrell Ehrlick’s most recent column on creating a lasting memorial to Martz. 

She was the first women governor of the state.  She worked hard and if there were any faults, it was loyalty to staff and friends.  She was very honest, which is a big deal to me.  I want my five granddaughters and four great-grand daughters to walk through the capitol and see a memorial to the first woman Governor of Montana.  Hardworking, honest and dedicated to doing the right thing for the people.

And I was proud to count her as a friend.

Dave Lewis worked for four Montana governors and was elected to Legislature.