Art Wittich
Art Wittich | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Montana Senate from the 35th district | |
| Preceded by | Gary Perry |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Grubbs |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Candace |
| Residence | Bozeman, Montana |
| Alma mater | University of Montana |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Art Wittich is an American politician from Montana. A member of the Republican Party, he was a member of the Montana Legislature, in the Montana Senate (2011 and 2013 sessions) from Senate District 35, and then the Montana House of Representatives (2015 session), from House District 68.[1][2]
Early life, education, and career[edit]
He graduated from Utah State University in 1982 with a B.S. in economics/environmental studies.[3] He received a J.D. from University of Montana School of Law in 1985,[3] and began practicing law in Montana that year.[4]
Political career[edit]
Wittich won election to the Montana Senate in 2010, and became state Senate majority leader in 2013.[5] During acrimonious intra-party feuds within legislative Republicans over various policy issues (such as acceptance of the Medicaid expansion), Wittich and Republican Senate president Jeff Essmann belonged to the more conservative faction, working together to purge moderate Republicans from the party.[6]
In 2014, Wittich was elected to the Montana House of Representatives.[5] In early 2015, Wittich opposed the Medicaid expansion in Montana; as House Human Services Committee chair, he maneuvered in an attempt to block the legislation.[7][8] Wittich's effort failed in April 2015, when 13 Republicans joined the entire 41-member Democratic caucus to support the expansion.[9]
The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices filed a civil lawsuit against Wittich for illegally accepting more than $19,000 in campaign contributions from a dark money group, the National Right to Work Committee and its affiliates, including the American Tradition Partnership, during his 2010 primary campaign for state Senate.[4][5][10] In April 2016, after a five-day trial, a jury in Helena found that Wittich had violated campaign finance and reporting laws.[10][11][12][13] In August 2017, the Montana Supreme Court unanimously upheld the jury verdict,[10] and Wittich paid a fine of $68,232.[4] In October 2017, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, which regulates the conduct of Montana lawyers, filed a professional misconduct complaint against Wittich, but it dropped the complaint the following month, and Wittich did not face disbarment or any professional disciplinary action.[4]
Following the verdict, Wittich kept his seat in the state House.[5] However, in June 2016, he lost his bid for renomination in the primary.[5]
As of 2023, Wittich is a member of the Republican National Committee,[14] as national committeeman,[15] and is also one of 13 members of the executive board of the Republican Party of Montana.[15] Wittich, along with the other members of the state Republican Party, denounced former Montana governor and attorney general Marc Racicot in 2023 for opposing Donald Trump.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ "Sen. ART WITTICH (R) - SD35". Montana Legislature.
- ^ "Rep. ART WITTICH (R) - HD68". Montana Legislature.
- ^ a b Utah State Today (January 13, 2011). "USU Alum Art Wittich Joins Montana State Senate".
- ^ a b c d Leia Larsen, Wittich won't be disbarred or professionally disciplined for 2010 campaign violations, Montana Free Press (December 5, 2018).
- ^ a b c d e Corin Cates-Carney, Wittich Fined $68,000, Can Keep House Seat, Montana Public Radio (June 17, 2016).
- ^ John S. Adams, After a decade-long internal battle, have legislative Republicans buried the hatchet?, Montana Free Press (December 7, 2017).
- ^ Jackie Yamanaka, Medicaid Expansion Passes House In Saturday Vote, Now Back To Senate, Montana Public Radio (April 12, 2015).
- ^ Steve Jess, Democrats Cry Foul Over Medicaid Expansion Vote, Montana Public Radio (March 9, 2015).
- ^ Jackie Yamanaka, Republican Rep. Garner Explains Why He Changed His Mind On Medicaid Expansion, Montana Public Radio (April 10, 2015).
- ^ a b c John S. Adams, High Court upholds verdict in Wittich corruption case, Montana Free Press (August 23, 2017).
- ^ "Jury: Wittich violated campaign finance laws". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- ^ Dehaven, James. "Jury finds Wittich guilty of campaign violation". Helena Independent Record. Archived from the original on May 23, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- ^ Loranger, Erin. "Biggest stories of 2016: 10. Jury finds Wittich guilty of campaign violation". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- ^ Reid J. Epstein and Lisa Lerer, An R.N.C. Remade by Trump Backs Away From His 2024 Campaign, New York Times (January 26, 2023).
- ^ a b c Arren Kimbel-Sannit, The Republican rebuke of Marc Racicot, Montana Free Press (February 22, 2023).