Senate District 7: Paul Clark

DEMOCRAT

AGE: 57 (58 on Oct. 30)

OCCUPATION: Director, Galena Ridge Program For Youth, 1992-present ; Youth Services Work, 1985-1998; Pacific Crest and Voyager Outward Bound School, Instructor and Course Director, 1981-1985; Instructor, Pacific Crest Outward Bound School, 1981-1985; Lincoln County High School, Certified Teacher of Math, Science, 1980-1981; Teacher, Lincoln County High School, 1979-1981; Operations Specialist, United States Navy, 1973-1976; Director, Wilderness Program.
HOMETOWN: Born in Morristown, N.J., lives in Trout Creek, Mont.
FAMILY: Wife, Cheryl Des Marias; two children

EDUCATION: Graduate of Rutgers University, Cook College, Environmental Studies and Science education, 1979
POLITICAL or PUBLIC SERVICE: Montana House of Representatives, 1998-present

Clark hopes to jump from House to Senate

By ANDREW DUSEK

Trout Creek Democrat Paul Clark says guiding Montana through tougher times will require cooperating with Republicans across the aisle. -MORE-

Senate District 50: Cliff Larsen

DEMOCRAT
AGE: 65
OCCUPATION: Retired businessman since July 4, 2008; Operates a horse and cattle ranch
HOMETOWN: Emmett, Idaho; he's lived in Missoula for 24 years
FAMILY: Wife, Trish, and one grown son
EDUCATION: BA from Boise State University; Master of Social Work, Portland State University
POLITICAL or PUBLIC SERVICE: Commissioner, Missoula Airport Authority Board; first chairman of the Insure Montana health insurance program; Mansfield Library board member, University of Montana
ORGANIZATIONS: Habitat for Humanity, Rotary International, American Legion, Hellgate Post 27, Team Leader for the American Heart Association’s Annual Heart Walk, Ducks Unlimited, Five Valleys Land Trust, Missoula Food Bank, Poverello Center, Missoula Symphony Board of Directors
CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: http://www.larsenusa.com/

Larsen says he'll focus on health care, seniors

By ERIN GALLAGHER

Democratic senatorial candidate Cliff Larsen worries about Montana’s seniors. If elected, he said, his top priority would be to ensure that they lose no ground when it comes to benefits and rights. -MORE-

House District 100: Willis Curdy

DEMOCRAT

AGE: 59

OCCUPATION: Retired rancher, former teacher, smokejumper and pilot; taught government and Montana history at Hellgate High School for 30 years

HOMETOWN: Missoula

FAMILY: Wife, Gloria, and two grown sons.

EDUCATION: Master's degree in education, the University of Montana.

POLITICAL OR PUBLIC SERVICE: Big Flat Irrigation District Commission, 1983-1988; Missoula Rural Fire District Board of Trustees, 1990-1993 (one year spent as board chair); smokejumper, 1971-2000; U.S. Forest Service pilot, 2000-2006.

CAMPAIGN WEB SITE: http://www.curdyforhd100.com/

Curdy aims to promote higher wages, lower energy costs

By KAREN GARCIA

When Willis Curdy was in the fifth grade, his father broke his arm on the belt used to grind grain on their family farm. For the next six weeks, Curdy took over many of his dad's farm duties.

Waking up at 5 a.m., he milked cows for two and a half hours before his mother drove him to school. He would return seven hours later, only to face more chores.

“From that I learned that success comes through hard work and long hours,” recalled Curdy, now 59.

Running as the Democratic candidate for House District 100, which encompasses 525 square miles of western Missoula County, Curdy said he would apply that life lesson if he were elected to the Montana's Legislature. -MORE-
-