Austin Knudsen has announced his candidacy for Montana’s House of Representatives seat for House District 36.

Knudsen filed as a Republican, and the Montana Secretary of State’s office officially processed his candidacy papers on Jan. 19.

“I want northeastern Montana to have proper representation in Helena. I believe in small government, fiscal restraint, personal responsibility and individual liberty, and I believe these are values shared by most people in Daniels, Sheridan, Roosevelt and Richland counties, regardless of their political affiliation,” Knudsen said. Knudsen is a native of the Bainville/Culbertson area and a graduate of Culbertson High School. He grew up raising registered Angus cattle, wheat and alfalfa on the family farm and ranch near Bainville. In high school and immediately after, Knudsen was very active in FFA and served as a vice-president of the Montana State FFA Association.

He attended Montana State University-Bozeman for his undergraduate degrees, and earned his law degree from the University of Montana School of Law. While attending law school, Knudsen was active in student affairs, serving as an officer in multiple student organizations, serving as the student government representative to the faculty, and helping establish the Rural Advocacy League, a new law student organization specifically focused on addressing legal issues facing rural America.

After receiving his Juris Doctorate, Knudsen and his wife, Christie, returned home to northeastern Montana. They have two young children, Leah, 3, and Connor, 1. Knudsen is an associate attorney with the O’Toole Law Firm in Plentywood.

“Job creation is the most pressing issue in Montana, and the best way to create jobs is through the development of our natural resources,” Knudsen said. “Developing Montana’s natural resources will lead to economic prosperity. Northeastern Montana has led the state in this regard. We have a thriving oil industry here, and as a result, jobs are abundant and local economies are thriving. I want to ensure this continues in our area and the rest of the state, so long as we protect surface owners at the same time. Look at North Dakota and Wyoming, they are pro-resource development, encouraging these industries and not punishing them with excessive taxes and regulations. These states consistently run budget surpluses and have adequate funding. Helena should take heed.

“Excessive taxes and government spending in Montana is another primary concern,” Knudsen said. “Montana just levied huge property tax increases on agricultural land. These increases hit Montana family farms and ranches, and consequently small business and rural communities, at exactly the wrong time. The state is facing a projected budget shortfall of $366 million. Downsizing government bureaucracy and developing Montana’s natural resources, not additional taxation, is the way to avoid budget shortfalls in the future.”