Jeff Pattison bests state Sen. Jeremy Trebas in PSC primary

Former legislator Jeff Pattison won the Republican primary for a Public Service Commission seat over state Sen. Jeremy Trebas with 67% of the vote.

Pattison, who earned 22,015 votes to Trebas’ 11,043, said he won by showing up, listening and being transparent with voters.

The Public Service Commission regulates monopoly utilities in Montana including NorthWestern Energy, and it’s currently dealing with a rise in controversial data center developments.

Pattison, a farmer and community leader, said he pays three power bills, one from Montana-Dakota Utilities, one from NorthWestern Energy, and one from a cooperative.

“Electricity isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. I don’t know anybody who can get by without it,” Pattison said.

He said he’s concerned about data centers and their potential water usage — “water is too precious to me.”

He said people are sick and tired of mudslinging in political campaigns— but he couldn’t have made a wad of mud if he wanted because it has been so dry.

Instead, Pattison praised Trebas for running a civil campaign and for his contributions to Montana, past and future.

“I think he’s a good kid, and sometime in the future, he’s going to be a valuable asset,” Pattison said.

He won in District No. 1, a wide swath of eastern Montana. He’ll take on Democrat Angeline Cheek in the general election.

In District No. 5, a chunk of northwest Montana, Commissioner Annie Bukacek outperformed two challengers in the Republican primary, earning 36% of the vote.

She did not return a request for comment.

Joe Dooling, a former Lewis and Clark County Commission chairman, earned 33%, and David Sanders, former executive director of the Public Service Commission, earned 31%.

Bukacek, also a medical doctor based in Kalispell, will take on Democrat Kevin Hamm.