Montana Public Radio is gathering information on all statewide primary candidates to publish as a resource for our audience. We asked all the statewide candidates to respond to the following questions via email, limiting their answers to 300 words per question. These are their unedited responses.
Secretary of State candidate Christi Jacobsen:
What is your full name as it will appear on ballots?
Christi Jacobsen
What is your age?
44
Where do you live?
Helena
Education:
B.A. Political Science from Carroll College, M.A. Public Administration from University of Montana
Occupation:
Deputy Secretary of State of Montana
What makes you qualified to hold this position?
I have over 20 years of combined public and private sector experience. I currently serve as the Deputy Secretary of State. In the last three years, we have successfully improved services to business and voters while reduced government and spending. We were first in the nation to go completely digital with business filings, offered businesses to file 24/7 and on their mobile phone. As a result, we eliminated 50,000 errors on business filings, reduced staff by a third, consolidated government leases from 4 locations to 1, and saved millions of dollars. We served our voters by strengthening the integrity of our elections. We completed a mail ballot improvement project that reduced the number of mismatched signatures on mail ballots. We made our elections more secure by being one of the first in the nation to implement the best security practices including two party authentication.
Why are you running for this particular public office?
I am running for Secretary of State because I am the most qualified candidate that represents Montana values and will best serve Montana voters and businesses. The current Secretary of State endorses me as his replacement and encourages me to run for this office. I promise not to job hop. I was born, raised, and educated in Montana. I raised my own family in Montana. I have been doing the Deputy Secretary of State job, so there is no learning curve to slow down or reverse the progress of our services.
What are three policy issues that distinguish you from your opponent(s)?
I will replace a vulnerable 20-year-old elections system.
Oppose Automatic on-line voter registration which is the gateway to illegal immigrants voting.
Protect the right for voters who like to vote in-person at the polls.
Replacing our 20 year old election system.
Replacing our 20 year old election system, Montana currently is using an election system that is outdated and needs to be replaced. Not fixing these loopholes could lead to illegal immigrants voting in our elections. This issue is a number one priority for me and one I will work to fix if the voter decides to elect me.
Economic growth and business development Montana must have an advocate for the business community to continue to grow Montana’s economy. I will work to make sure that Montana becomes a business friendly state and that we continue to see job growth in Montana. Also as a member of the Land Board, I will support all efforts to responsibly develop our natural resources and reduce bureaucracy.
