Important Election of Land Board Positions on Nov. 4th, 2008

All eyes are on the election of the next President of the United States come November 4TH. Here in Montana, voters will also elect five statewide elected officials - Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Superintendent of Public Instruction - who make up Montana's Board of Land Commissioners.

The Land Board members are stewards of Montana's approximately 5.2 million acres of mountains, plains and river bottoms, a vast public estate that is roughly the size
of Massachusetts. The Land Board meets monthly to address all matters concerning the management of our abundant state lands.

What's at stake? This summer news broke about possible oil and gas drilling on state land on the Rocky Mountain Front. Just when Montanans thought the land was off-limits thanks to Sen. Baucus' removal of federal leases, drilling the Front on state lands is again in the sights of oil and gas developers.

Conservationists are also concerned - as you've read in this issue - about Land Board decisions to harvest timber in precious old growth forests, as well as a decision to allow oil and gas lease sales that could allow drilling on the banks of the Yellowstone and Boulder Rivers.  These sites stand to lose their pristine beauty and water quality if drilling is allowed to occur.

Montanans deeply value the clean water, open spaces and wildlife these lands provide, and we all have a stake in policy decisions concerning access, use, and long-range stewardship of these state lands.

On November 4TH, you have a chance to vote for people who will stand up for Montanans' deeply held value of clean water, open space and access to state lands.  Please take the important opportunity to inform yourself about the various candidates and their positions regarding stewardship of state lands.