John Repke for State Auditor
Democrat
By Denise Rivette
Montana Independent News posed the same four questions to all candidates in the Montana auditor race. Democrat John Repke’s views are presented in their entirety below.
What are the Montana values that will guide your decision-making?
Montanans are generally independent people – the Montana Constitution recognizes this in the right to privacy - but that doesn’t mean Montanans don’t help their neighbors when they are in need. I’ve been pulled out of a ditch by a stranger, and I’ve done the same for others. That’s the spirit that will guide my decision making. The State Auditor office was established for the purpose of advocating for everyday Montanans. And working to ensure that folks are protected from fraud and have access to good, affordable insurance – medical, home, vehicle, and other – will be my priority. Montanans also value the natural beauty of this wonderful state as reflected in the Montana Constitution’s rights to a clean and healthful environment and access to public lands. The State Auditor’s office has a seat on the State Land Board and I will serve in a way that respects those values.
What skills, knowledge and experience do you possess that make you the better candidate?
I will lead this office from the perspective of the consumer. My 40 year career in business finance – during which I was involved in designing employee health care plans, purchasing all types of insurance, and finding solutions to managing risk – positions me perfectly for this office. I have also seen the consequences of fraud and know that we must be vigilant in our efforts to combat it. It is also important what I am not. I am not a career politician, I have never been a lobbyist, I have never held a government job, and I am not beholden to any special interests. And I am not using this office as a steppingstone to another.
What are your top priorities to address during your term if you are elected?
My top priorities are:
Make the office work on behalf of all Montanans as it was intended to do.
Make sure that all Montanans have access to good, affordable insurance. On the medical side, the state has recently disenrolled over 130,000 folks who were on Medicaid. This is obviously bad for those folks and their children, but also has huge ramifications for our healthcare system. We cannot have more than 1 in 10 Montanans without the safety net of insurance. On the property side, there is an approaching crisis – premiums are skyrocketing, and non-renewals/declines are becoming increasingly common. You can’t drive a car, get a mortgage, or even sell your house if you can’t get insurance.
Bring transparency to the Land Board activities and decision making.
What actions will you take to address those priorities?
Referencing the priorities above:
I will support and develop the staff to keep up with the increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes and insurance markets, install competent leadership with relevant expertise, and always maintain a focus on doing the job with professionalism and integrity.
On the medical side, I will use the office to advocate for renewal of Medicaid expansion, support re-enrollment for those who qualify, work to find viable options for those who don’t, and push for an increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate to ensure that healthcare providers can continue to serve their communities. On the property side, I will use my business background and approach to work with insurers, risk management experts, federal and other state agencies, and the legislature to find solutions that truly work for everyday Montanans.
I will work to make sure that Land Board decisions take into account a long-term perspective of the use, access, and school funding by encouraging more public involvement.