The conscience of the Democratic party died last Wednesday. Chet Blaylock ran against incumbent Gov. Marc Racicot after no one else was willing to take on the task. He knew he had little chance of winning against the popular governor, but he wanted to keep alive the Democrats' ideals about water quality, reproductive freedom and an increase in the minimum wage. These issues are very real in students' futures. In an age of public cynicism about politics, Blaylock was an official who was genuinely concerned about the future.
Blaylock was called "the most honorable public servant" by former gubernatorial candidate Dorothy Bradley. The president of the Senate, Republican Bob Brown, characterized Blaylock as "a gentleman and a scholar in every sense of the word," and said Blaylock "always stood up for his principles."
Blaylock was an old school candidate, one for whom running for public office meant a genuine concern for the well-being of its citizens and a loyalty to the Democratic party he loved. Blaylock had retired from politics in 1995 after 20 years in the Senate, but got back into the arena this spring when no other Democrat was willing to oppose Racicot, who has the highest voter approval of any governor in the country.
Blaylock said when he announced his candidacy for governor, "I'm not really excited about running, but I'm concerned about who we'll have at the head of the ticket. I want to keep our party respectable and on the right course."
Blaylock spoke of the "progressive traditions" of the Democratic party. In his October visit to Flathead High School, he spoke as a former teacher and voiced his concern about Flathead's growing student body. He told second period American Government classes, "You [students] are getting the most important thing you can ever get right now, which is an education."
Blaylock ran for governor because he cared, not because he thought he could win. His 71 years of life experience as a teacher, professor and politician undoubtedly would have benefited the state of Montana and its citizens. His leadership could have propelled us towards a positive beginning of the 21st Century.