Senate District 21 Candidate Profiles

This week and next, CrowNews.Net is publishing profiles of the candidates for Senate District 21.  This district includes Hardin and the Crow reservation.  The candidates are: Norma Bixby(D), Kenneth Phillip Brien Jr.(D), Randen Schoppe(R), Sharon Stewart-Peregoy(D), and Chip Watts(D).

Jon Tester and Susan Stewart-Peregoy

Sharon Stewart-Peregoy(D)
Lodge Grass, Mont.
Age: 54

I am Sharon Stewart Peregoy, age 54, a child of the Big Lodge Clan and a member of the Piegan and Ties the Bundle Clan. I am an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe. My parents are Alvin H. and Alvina Iron Stewart who are both deceased. I have a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education.

First of all, I consider myself a bilingual educator and a longtime advocate for the revitalization of the Crow language and culture on the Crow Reservation. One of my dreams is open our own Apsaalooke immersion school.

I live eight miles north of Lodge Grass on old highway 87 in the valley of East Sandcreek. I have lived in Senate District 21 for over 45 years. I currently work for the Crow Tribe as a Research and Development Analyst for the Economic Development Office. Also, I am a co-facilitator for Crow Agency Horizons Project, a Northwest Area Foundation Program to reduce poverty in rural communities.

I chose to run for Senate District 21 to bring a fresh view to the issues that are impacting residents at the local and state level. I have not held any political office. However, I believe through my work in economic development and the Horizons project, I understand the people's concerns about employment, housing, drug and alcohol abuse, the need to expand infrastructure, sustaining small businesses and the difficulty faced by farmers and ranchers in the area due to outsourcing and rising costs of operation.

If elected senator for District 21, I would advocate for all citizens. My goal is to ensure that the quality of life improves for the citizens of this district and county, one of the poorest counties in the United States.

Norma Bixby (D)
Kirby, Mont.
Age:67

Norma Bixby is the current representative in House District 41. She was first elected in 2000 and has served every consecutive term since. Bixby has a very strong background in education receiving her B.S. in elementary education from Eastern Montana College in 1975 and a Master's degree in elementary administration from New Mexico State University in 1980. She has served as an administrator for the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Education department for 23 years.

Her role in the Tribal Education department is what first got her going to Helena on a regular basis, lobbying and fighting for improvements in the state education system. Her experience in Helena is what first caused her to run for congress in 1999 when she was asked by Nancy Keenan.

Bixby said if elected she will focus on education, tax relief and natural resource development. She stressed that she will work to make sure that the legislature takes the time needed to ensure responsible resource development and the passage of laws that will hold companies responsible for their actions in this arena.

Randen Schoppe (R)
Hardin, Mont.
Age: 26

Randen Schoppe is the youngest of five current Senate District 21 candidates at 26 years old. He is the chair of the local Republican Party. He is the only Republican candidate running for Senate in District 21.

Schoppe is a defense attorney in Hardin and on the board of trustees for the new lawyers division. He also serves on the board for the Hardin Food Bank. Schoppe was active in the college Republicans as an undergraduate student and remained active during his time in law school. He graduated in 2006.

Schoppe said he has always had an interest in politics and said he views his age as an advantage. He said he will bring more energy to the legislature. When asked why he chose to run, Schoppe said, “Sitting on the sidelines is entertaining at times but if you want change you have got to get involved.”

If elected, Schoppe said he will work to increase economic growth in the area. He plans to try to cut taxes - specifically the business and equipment taxes. He also said he will work to change the statutes so that the detention facility could be opened. This would create approximately 100 jobs, according to Schoppe.

Schoppe also said that he is very interested in what the people in his district have to say. He plans to hold meetings around the area to hear from local citizens about their priorities.

Profiles of Chip Watts(D) and Kenneth Phillip Brien Jr.(D) will be published next week.