Bozeman News

Gender As A Wedge Issue

The ‘Y’ Factor: A Controversial Flyer Heats Up Democratic Primary In Bozeman

By Todd Wilkinson, 5-09-06

It's still early in the Montana political season but already a controversial shot across the bow has been fired in Bozeman. And it involves playing the gender card, literally.

What's surprising to many here is that it's occurring in a Democratic primary as part of a race that likely will decide the candidate who goes to Helena as the next representative of House District 66.

The June 6 primary pits Tracy Velazquez, the current vice chairwoman of the Democratic Party at the state level against Mike Phillips, a well-known biologist and conservationist who oversees the Turner Endangered Species Fund founded by businessman Ted Turner.

This week, residents of Bozeman's south and west sides began receiving a campaign flyer mailed by the Velazquez campaign showing photos of 12 Democrat and Republican men from the Gallatin Valley currently serving in the state legislature. The card encourages voters to cast their ballot for Velazquez and then offers the tagline: "Here's a dozen reasons 'Y'" -- an overt reference to the Y chromosome that signifies male gender.

Observers say it's an obvious ploy by Velazquez to encourage X chromosome voters to vote for her because she, like them, is a woman. But is it a tactic that will energize Democratic voters or turn them off? Is it politically correct to use gender as a wedge issue when it is considered offensive to similarly try and part voters along issues of race, religion and sexual orientation? "As a woman, I'm offended," said a voter who, until the flyer arrived, had been undecided.

"I don't recall in my 33 years of observing political races here that gender as an equivalent to the race card has ever been used in a Bozeman primary or general election for state legislature," says Jerry Calvert, a senior political science professor at Montana State University.

A call to the head of the Gallatin County Democrats for comment was not returned and attempts to reach Velazquez were unsuccessful.

Some critics say the flyer implies the featured men are adversaries to women and unsympathetic to women's issues and it raises legitimate concerns about how Velazquez, if elected, might be able to serve along side of these legislators. Velazquez never asked nor received permission to publish the photos.

In 2004, Velazquez ran unsuccessfully for Montana's lone Congressional seat against Republican incumbent Denny Rehberg and previously ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Helena. Last fall, she made national headlines when she called upon the Bozeman City Commission to give back millions of federal dollars it had received to build a downtown parking garage and instead direct the money to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The City Commission balked at her suggestion but the action struck a chord among some as a blow against perceived pork-barrel politics bloating the federal budget.

Phillips, meanwhile, made his debut in politics two years ago by running in House District 63, which covers a heavily Republican swath of the Bozeman suburbs. He nearly defeated longtime Bozeman businessman Bill Warden.

This time around, Phillips says, he's thrilled to be vying in his own district. "House District 66 has a history of being represented by excellent men and women and I would be proud to carry on the kind of good work they've accomlished in Helena," Phillips said. "Voters should vote for whomever they think is best suited to represent them, regardless of gender."

Knowing both of the candidates, Gov. Brian Schweitzer reportedly has been keeping a close watch on this race.

Indeed, in a valley that has turned increasingly Republican, this district is a rare Democratic stronghold and has been seen as a springboard for women. For decades, south Bozeman been served by a consecutive string of Democrats. One was veteran legislator Dorothy Eck who helped write the Montana Constitution; another was Dorothy Bradley, a former candidate for governor. Bradley was succeeded by Emily Stonington and then, most recently, by Christopher Harris, who decided not to seek re-election in order to devote more time to his family and private law practice.

Earlier this winter, Harris gave his endorsement to Phillips. Also lending their support to Phillips were Sen. Mike Wheat, Sen. Bob Hawks, and Rep. Larry Jent -- each of whom had his photo featured on Velazquez's latest campaign flyer. They were pictured next to Republican legislators Joe Balyeat, Jack Wells, and Roger Koopman, whose political views could not be more sharply different from their own.

"I'm not a fan of identity politics," says Representative Brady Wiseman, whose picture was also featured on Velazquez's campaign card. "One of the problems that Democrats have had is we've devolved into identity politics. As a result, we have a lot of factions and we've had trouble articulating what we really stand for. Creating further divisions like this does isn't going to help us govern any better. "

On the other hand, Wiseman added: "I'm proud that in Bozeman we have so many women on the ballot. We've got some smart witty candidates who, if elected, will do good work. What's happened in District 66 is unfortunate."

In the name of full disclosure, I am Phillips supporter in this campaign, though I have in the past voted for Ms. Velazquez. Our family has made a donation to the Phillips campaign and agreed, when asked by the candidate, to have a yard sign placed on our grass among scores of other neighbors who have similarly agreed. I have also been asked to serve as a bison burger cook at an upcoming Phillips "meet and greet" in the neighborhood but unfortunately I will be out of town for the event. And, I am also working on a book project that examines the environmental work of Ted Turner, Phillips employer, and over the last 15 years I have interviewed Phillips about conservation projects he's been involved with for several national magazine stories. Phillips also coached my son's little league baseball team and his children go to the same school as mine. Bozeman is a small town.

Editor's Note: Read Ms. Velazquez' response to this story here.

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