LB Vol 3

Letter to the Editor

I was a State Lobbyist for the National Rifle Association (NRA) for 34 years before leaving in 2020. During most of that time, the State of Montana was part of my assigned region. I got to know Randy Pinocci very well during my past career as a gun rights advocate in Montana.

He was (and is to this day) a staunch pro-gun rights activist! Randy is an NRA Benefactor Life Member and previously worked side-by side with Charlton Heston to set up a Second Amendment Committee within the Montana State Republican Party. He has, for decades, been active with the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA), one of the most successful state pro-gun rights organizations in the country; and is currently Vice President of the MSSA. Randy also stepped up and ran for the State Legislature in 2014, earning an A+ rating and endorsement from the NRA.

He won that race and, during the 2015 legislative session in Helena, maintained a perfect 100% voting record on legislative issues of concern to law-abiding gun owners. After his time in the Legislature, Randy ran for and won a seat on the Montana Public Service Commission, a position he currently holds. It has come to my attention that Randy is now running for the open seat in Senate District 12. I would urge ALL voters who are concerned about the Right to Keep and Bear Arms to vote for Randy Pinocci in the upcoming Primary election on June 2!

Brian Judy
Former NRA Montana State Director

Recent events within the Cascade County Republican Central Committee (CCRCC) have raised serious concerns about the leadership practices guiding our organization. Cancelling the monthly Central Committee meeting for November, the Executive Board called an Executive Board meeting in its place on November 12, 2025. In a vote taken by the Executive Board members, the Executive Board attempted to cancel 50% of the regular monthly Central Committee meetings for 2026 and replace them with Executive Board meetings. This, of course, raised great concern by every elected committeeman and woman who value transparency and grassroots participation. CCRCC Chairman Eric Hinebauch defended this action vigorously in emails to the Central Committee members, insisting this approach was justified. Yet, on November 29, 2025, the state GOP ruled that such actions are not permitted under either county or state bylaws, responding to a grievance filed by a handful of Central Committee members.

When leadership decisions require direct intervention from the state party to realign us with our own rules, it signals a serious problem – one that cannot be dismissed as a simple misunderstanding. This discrepancy raises legitimate questions about the Chairs and Executive Boards understanding of the responsibilities and limits of the roles. Bylaws are not optional. They exist to prevent exactly this kind of overreach, to ensure that no individual, regardless of position, can limit the involvement of the broader, elected membership. When those rules are bypassed, even temporarily, the trust that holds an organization together begins to erode.

Our party is at its best when leadership empowers members, not sidelines them. We should expect – and demand – a Chair and Executive Board who knows and understands the bylaws thoroughly, respects them consistently, and works collaboratively rather than independently. Anything less undermines the credibility and effectiveness of our Republican Central Committee.

Central Committee members remained steadfast to organize the December 10 Central Committee meeting in spite of the Boards’ resistance. We are grateful to have had the state GOP expeditiously provide the Record of Decision timely and effectively. Item #3 under “Findings” reads, “The County Executive Committee is subservient to the County Central Committee. It must operate within CCRCC Bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order.”

As Republicans, we pride ourselves on accountability and adherence to the rule of law. Let’s use this incident to motivate us to build a stronger, more transparent and more participatory Central Committee where members have assurance that their rights and roles are being respected. Our local Republicans deserve leadership that not only respects the bylaws but also empowers members and protects the integrity of the process.

Rae Grulkowski
Stockett, MT

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Lynn DeRoche is a candidate for Cascade County Clerk and Recorder who has a proven track record on which to base her future performance. And fortunately, we have the benefit of a person who has investigated the performance of Lynn DeRoche. I introduce to you Steven T. Potts, attorney for the plaintiffs against Fort Shaw Irrigation District (FSID), the Cascade County Clerk and Recorder’s office, and the Cascade County Commissioners.

Attorney Potts began a court brief in Cause N. ADV-23-255 in the Eighth District Court in Cascade County in this way: “As former President Donald J. Trump recently said, “In some ways we’re a third-world country…[W]e’re a third-world country at our election.” See The Independent, “Trump Claims US Elections Are ‘Third World’ Despite Sweeping Super Tuesday Primaries,” 3/6/2024.

The 2023 Fort Shaw Irrigation District (FSID) election conducted by Cascade County,including an election office administrator who did not know what she was doing and undermined by undependable and malevolent people, serves as a prime example. Together, they manipulated information about voting processes, deterred voters from casting ballots, and allowed others to cast ballots based on phony designation of agents.”

Read the complete article: Lies, Betrayal and Hidden Agenda-DeRoches Underhanded Schemes Harm Voters