Hendrick decides to run again

Summer Crosby

Back in 1988, Gordon Hendrick achieved official citizenship. Even though he has spent most of his life in the United States, he had one reason for obtaining citizenship and that was so he could help the state of Montana. Immediately after becoming a citizen, he was a town councilman and then served as mayor for twelve years. For the last five years, he is now on his sixth, has served in the state legislature for House District 14. Back in August of 2008, Hendrick had said that he would end his time with the state legislative, but has now decided that with the economy in the state that he is in, his experience will be essential for the coming term.

“There was a lot of encouragement from the people, from all throughout my district, stating they wanted me back in,” Hendrick said. “I decided that I would finish my last term because this next session is going to be a very tough session. Financially, we’re not setting in the best position—revenues are down for many reasons, no new businesses are coming in and the ones we thought we’re stable are now leaving us—so it’s going to take experience, it’s going to take a lot of patience and the knowledge that I’ve gained in the last three sessions. Rather than having to reinvent the wheel and bringing in someone who will need to get their feet wet a little bit, my feet are already there, ready to go.”

Hendrick said he feels confident that the people will back him. In the last two elections, he won by a 63 percent margin. Hendrick recognizes that while he cannot please everyone, he says he does the best job that he can when it comes to voting.

“I’ve always gone by the policy that I take everything into consideration and I try to vote what’s best ands suits the needs for not just our county, but the state of MT,” he said. “What you have to realize is that when you’re voting, you’re not voting just for your county, or your district, but for the whole state of Montana and how it will affect everybody. And not just for right now, but ten years down the line. I like to try and evaluate that each time.”

And while he is sure that the opponents running against him were upset when they heard he had changed his mind, he says that’s just a part of the deal.

“I really wasn’t planning on it, but with time away from the session, you kind of get a little different perspective when you relax a little bit,” he said. “Taking a look at the situations that comes forth and I felt it was best for House District 14 and state of Montana that I finish my last term.”

Hendrick said that should he be reelected his goals are to trim the budget as much as possible, to keep the state from going under. He also wants to make sure there are no more unnecessary, unfunded mandates. He said he feels both sides recognize the budget needs to be trimmed as much as possible. Hendrick said he hopes the people will come out and vote for him and says he will continue to do his best.

“I hope the people will come and vote for me and support me so I can carry on their hopes and dream to live a normal life in Montana and I will continue to serve them every way possible that I can,” he said. “I will give a 110 percent as usual.”

He said that the legislature job does not end when the session is over that it actually begins because then he’s out working everyday with people.

“I’ve handled issues from immigration to dept of military affairs. I’ve been to places and done things I never would have dreamed of and people ask why do you do that? And I tell them that’s what I’m there for,” he said. “They say, ‘no you’re there to pass legislation.’ And I tell them, no I’m there to represent the people and that’s what I do, I represent all the people, all the time.”