Billy Hill determined to stay in sheriff race
After losing the primary race to sheriff candidate Tom Rummel, Trout Creek resident Billy Hill has not conceded to defeat just yet.
After losing the primary race to sheriff candidate Tom Rummel, Trout Creek resident Billy Hill has not conceded to defeat just yet.
After losing in the primary to Rummel by 158 votes, Hill has decided to file as a nonpartisan candidate for the upcoming general election in November.
"I realized with the great number of democratic votes coming out to vote against me that this fall that would be to my benefit," said Hill. "I intend to represent the people, not a party; the Sheriffs Office will be equal for everyone."
Hill said he will attend all candidate forums leading up to the general election as long as he is welcome.
Hill decided to run for Sheriff over 20 years ago after being wrongfully charged by law enforcement of the county.
His court case was eventually taken to the Montana state supreme court, which sided with Hill's interpretation of Montana law.
"Sanders County law enforcement came down and raided my house illegally and prosecuted me for a bear attack, so when that trial was over I went to supreme court in Montana and I was awarded a victory and that meant to me that I understood and interpreted the law better than the people with badges," said Hill.
After observing questionable law enforcement 20 years ago, Hill concluded that he could make better decisions if he was elected Sheriff.
In addition to enforcing the law on citizens, Hill believes that a Sheriff's responsibility is to defend the citizens from bad government, a responsibility he said he understands and is ready to accept.
Hill particularly stressed his desire to keep federal government out of state policy.
"The U.S. constitution states all powers not specifically designated to the federal government are designated to the people of the state," said Hill.
As far as the Sheriff's budget is concerned, Hill does not have any detailed plans for change until he is physically sitting in the Sheriff's chair, however, he is dedicated to being fiscally responsible and making sure "top priority" services will somehow get the funding they need.
Hill said he recognizes the fact that drug use goes beyond illegal, street drugs, but also includes a large base of illegal use of prescription drugs throughout the county.
He said the first step to attacking the prescription drug problem is to find out where they are coming from.
"You have to have education, enforcement and you have to have a correctional facility as a final deterrent, but education has to be funded, which we will have to look to the budget for funding as it's something you can not excuse. If you lose one kid to drugs in this county, then your policy failed," said Hill.
As far as experience is concerned, Hill has worked for four different Sheriff's Offices as a special reserve deputy throughout his life.
He believes in erring on the side of human rights should there be a dilemma and if a call comes in he believes it is the Sheriff's responsibility to look into the situation.
"I value my interpretation of the law and I will defend the rights of the individual," said Hill.