Perry said he's thankful for the support

Zac Perry had a little more breathing room this time around. In the last race for House District 3, he won by just 47 votes over incumbent Republican Jerry O’Neil. This time, he beat Republican challenger Taylor Rose, by 278 votes, a close race to be sure, but still a little better margin than the last time.

“I’m really thankful the community was willing to send me back to Helena,” Perry said the day after election day. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to represent Columbia Falls and the Canyon.”

Perry’s campaign included the usual yard signs and mailers, but he also held a series of meetings and other events with local community leaders throughout the campaign. On election day he made pancakes at the Columbia Falsl Senior Center.

“It was definitely the strongest campaign we had,” he said.

Like most campaigners nowadays, social media and his own blog also helped spread the word, he noted.

Rose, a Marion native, came under scrutiny by the Southern Poverty Law Center for some of his writings and affiliations. The group claimed he had white nationalist views.

Perry said the scrutiny from the law center and publicity surrounding it probably helped his campaign.

“I certainly think it concerned people. I don’t think it was a moot point by any means,” he said. “I don’t think it was a make or break (either).”

Perry will find himself in the minority again this session. There are 49 Democrats in the House and 18 in the Senate. He is one of only two Democrats in the House from Flathead County, the other is Dave Fern of Whitefish.

Still, he looks forward to a productive session.

“Infrastructure will be a huge priority for both sides,” he said.

He said he hopes some bi-partisan legislation will come out of the Legislature and will set the tone for the entire session.

He said at this point, he doesn’t have any specific legislation he plans on carrying.