Jon Tester
Junior Senator-elect, Montana
Term of office: term begins 2007
Political party:	Democratic
Succeeding:	Conrad Burns
Born:	August 21, 1956 Havre, Montana
Spouse:	Sharla Tester
Religion:	Church of God

Jonathan "Jon" Tester (born August 21, 1956) is the Democratic Senator-elect from Montana. Tester is the current President of the Montana State Senate. Image File history File links JonTester2006. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Conrad Ray Burns (born January 25, 1935) is the lame duck junior United States Senator from Montana. ... August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Havre (IPA ) is a city in Hill County, Montana, is said to be named after the city of Le Havre in France[1][2], although this is disputed by some inhabitants [citation needed]. The area was originally known as Bullhook Bottoms. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Church of God is a name used by numerous, mostly unrelated bodies. ... August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... In the United States a Senator-elect is someone who has been elected to the United States Senate, but their term has not yet arrived or are not currently sitting in the office they were elected to. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Montana Senate is, with the Montana House of Representatives, part of the Montana State Legislature. ...

Background

Tester was born in Havre, Montana, and grew up in Chouteau County, near the town of Big Sandy, Montana, on the same family land that his grandfather homesteaded in 1916. (The small town is also the birthplace of Jeff Ament of popular rock band Pearl Jam, who played a concert in Missoula in support of Tester's US Senate bid.^[1]) Havre (IPA ) is a city in Hill County, Montana, is said to be named after the city of Le Havre in France[1][2], although this is disputed by some inhabitants [citation needed]. The area was originally known as Bullhook Bottoms. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Chouteau County is a county located in the state of Montana. ... Big Sandy is a town located in Chouteau County, Montana. ... Jeff Ament (born March 10, 1963 in Big Sandy, Montana), is an American Rock bassist and one of the founding members of Pearl Jam. ... Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, and is considered one of the most influential bands of the 1990s. ... Missoula, Montana viewed from the top of Mount Sentinel in 1999. ...

Tester grew up helping his family on their conventional farm, as well as helping run their butcher shop. Beginning in the late 1980s, Tester moved toward the more profitable organic farming; his family now grows organic wheat, barley, lentils, peas, millet, buckwheat, alfalfa and hay. They still operate their butcher shop for close friends and relatives, but no longer utilize it as a source of income.^[2] Organic cultivation of mixed vegetables in Capay, California. ...

As an adolescent, Tester lost the middle, index, and ring fingers on his left hand in an accident while working with a meat grinder.

Tester has a Bachelor of Science degree in music from the University of Great Falls. He was subsequently a music teacher in the Big Sandy School District for a brief time, before returning to farming. A Bachelor of Science (B.S., B.Sc. ... The University of Great Falls, a private Catholic University, is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. ...

Tester’s wife of 27 years, Sharla, also grew up in north-central Montana and comes from an agricultural family. Jon and Sharla have a daughter, Christine (son-in-law James), a son, Shon, and one grandchild, Kilikina.

Political career

Tester served for five years as chairman of the Big Sandy School Board of Trustees, and served on the Big Sandy Soil Conservation Service (SCS) Committee and the Chouteau County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Committee.

Tester was first elected to the Montana State Senate in 1998. He was elected the minority whip for the 2001 session. After being re-elected in 2002, he became minority leader for the 2003 session. In 2005, Tester was elected President of the Montana Senate, the chief presiding officer of the Montana Legislature’s upper chamber. The Montana Senate is, with the Montana House of Representatives, part of the Montana State Legislature. ...

His election as President marked a significant transition for Montana Democrats as they moved into the majority leadership of the Senate for the first time in more than a decade.

Term limits would have prohibited Tester from running for state Senate for a third time.

2006 U.S. Senate race

Main article: Montana United States Senate election, 2006

Tester announced his candidacy in May 2005 for the U.S. Senate seat held by incumbent Republican senator Conrad Burns. Tester was the second Democrat to jump into the race, after state Auditor John Morrison. While Tester was seen as having a greater following among his fellow legislators and progressives, his opponent, whose grandfather was governor of Nebraska, was able to raise significantly more money and had greater statewide name recognition. The 2006 U.S. Senate Election for the state of Montana was held November 7, 2006. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... GOP redirects here. ... Conrad Ray Burns (born January 25, 1935) is the lame duck junior United States Senator from Montana. ... John Morrison (born 1961) was elected as state Auditor in Montana in November 2000, and re-elected in 2004. ...

Morrison collected $1.05 million as of the start of 2006, including $409,241 in the last three months of 2005,^[3] but "Morrison’s advantages in fundraising and name identification have not translated into a lead in the polls,"^[4] most of which showed the race exceedingly tight, some calling it a "deadlock" as of late May.^[5] On May 31, 2006, Paul Richards, another candidate in the race, citing the closeness of the race, and his own position in the polls, threw his support to Jon Tester.^[6]

On June 6, 2006, Tester won the Democratic primary by a margin of over 25 points, much larger than expected given the previous polling. Burns easily won the Republican primary. On election day, Tester received 198,302 votes versus 195,455 for Burns. Tester was declared the winner on Nov. 8, 2006.^{[7] [8]}

Senatorial appointments

On November 15, 2006, pending Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Tester had received six committee appointments: (1) Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; (2) Energy and Natural Resources; (3) Homeland Security and Government Affairs; (4) Veterans Affairs; (5) Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and (6) Indian Affairs. Tester had specifically requested a spot on the energy committee.^[9] November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... Harry Mason Reid (born December 2, 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, for which he serves as Senate Minority Leader. ... The United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs has jurisdiction over matters related to banks and banking, price controls, deposit insurance, export promotion and controls, federal monetary policy, financial aid to commerce and industry, issuance of redemption of notes, currency and coinage, public and private housing, urban... The United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has jurisdiction over matters related to energy and nuclear waste policy, territorial policy, native Hawaiian matters, and public lands. ... The United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has jurisdiction over matters related to the Department of Homeland Security and other homeland security concerns, as well as the functioning of the government itself, including the National Archives, budget and accounting measures other than appropriations, the Census, the... The United States Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs is responsible for dealing with matters related to veterans. ... The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship is a standing committee of the United States Senate. ... The United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is responsible for dealing with matters related to the American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples. ...

He was not seated on the Senate Appropriations Committee, one that Harry Reid said he would give to Tester "as soon as possible".^[10] U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. ... Harry Mason Reid (born December 2, 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, for which he serves as Senate Minority Leader. ...

Notes

1. ^ Kelly, Jamie. "Pearl Jammin' for a Senate seat", Missoulian, 2005.
2. ^ Lowery, Courtney. "The 'Good Guy' Running for U.S. Senate", NewWest, 28 August 2005.
3. ^ Johnson, Charles S. "Burns' fundraising nears $5 million; Morrison's hits $1 million", CQPolitics.com, 28 August 2005.
4. ^ Horrigan, Marie. "MT Senate: Race to Take On Embattled Burns Nears Finish", CQPolitics.com, 31 May 2006.
5. ^ Johnson, Charles S. "Tester, Morrison deadlocked", Helena Independent Record, 28 May 2006
6. ^ Dennison, Mike. "Richards: Tester is best choice", Billings Gazette, 31 May 2006.
7. ^ Jalonick, Mary Clare. "Playing Outsider, Tester Wins Mont. Seat", Associated Press, 8 November 2006
8. ^ U.S. SENATE / MONTANA results, CNN.com, November 2006.
9. ^ "Montana Standard"
10. ^ "Billings Gazette"

The Billings Gazette is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper printed in Billings, Montana. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ...

External links

• Jon Tester's official campaign website
• Jon Tester stances OnTheIssues
• About.com's Inside Profile of Jon Tester, 2006 Montana Democratic Candidate for US Senate from Montana
• "Montana Senator in Fight of Political Life," Associated Press, October 15, 2006
• Interview with Tester, Newsweek, 22 August 2006