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Contact:  Ken Toole- 439-4793

June 29, 2006

Taylor's Personal Money Big Factor in Republican Primary Race

(Helena, MT) Campaign finance reports filed this week in Helena show personal money made the big difference in the race for Montana's Public Service Commission.  Candidate for the Public Service Commission, Mike Taylor out spent is primary opponents by a wide margin, five times the combined total of his four opponents.  Taylor spent approximately $40,000 with more than $33,000 of his own money. The remaining money came from only about 40 individual donors.

"I think the voters are tired of candidates who try to buy elections," said Toole. "This campaign is going to be about issues and the big issue is electric deregulation.  The voters have a clear choice: Mike Taylor who supported and sponsored the bill and Ken Toole who opposed it."

On the Democratic side of the ticket the lone candidate, State Senator Ken Toole raised approximately $33,000 from 700 individual donors.  Toole said that he believes he has received so much support from individuals across the state because he has worked hard to fight utility deregulation while Taylor was a sponsor of the deregulation bill in 1997.

"I look forward to having a vigorous campaign and having a debate about where we're going with our energy future," said Toole.

Taylor's campaign generated controversy when he claimed to be an opponent of deregulation in an ad campaign during the primary race.  Media reports revealed that Taylor had sponsored the 1997 deregulation bill and voted for it following floor debate in the Senate.  He then changed his vote on the final reading of the bill.  Taylor also voted against two separate attempts to repeal the deregulation law.

Toole and Taylor will now face off in the general election.  Toole said that personal money will make a difference in the race but expressed confidence that he will continue to gather support from small contributors across the state.

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Ken Toole BuyElections.mp3 8 seconds

I think the voters are tired of candidates who try to buy elections. This campaign is going to be about issues and the big issue is electric deregulation.

Ken Toole ClearChoice.mp3 7 seconds

The voters have a clear choice: Mike Taylor who supported and sponsored the bill and Ken Toole who opposed it.

Ken Toole EnergyFuture.mp3 7 seconds

I look forward to having a vigorous campaign and having a debate about where we're going with our energy future.