Judy Martz

Judy Martz
22nd Governor of Montana
In office January 1, 2001 – January 3, 2005
Lieutenant	Karl Ohs
Preceded by	Marc Racicot
Succeeded by	Brian Schweitzer
Personal details
Born	July 28, 1943 (1943-07-28) Big Timber, Montana
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Harry Martz
Religion	Christian

Judy Martz (b. July 28, 1943, Big Timber, Montana as Judy Morstein) was the 22nd Governor of Montana, having served a single term from January 2, 2001, to January 3, 2005. Earlier, she was the Lieutenant Governor under Marc Racicot from 1997-2001. She was Montana's first female governor.

She is a member of the Republican Party, former Olympic skater (the 1964 speed skating team), former Miss Rodeo Montana, and owner and operator, with her husband, of a garbage disposal service in her hometown of Butte, Montana.

In the Montana gubernatorial election of 2000, Martz defeated her Democratic opponent, Mark O'Keefe, by a margin of 51 percent to 47 percent. Martz announced that she would not run for re-election as Governor in 2004.

Martz's first legislative session resulted in the [1] single largest increase in the education budget in Montana history and tax cuts intended to stimulate the stagnant state economy.

Martz had her fair share of scandals, off-color statements, and questionable activities while she was in office, many of which led to her low approval rating during the remaining years of her term as governor (which were as low as 20% at one point).

Her chief policy adviser, Shane Hedges, was involved in a drunk driving accident near Marysville, Montana in August 2001, after which he went to Martz's residence, where she washed his clothes. House Majority Leader Paul Sliter died in the accident. Martz's policy advisor promptly resigned and pled guilty to a charge of negligent homicide. Martz also was put under a state-wide microscope when a real estate deal between the Martzes and ARCO was uncovered. The Martz family had a ranch that adjoined another large parcel of land that was owned by the ARCO company, at that time ARCO sold that land at an allegedly low value to the Martz family. The state Democratic Party alleged that Martz had assisted ARCO in her position as Lieutenant Governor. The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices found that the allegations lacked merit.

Martz finished her time in office campaigning for President Bush in Ohio, Arizona, and other swing states, and [2] sparring with incoming Democratic governor Brian Schweitzer over transition of state government.

In September 2005 Martz was named chair of Montanans for Judge Roberts (Chief Justice nominee John Glover Roberts, Jr.) and spoke at a rally in support of Roberts with past and present statewide Republican officials such as ex-Congressman Rick Hill.

Trivia

In May 2003, Martz made it into the news, through no action of her own, because of a supposed similarity to the face and hair of one nude bordello dancer sculpted by Seattle artist Kristine Veith, and placed in a new development in downtown Helena.

Both Martz and Veith deny the similarity, with Martz stating, possibly partially tongue-in-cheek, "I'm a very modest person, no one would ever see me like that. My husband doesn't ever see me like that" ([3], [4]).

Electoral history

Montana gubernatorial election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Judy Martz	209,135	50.98%	-28.18%
	Democratic	Mark O'Keefe	193,131	47.08%	+26.25%
	Libertarian	Stan Jones	7,926	1.93%
Majority			16,004	3.90%	-54.43%
Turnout			410,192
	Republican hold		Swing

External links

• Billings Gazette: Republicans back approval of Roberts
• CBS News: Bordello Gov. Judy

Political offices
Preceded by Marc Racicot	Governor of Montana 2001 – 2005	Succeeded by Brian Schweitzer