Steve Bullock


Candidate for: Attorney General of Montana
Election Date: November 4, 2008

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The Candidate

Steve began his public service career as Chief Legal Counsel to the Montana Secretary of State. Thereafter, from 1997-2001, he served as Executive Assistant Attorney General then Acting Chief Deputy with the Montana Department of Justice. During his nearly four years with the Attorney General’s office, Steve undertook complex civil and criminal cases – from defending challenges to Montana’s Stream Access Laws to keeping criminals behind bars. He also served as the Legislative Director, coordinating the Attorney General’s efforts and regularly testifying before the Legislature.

From 2001-2004, Steve practiced law with the Washington, DC firm of Steptoe & Johnson. Steve has case management and trial experience in matters involving disputes from $500,000 to $50+ million. Early in his career, he practiced law in New York City.

From 2002-2004, Steve also served as an Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University School of Law.

A Montana native and product of the Helena public schools system, Steve received his undergraduate degree from Claremont McKenna College and his law degree with honors from Columbia University Law School in New York.

Internet Security: One of the most pressing issues for law enforcement nationwide is the policing and protection of the internet. Bullock has made this issue the mainstay of his campaign by pledging to create an Internet Safety Task Force and cracking down on child predators.

Drug Abuse: Montana has one of the worst Methamphetamine problems in the nation. Bullock has consistently talked about bringing new technologies to the state to better enforce penalties and crimes related to drug abuse.

The Race

Steve Bullock first sought to become Montana attorney general position in the 2000 Democratic primary, which he lost to Mike McGrath, who now is completing his second and final term. Both Bullock and Republican nominee Tim Fox are Montana natives. Both now are in private practice in Helena, but earlier, their careers took different paths.

Bullock worked for four years in the attorney general's office during Joe Mazurek's tenure. As an assistant attorney general, Bullock successfully defended Montana's public stream access law against a challenge by an out-of-state organization.

Fox has focused much of his campaign on sex offenders who prey on children. Both Fox and Bullock want to protect children, but Bullock noted that the state already has a tough law to deal with child molesters and said that law needs to be enforced. Bullock wants to dedicate an attorney in the AG's office to prosecution of sex crimes, particularly to assist small-population counties in such cases.

Bullock's campaign to date has focused on a broader vision of the attorney general's job. He wants to beef up law enforcement resources for preventing Internet crimes. He supports enforcing Montana's seat belt law as a "primary" offense, just like any other traffic law. He wants to ensure that all felony DUI offenders get effective treatment and favors intervening before the fourth offense - the point at which Montana law now mandates treatment. Bullock said he wants to expand the attorney general's efforts to protect Montana consumers, particularly in preventing fraud against senior citizens.

A supporter of the Montana Meth Project, Bullock has talked on the campaign trail about a need to prevent prescription drug abuse, which is on the rise in Montana and around the country. He sees the problem as a public-health issue that the attorney general can help address.

Polls currently show the race in a dead heat which makes CNM’s contributions that much more important in the final week.

Why CNM Supports Steve Bullock

An attorney for 14 years, Bullock worked in big East Coast law firms for a few years before returning to his hometown of Helena and starting his own law practice four years ago. He also worked five years in the Montana Secretary of State's Office and the Montana Attorney General's Office, where his jobs included arguing cases before the Montana Supreme Court and working with legislators on behalf of the Justice Department. That depth and breadth of experience will serve Montana well if Bullock is elected on Nov. 4.

Bullock possesses all of the tools necessary to ascend the political ranks. He is young and with good energy, and is clearly capable of grasping both issues of electoral politics and successful governance. What Bullock needs now is more buzz that can help assure the voters of Montana, a state trending Democratic in recent cycles, that not only is he their best option in this race, but he has a bright future working for Montana. A CNM endorsement in this race can do much to accomplish that.

Support Steve Bullock for Labor Commissioner of Oregon

CNM is proud to endorse Steve Bullock for Labor Commissioner of Oregon. We encourage you to give him your support as a member of Campaign for a National Majority.