Shannon Augare
Shannon Augare is a former Democratic member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 8 from 2011 to 2015. Augare did not seek re-election in 2014.
Augare served in the Montana House of Representatives from 2006 to 2010, during which time he served as Democratic Whip.
Biography
Augare's professional experience includes working as a staff assistant for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, and as an aide to U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Tom Daschle.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Augare served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation |
| • Judiciary |
| • Legislative Administration |
| • Local Government |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Augare served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Judiciary |
| • Local Government |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Augare served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Business and Labor |
| • Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications |
| • Rules |
Issues
Duplicate auto licenses
As chair of the Law and Justice Interim Committee in June 2010, Augare requested a review of Montana Enhanced Registration and Licensing Information Network (MERLIN), the computer system used by the state Department of Motor Vehicles since 2009. He had been prompted to do so by constituent complaints. The audit, presented in June of 2012, found significant improvements in the MERLIN system but also revealed that there were 78,000 duplicate license plates in Montana, many of them caused by a system glitch in 2011.[1]
Elections
2010
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2010
On November 2, 2010, Augare won election to the Montana State Senate, defeating Rick Jennison. He defeated Joey Jayne in the June 8 primary by a margin of 976-743.[2][3]
| Montana State Senate, District 8 General election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Shannon Augare (D)
|
2,105 | |||
| Richard Jennison (R) | 1,776 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Shannon Augare ran unopposed and won the seat to the Montana House of Representatives for District 16, receiving 2,833 votes.
Augare raised $680 for his campaign.[4]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 16 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Shannon Augare (D)
|
2,833 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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2014
In 2014, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 to April 27.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
Noteworthy events
Drunk driving charges
- See also: Politicians convicted of DUI
On May 26, 2013, Augare was pulled over by a Glacier County sheriff's deputy. He allegedly ignored the deputy's request to turn off the vehicle, claiming a lack of jurisdiction, and sped away when the deputy moved to take his keys. In June 2013, after Blackfoot tribal prosecutors deferred, Augare was issued a summons to appear in federal court. On July 17, 2013, Augare pleaded not guilty to a single count each of driving under the influence, obstructing an officer of the peace, and reckless driving.
The case was soon cited as an example of a confusing relationship between state, federal, and tribal authorities, with Augare's attorney pledging to have the case taken out of federal court.
A trial date was set for September 26, 2013. Augare was excused temporarily from his committee assignments.[7][8][9]
Augare appeared in federal court on July 16, 2013, to face charges of obstructing a peace officer, driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving. Augare pleaded not guilty to the charges which, if convicted, carried a sentence of up to six months in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Several legislators pressured Augare to step down from his legislative duties while the case was pending, while others called for his resignation.[10]
Augare's lawyer made an argument that federal charges should be dropped because of lack of jurisdiction in tribal territory. The judge rejected the argument on grounds that the tribal government and federal government share jurisdiction. Augare pleaded guilty on November 8, 2013. Augare was ordered to pay $1,250 in fines and a special assessment of $30 and to attend a substance-abuse treatment class. He received no jail time.[11]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Shannon + Augare + Montana + Senate
See also
- Montana State Legislature
- Montana State Senate
- Montana Senate Committees
- Montana Joint Committees
- Montana state legislative districts
External links
- Office website (63rd session)
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2010, 2008, 2006, 2002
- LinkedIn profile
Footnotes
- ↑ Montana Policy Institute, "Montana Pig Book," accessed March 8, 2014 (Referenced pp. 41-43)
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2010 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Legislative Primary Canvass - June 08, 2010," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Augare, Shannon," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Contractors' Association, "Stronger Together: Political Representation," accessed November 5, 2015
- ↑ Montana Weed Control Association, "2013 Legislative Report & Scorecard," accessed September 17, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Summons issued for Montana state senator charged with DUI," June 24, 2013
- ↑ Associated Press, "State Sen. Augare pleads not guilty to DUI, obstruction," July 16, 2013
- ↑ Ravalli Republic, "Lawmaker charged with DUI excused from committees," July 10, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ kbzk.com, "Montana state senator pleads not guilty to DUI, obstructing an officer," July 17, 2013
- ↑ Missoulian, "Augare pleads guilty in federal court to DUI," November 8, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Carol Juneau |
Montana State Senate District 8 2011–2015 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by ' |
Montana State House District 16 2007–2011 |
Succeeded by Lila Walter Evans |
