Jason Priest
Jason Priest is a former Republican member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 30 from 2011 to 2015. Priest did not seek re-election in 2014.
Biography
Priest earned his B.A. in Political Economy from Williams College.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Priest served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Finance and Claims |
| • Public Health, Welfare and Safety, Chair |
| • Rules |
| • Health and Human Services, Vice Chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Priest served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Finance and Claims |
| • Public Health, Welfare, and Safety, Chair |
| • Health and Human Services |
Elections
2010
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2010
On November 2, 2010, Priest won election to the Montana State Senate, defeating Aaron Kampfe. Priest defeated Scott Boggio in the primary.[1][2]
| Montana State Senate, District 30 General election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Jason Priest (R)
|
5,525 | |||
| Aaron Kampfe (D) | 2,952 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
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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. |
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Priest and his wife, Anna, are separated; they have three children.
Noteworthy events
Domestic assault charges
On February 1, 2014, Priest was involved in a domestic incident that led to felony and misdemeanor charges against him. According to documentation of a police call released by the Montana Department of Justice, Priest's estranged wife, Anna, and her boyfriend, Jon Trapp, were at a bar when the former received a call from her daughter, who said Priest had been cursing. Priest then took the phone, cursed at his wife and told her to pick their daughter up. Trapp then called for police assistance before heading to Priest's residence with Anna, who worried that Priest would turn violent. Court records stated that by the time an officer arrived to the house, Priest had thrown his daughter inside from his porch, attempted to push his wife off of it then attacked Trapp. The charging affidavit quotes Priest during an interview while in custody, saying that he was upset with his daughter for wanting to be with her mother and Trapp. Priest pleaded not guilty to charges of partner or family member assault, misdemeanor assault and resisting arrest, and felony assault; he faced up to five years in prison.[5][6][7]
Senate President Jeff Essmann (R) said that Priest had taken leave from his duties pending the outcome of his trial, originally set for January 12, 2015. Priest did not file for re-election by the March 10, 2014, deadline.[7][8]
Priest appeared in court on December 3, 2014, pleading guilty to counts of assault and resisting arrest, and two counts of partner or family member assault. Priest was immediately sentenced to a total of one year deferred -- three years served concurrently -- and $3,000 in fines with an additional $8,000 in restitution.[9]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Jason + Priest + Montana + Senate
See also
- Montana State Legislature
- Montana State Senate
- Montana Senate Committees
- Montana Joint Committees
- Montana state legislative districts
External links
- Office website
- Campaign website
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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, "State Sen. Jason Priest arrested for partner or family assault," February 2, 2014
- ↑ Billings Gazette, "State senator charged with felony assault in domestic incident," February 12, 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Associated Press, "Call to police: Red Lodge legislator's estranged wife feared violence," March 7, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Billings Gazette, "Jason Priest pleads guilty to amended charges, 4 misdemeanors, in assault case," December 3, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Story (R) |
Montana State Senate District 30 2011–2015 |
Succeeded by Nels Swandal (R) |
