Whitefish Democrat Jared Pettinato launches U.S. House run

WHITEFISH, Mont. – Whitefish attorney Jared Pettinato says he’s running for Montana’s at-large U.S. House seat as the Democratic field seeking to challenge Republican Rep. Greg Gianforte continues to grow.

Pettinato told the Associated Press on Tuesday he wants to boost Montana’s economy by expanding wind energy capacity in the eastern part of the state. He also would allow more logging in areas where the forest has become too dense, to cut down on wildfires and add timber jobs.

Pettinato worked for the past decade as a natural resources lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice. It’s his first run for public office.

Other Democrats in the race include state Rep. Tom Woods and former state Rep. Kathleen Williams, both of Bozeman, Billings attorney John Heenan and former land-trust director Grant Kier of Missoula.

The primary is June 5.