Two Gentlemen from Verona Whitefish, Montana.

After the unfortunate Montana special election outcome took Montana from the national spotlight it held as election day neared, attention from here has not sufficiently been paid to the Montana Cowgirl websight until now. An item titled, "Drip. Drip. Drip."

Whitefish Energy received the government contract to restore Puerto Rico’s power.

The whole story is worth a read, particularly because of the absurdity that a company with two full-time employees could be the best option for a $300 million contract to bring back power to Puerto Rico, [...]

Whitefish Energy is based in Whitefish, Mont., the home town of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Its chief executive, Andy Techmanski, and Zinke acknowledge knowing one another — but only, Zinke’s office said in an email, because Whitefish is a small town where “everybody knows everybody.” One of Zinke’s sons “joined a friend who worked a summer job” at one of Techmanski’s construction sites, the email said. Whitefish said he worked as a “flagger.”

Zinke’s office said he had no role in Whitefish securing the contract for work in Puerto Rico. Techmanski also said Zinke was not involved.

Here at the Cowgirl blog, we started to receive tips and comments about this story five days ago, when Montana Public Radio ran a story on it.

Apparently, Techmanski likes to brag around town about how connected he is with Zinke. As reported in the Post’s story, Zinke’s son used to draw a paycheck from the company. I am sure that had nothing to do with this company, of two people, securing a ginormous government contract.

[bolded links are from original]

Local coverage from Montana might be the best news to follow. Moreover, the comment streams to posts at Cowgirl merit attention.


COWGIRL BONUS:

John Heenan, Grant Kier, Tom Woods, and whatever other Democrat joins this primary are not going to be able to outspend Greg Gianforte. But if Greg continues to be an asshole, they might not have to.

(Follow the BONUS link for context suggesting on first reading that "continues" is the properly used word.)

UPDATE: Gianforte getting Cowgirl tough love.

FURTHER: Politico riffs on Montana's Zinke and the who-dat "Virgin Island GOP," a tale without a hero.

FURTHER: Daily Beast.

FURTHER: BuzzFeed. Which followed up on the energy firm's business address: see it; believe it.

FURTHER: More local Montana viewpoints; John Heenan - this news item and this; also, this websearch, and candidacy pages - here and here.

FURTHER: http://www.standwithmontanans.org/

FURTHER: WaPo, Oct. 29, mid-day reporting.