Montana deserves better than smear campaigns | Daniel M. Lee

The facts tell a different story.

Several of the women involved in the lawsuit had already left the university before Seth Bodnar even arrived on campus. That fact alone should cause reasonable voters to question the narrative being pushed by those seeking political advantage.

The flyers also point to a $350,000 settlement as evidence of wrongdoing. But settlement amounts without context can be highly misleading. The payment breakdown was made public through a court order approving the settlement. Of the $350,000 total, attorneys' fees accounted for $116,666.67 and litigation costs totaled $199,934.55. The plaintiffs themselves received a combined total of $33,398.78, or approximately $1,855 each.

Common sense raises an obvious question: If Seth Bodnar had truly engaged in the serious misconduct alleged by his critics, would the plaintiffs have settled for such a comparatively small individual payment? The answer is self-evident. The settlement is not the smoking gun that Bodnar's opponents claim it to be.

The reality of Bodnar's leadership at the University of Montana paints a far different picture. During his presidency, he hired a female provost. Of the university's 12 deanships, six are led by highly accomplished women who were selected because of their qualifications, leadership abilities, and professional achievements. These appointments reflected a commitment to excellence and opportunity, not discrimination.

Moreover, the public deserves to know who is behind these attacks. In an Aug. 8 article in the online edition of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Kathryn Allen reported that the American Leadership Fund PAC, a Washington, D.C.-based political action committee closely tied to Sen. Steve Daines, is responsible for the campaign targeting Bodnar. Regardless of one's political affiliation, Montanans should be troubled by outside groups attempting to influence our elections through distortion and character assassination.

Montana has long prided itself on independence, fairness, and civility. We are better than the politics of smear campaigns and misleading mailers.

The three candidates seeking Sen. Daines's seat should be judged on their records, qualifications, and ideas for the future, not on manufactured controversies spread by political operatives. If voters take the time to evaluate the candidates on their merits, I believe they will conclude that Seth Bodnar is the strongest choice to represent Montana in the United States Senate.

His independence is one of his greatest strengths. Free from party obligations, he can focus on serving all Montanans rather than advancing a partisan agenda. At a time when Washington seems increasingly divided, that kind of leadership is exactly what Montana needs.

I am proud to have worked alongside Seth Bodnar. I know his character. I know his commitment to public service. And I urge my fellow Montanans to consider the facts, reject the misinformation, and toss those misleading flyers where they belong: in the trash.