Monica Lindeen
Auditor of Montana
In office
January 5, 2009 – January 2, 2017
GovernorBrian Schweitzer
Steve Bullock
Preceded byJohn Morrison
Succeeded byMatt Rosendale
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 7th district
In office
1999–2004
Succeeded byJon Sonju
Personal details
Born (1962-05-16) May 16, 1962
Ogden, Utah, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMontana State University,
Billings (BS)

Monica Lindeen (born May 16, 1962) is an American politician who served as the Montana State Auditor. She was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. Due to term limits, she was ineligible to run again in 2016, and became a candidate for Montana Secretary of State.

Early life and education

Lindeen was born in Ogden, Utah. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Montana State University Billings, specializing in English and history.[1]

Career

Lindeen was a Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives from 1999 to 2006, representing House District 43. Lindeen served as vice chair of the Montana Democratic Party from 1997 to 2000. In 1996, she ran for House District 7 but lost to the incumbent.[2]

Lindeen was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in 2006, running against Republican incumbent Dennis Rehberg and Libertarian Mike Fellows for the lone Montana seat in the U.S. Congress. Lindeen lost the election with 39% of the vote to Rehberg's 59% and Fellows' 2%.[3]

State Auditor

On February 19, 2007 Lindeen announced her plans to run for State Auditor in the 2008 elections.

Lindeen named Walt Schweitzer as Deputy State Auditor.[4] Schweitzer, the brother of Governor Brian Schweitzer and a campaign consultant, had managed Lindeen's campaign.[5] In the summer of 2009, an employee of the office, Laura McGee, formally complained to Lindeen that Schweitzer improperly "solicited campaign contributions from employees in the State Auditor’s office on state time."[6] McGee was subsequently fired, and Schweitzer claimed to have no recollection of the events.[4] McGee then filed a wrongful discharge lawsuit and an independent investigation was launched.[7] Although the independent investigation did not substantiate McGee's allegation, in part because she did not cooperate with the investigator, the State Auditor's office nonetheless chose to settle the lawsuit. According to the Billings Gazette, "Investigating and settling McGee’s complaint cost the Auditor’s Office about $62,500," and in addition, Lindeen reinstated McGee to employment for a period of 16 months at her previous salary of $45,000 a year and allowed for remote work.[7][8]

National Association of Insurance Commissioners

On November 4, 2011, Lindeen was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.[9] In 2013, Lindeen received the Excellence in Consumer Advocacy Award, presented by the NAIC’s Consumer Representatives. She received the honor in recognition for her work as a strong voice for consumer protection and her dedication in maintaining states’ rights in insurance regulation. She was elected to serve as the president of the NAIC throughout 2015.[10] After serving eight years as the State Commissioner of Securities and Insurance she entered the campaign for US House of Representatives but lost the seat to Republican Denny Rehberg[11]

Electoral history

Montana House of Representatives 7th District Election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Holland 1,842 53.11
Democratic Monica Lindeen 1,626 46.89
Montana House of Representatives 7th District Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monica Lindeen 1,674 52.26
Republican Dan Holland 1,529 47.74
Montana House of Representatives 7th District Election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monica Lindeen 2,039 58
Republican Tom Asay 1,489 42
Montana House of Representatives 7th District Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monica Lindeen 1,672 55.31
Republican Tom Nansel 1,351 44.69
Montana House of Representatives 43rd District Election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monica Lindeen 2,659 58.78
Republican Gretchen Schubert 1,865 41.22
Montana At-Large Congressional District Democratic Primary Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monica Lindeen 66,364 71.09
Democratic Eric Jon Gunderson 26,990 28.91
Montana At-Large Congressional District Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Denny Rehberg 239,124 58.88
Democratic Monica Lindeen 158,916 39.13
Libertarian Mike Fellows 8,085 1.99
Montana Auditor Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monica Lindeen 246,522 53.50
Republican Duane Grimes 214,241 46.50
Montana Auditor Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monica Lindeen 248,447 53.52
Republican Derek Skees 215,743 46.48

References

  1. ↑ Bureau, JENNIFER McKEE of the Missoulian State. "U.S. House race profile: Democrat Monica lindeen wants new direction". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  2. ↑ "Monica Lindeen". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  3. ↑ "Woman of the people: Billings-area Democratchallenges Rehberg in hopes of championing the working class". Helena Independent Record.
  4. 1 2 "Ex-state employee says she was fired after filing complaint vs. Walt". Helenair.com. Associated Press. 2009-08-03. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  5. ↑ MIKE DENNISON - IR State Bureau - 12/19/08 (2008-12-19). "Lindeen names Walt Schweitzer to staff". Helenair.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ John S. Adams (2009-08-04). "The Lowdown: Lindeen orders "independent investigation" into workplace fundraising allegations". Mtlowdown.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  7. 1 2 CHARLES S. JOHNSON Gazette State Bureau (2010-01-25). "Lindeen, ex-employee reach settlement over illegal politicking charges". Billingsgazette.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  8. ↑ "Great Falls Tribune: Archives". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  9. ↑ "Lindeen Tapped to Lead Insurance Regulators Group". Csi.mt.gov. 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  10. ↑ "Commissioner Bio - Montana". Archived from the original on 2016-03-28.
  11. ↑ Lindeen new executive director of the Montana Democratic Party
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