Lindeen Announces Bid for Reelection

HELENA, MONT. — Montana’s State Auditor Monica J. Lindeen today announced she’ll seek reelection to her post as chief regulator of the state’s insurance and securities industries.

“In these tough economic times, Montana families and small businesses need to know they have an aggressive advocate in their corner when they have problems with their investments or insurance,” said Lindeen.  “I’ve been that advocate for the last three years, returning more than $190 million to Montanans who fell victim to securities fraud and forcing insurance companies to pay more than $12 million in claims owed to Montanans.”

The Montana State Auditor, aslo known as the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, is a statewide elected offical who enforces state and federal insurance and securities law.  The State Auditor also serves as a member of the state land board, which has raised more than $294 million dollars for Montana public education over the last three years by leasing or selling state-owned land.  Since her election in 2008, Lindeen has successfully prosecuted dozens of cases of securities fraud, including the largest Ponzi scheme in state history in 2011.

Lindeen served four terms in Montana’s legislature representing rural Yellowstone, Treasure, and Rosebud counties before being elected Montana State Auditor.  In 1995, Lindeen founded a small business that grew to become one of Montana’s largest local Internet service providers.

“I use my background as a small business owner every day as State Auditor.  I’m always looking for ways to streamline the way we do business or working with entrepreneurs across the state to find affordable insurance and raise investment capital to create jobs,” Lindeen said.

Lindeen highlighted her top priorities for the next four years, including state-based efforts to make health insurance more transparent and affordable, strengthening consumer protections in the securities industry, continuing responsible development of Montana’s natural resources through the state land board, and preserving Montana’s right to regulate insurance and securities.

“In 2011, our state legislature dealt a heavy blow to Montanans’ right to regulate our own insurance industry,” said Lindeen.  “We’ll see even more federal intervention in the coming years unless we undo that damage in 2013 with responsible legislation.  I vow to work with both sides of the aisle to restore our state’s rights and protect Montana consumers through transparency and accountability in insurance and securities.”

More information about the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, can be found at csi.mt.gov.  More information about Lindeen’s campaign for reelection can be found at her website, lindeen.net.