Montana's state auditor serves as the insurance and securities commissioner and must be a strong and effective advocate for Montana's consumers, while also promoting the reliability and stability of the insurance and securities industries. Our auditor must fight for regular people who don't often have a voice in the face of powerful companies that can afford teams of lobbyists and lawyers.

As an educator, I worked to ensure my students had the skills they needed for future success. As a successful businesswoman, I managed a complex organization and put customers and employees first, making financial sacrifices to ensure employees had health insurance. And as a legislative leader, I worked to create more jobs and employee training opportunities for Montanans. I have fought for regular folks my entire life, and that's why I believe I'm best qualified to be Montana's next auditor.

As a legislative leader, I wrote and passed legislation that helped create thousands of good-paying jobs, led Republicans and Democrats to define a quality system of public education for our children, fought for full funding of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), pushed for the creation of tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance to their employees and stood up for Montana's most vulnerable citizens by supporting passage of a prescription drug discount program for seniors and the disabled.

As your next state auditor, I will protect the public interest by fighting to ensure all Montanans - not just the rich and powerful - are treated fairly by the insurance industry. And I will protect consumers and seniors from fraudulent practices and scams. I will also continue working hard to increase access to affordable health care and promote preventive care, wellness programs and health information technology - all of which will play an important role in reducing the cost of health care.

My opponent is also making a case for being the right person for the job. However, his rhetoric on the campaign trail and record in the state Legislature do not reflect someone that would be looking out for average Montanans.

On the campaign trail, he has repeatedly said that Montana's regulations are too tough on out-of-state insurance companies and was quoted as saying he believes Montana "has a hostile insurance environment." The Montanans I talk to as I travel our state surely don't hold that opinion.

Access to preventive health care is critical for early detection of life-threatening diseases and will decrease the cost of health care over the long term - saving you money. While our state auditor must be capable of advocating for Montana consumers, my opponent has voted against requiring insurance companies to cover diabetes screenings and has opposed important preventive mandates like coverage of mammograms and maternity care.

Proven preventive measures have been supported by many Republicans as well. For example, Gov. Marc Racicot understood the importance and effectiveness of the Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. In contrast, my opponent voted to remove funding for this program.

Finally, Montana's Constitution guarantees gender equality. Yet my opponent wrote and pushed legislation that would overturn a decades-old law that forbids gender discrimination. I don't believe that's fair, and I know many other Montanans take pride in our state Constitution that stands up for all of us.

Montanans deserve a state auditor who will fight for their issues and rights. I'm confident this race offers a clear contrast - someone with a long history of voting and advocating against consumers, or someone who will stand up for regular Montanans that need a voice. I will be a strong and effective voice for you.

Monica Lindeen of Huntley has served in the Montana House since 1998 and was minority whip in the 2003 Legislature. In 2006, she ran an unsuccessful race for U.S. House against incumbent Denny Rehberg.