Friday, October 9, 2020 Greg Gianforte Greg for Montana PO Box 877 Helena, MT 59624 Dear Congressman Gianforte, Like the rest of the country, Montana is still battling the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. This virus has already claimed the lives of 206 Montanans, and infected many more. Montanans have made tremendous sacrifices throughout this crisis. We have opted to skip birthday parties, graduations, and even funerals, all to keep our friends and families safe. Through steady leadership, Montana has set the example for other states to follow. We’ve kept our infection rates low, hospitalization rates down, and economic recovery strong. But as health care professionals, we are deeply alarmed by the spike in cases that our state is now experiencing. Now more than ever, we must redouble our commitment to each of us doing our part to flatten the curve, keep our neighbors safe, and protect our fellow Montanans. Which is why we are so disappointed to see you openly refusing to comply with the public health guidance that’s necessary to defeat this virus. With a vaccine still a ways away, the science is clear – we know what it’s going to take to overcome COVID-19. Wearing a mask. Washing our hands and practicing social distancing. Avoiding large crowds. On these points, Congressman Gianforte, you have failed. Just last weekend, you ​attended​ an event now being investigated by the Lewis and Clark County Health Department for being a potential superspreader event. Days later, you ​arrived​ at the gubernatorial debate without a mask. And then, you launched a statewide campaign tour, visiting communities across Montana and refusing to consistently wear a mask or follow proper safety protocol. You even ​joked​ about social distancing, telling a man asking you about shaking hands that, “Buddy, I’ll give you a hug if you want it!” Mr. Gianforte – this is’t a joke – it is nothing less than a matter of life or death. You often speak about personal responsibility, but as a candidate for governor of our state, it is your personal responsibility to set an example for all Montanans. Your refusal to commit to wearing a mask in public is a threat to the health and safety of our communities. It’s not taking personal responsibility, and it’s certainly not the leadership that Montanans deserve. So Congressman, as a group of doctors, nurses, caregivers, and health care professionals, we urge you to stop your reckless behavior, and start taking this pandemic seriously. Montanans’ lives depend on it. Signed by, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. Abigail Combs, Caregiver, Butte Alison Sharkey-Hines, Caregiver, Butte Amy Matheny, MD MPH FAAFP Andrew Melcher, Caregiver, Great Falls Anna Volkersz, Caregiver, Bozeman Anna Whiting Sorrell, former Director MDPHHS and Director Billings Area Indian Health Service, Evaro Hill Anne Murphy, MD, Missoula Ashley Fling, Caregiver, Anaconda Ashley Isaacson, Caregiver, Butte Ashton Smith, Caregiver, Anaconda Becky Facincani, Caregiver, Butte Bonnie Knight, Caregiver, Black Eagle Brach Newmiller, Caregiver, Billings Breanne Utgaard, RN, Polson Brenda M DeGrazio, CNM, Missoula Brittney Quane, Caregiver, Butte Caitlin McLaughlin, Caregiver, Butte Candy Dorscher, Caregiver, Butte Carla Macey, Caregiver, Melrose Carol Cady, MD, Missoula Celeste Thompson, Caregiver, Missoula Cherie Knowles, Caregiver, Lolo Chuck Butler, Helena Cindy Craddock, Caregiver, Billings Connie Sharp, Caregiver, Glasgow Cora Neumann, Ph.D., public health expert, Bozeman Cristopher Love, Caregiver, Billings D’Shane Barnett, public health advocate, Missoula Darci Thorsrud, RN, Missoula Darin Bell, MD, Missoula Dave Tessier, MD, Missoula David Daniels, Caregiver, Anaconda David Schuldberg, Ph.D., Missoula 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. Dawn E Doyle, Caregiver, Billings Deb Agnew, MD, Billings Delphine Camarillo, Caregiver, Billings Denise Macoy, Caregiver, Butte Destin Nettles, Caregiver, Butte Devon Hines, Caregiver, Butte Dezaray Stebbins, Caregiver, Butte Donna Beall, PharmD FCCP CPP, Missoula Douglas R Allington, PharmD, Missoula Douglas Webber, MD, Missoula Drew Stebbins, Caregiver, Butte Dru Decelles, Caregiver, Billings Emily Colomeda, public health expert, Lake County Emily Coyle, health consultant, Missoula Emma Wright, MD, Missoula Eric Fox, MD, Missoula Franklin Clark, Caregiver, Butte George Risi, MD MSc Fellow IDSA, Missoula Gerry Knight, Caregiver, Black Eagle Greg Oliver, RN, Missoula Hayley Blackburn, Pharm.D. BCACP BC-ADM, Missoula Heather Jensen, Caregiver, Butte Jacquie Helt, public health advocate, Missoula Jake Jensen, Caregiver, Butte Jamie Harding, FNP-BC, Missoula Jessica Cozzens, MD, Billings Janice Givler, MD, Missoula Jami Lynch, RN, Ronan Jessica Scheer, Nurse Practitioner, Billings Katie Jones, MD, Billings Katie Vance, Caregiver, Butte Kendra Knezovich, Caregiver, Butte Kendra Procacci, Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Missoula Kerry Haney, PharmD, Missoula Kristi Stacy, Caregiver, Frenchtown Laurie Glover, APRN FNP-BC Leslie Hunt, Caregiver, Butte Linda Riley, Caregiver, Butte Lindsay Richards, MD, Missoula Lisa Jensen, Caregiver, Butte Lisa Venuti, PharmD, Missoula Lois Schuett, Caregiver, Butte Lora Wier, public health advocate and former public health nurse, Choteau Lori Swartz, Caregiver, Missoula Lynn Holman, Caregiver, Troy Margaret A Cronin, MD, Missoula Margaret Eddy, MD, Missoula Mark Miles, MD, Great Falls Maria Titus, Caregiver, Missoula Michelle Ramirez, Caregiver, Butte Nancy Fitch, MD, Missoula 85. Ned Vasquez, MD, Missoula 86. Neva Oliver, FNP, Missoula 87. Nicole Farren, Caregiver, Butte 88. Patricia Carrick, FNP, Dillon 89. Rainie Setter, Caregiver, Butte 90. Rebecca Knight, Caregiver, Great Falls 91. Rhearae Newholy, Caregiver, Busby 92. Rob Stenger, MD MPH, Missoula 93. Roni Griffith, LNP, Helena 94. Sarah Watson, MD, Missoula 95. Shan Guisinger, Ph.D, Missoula 96. Shannon Bowling, Caregiver, Butte 97. Shelly Beeler, Caregiver, Whitehall 98. Sierrah Parini, Caregiver, Butte 99. Stephanie Bennett, Caregiver, Butte 100. Tammi Boe, Caregiver, Billings 101. Tara Perkins, Caregiver, Butte 102. Teresa Shiner, RN BSN, CRRN 103. Timothy Visscher, MD, Bozeman 104. Tom Bulger, MD, Missoula 105. Tom Roberts, MD, Missoula 106. Tracia Schenberg, Caregiver, Missoula 107. Victoria Bell, Caregiver, Butte 108. William S Gallea, MD FAECP, Helena 109. Winnifred Schafer, Caregiver, Wolf Point 110. Winter Maulding, Caregiver, Butte 111. Wynter Hines, Caregiver, Butte