Is a young GOP legislator from Billings, who has gained national notoriety for his work on provacy legislation, seriously considering a run for the US House?
Zolnikov confirmed to me that he was just joking about a run; however, I did receive a copy of the below letter to the editor from Kyle Schmauch that a whole host of young Montanans have signed on to:
Real Political Leadership
In the midst of partisan vitriol in today’s politics, one Montana legislator stands out from the rest. Forbes listed Representative Daniel Zolnikov (R-Billings) as one of its “30 Under 30” this week. The 32 of us who have signed this letter are also all under the age of 30, and come from all corners of Montana. We want to congratulate Rep. Zolnikov, and thank him for his work to protect our privacy rights.
Zolnikov, 26, achieved the Forbes honor by pioneering legislation last session to protect our civil liberties. He argued that government officials should have to obtain warrants to conduct searches of cell phone data even before Edward Snowden blew the whistle on massive, unconstitutional (according to two federal judges) NSA surveillance. Once the Snowden scandal broke, Zolnikov’s work received international praise. He has become a voice of a new generation of public officials who are committed to protecting our freedoms in the digital age.
As a young legislator, Zolnikov made Montana an example for the rest of the nation, and even other countries, to follow. Laws similar to his requiring government to obtain warrants before accessing cell phone location data have now passed in numerous other states, and more privacy protections are on the way.
The current heated debate over digital privacy has broken down party lines and unified many in our generation. We are the ones who will live through a new age of groundbreaking technology and innovation. While these technologies provide exciting new opportunities, they can also create new threats to privacy and freedom if left unchecked.
Daniel Zolnikov is on the cutting edge of securing smart policies that will protect our rights for generations to come. We look forward to seeing more great work from him in the future, and again offer our gratitude and congratulations.
Kyle Schmauch, age 21, Kalispell
Mitch Staley, 24, Dillon
Missoula City Councilman Adam Hertz, 28, Missoula
SD 49 Candidate Mike Hopkins, 29, Missoula
John Perkins, 20, Helena
Colleen Hoag, 21, Helena
Gwendolyn Coon, 23, Helena
Zach Pavlicek, 21, Great Falls
Evan Rau, 21, Hardy Creek
Mark Simonton, 21, Glendive
Mahkia Clark, 21, Sweet Grass
Jordan Fitzgerald, 23, Forsyth
Christian Jackson, 21, Billings
Dan Stusek, 26, Billings
Ashlynn Anderson, 21, Billings
Spencer Sheehan, 21, Billings
Asa Hohman, 27, Missoula
Matt Haefner, 21, Missoula
Ryan Hazen, 22, Missoula
Shane St. Onge, 19, Kalispell
Brandon Simpson, 21, Kalispell
Heather Hoff, 21, Kalispell
Sean Fleenor, 20, Eureka
Ryan Watson, 22, Missoula
Brittni Hertz, 27, Missoula
Nick McKinney, 20, Missoula
Travis Suzuki, 24, Missoula
Kendall Cotton, 20, Florence
Erin Toole, 23, Florence
Caleb Hinkle, 21, Bozeman
Kyndall Miller, 21, Laurel
Betsy Story, 19, Emigrant