Derek Skees

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Derek Skees

|image =

|office = Member of the Montana House of Representatives

|constituency = 11th District

|term_start = January 2, 2017

|term_end = January 2023

|predecessor = Albert Olszewski

|successor = Tanner Smith

|constituency1 = 4th District

|term_start1 = January 3, 2011

|term_end1 = January 7, 2013

|predecessor1 = Mike Jopek

|successor1 = Ed Lieser

|party = Republican

|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1968}}

|birth_place = Orlando, Florida, U.S.

|alma_mater = University of Central Florida

|occupation = Construction consultant

|spouse = Ronalee Skees

|children = 3

|residence = Kalispell, Montana

}}

Derek Skees (born 1968) is an American politician serving as a Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 11th district.{{cite web |title=Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2021 |url=https://leg.mt.gov/session/copper-book/ |website=Montana State Legislature |publisher=Montana Legislative Services Division |access-date=12 November 2021 |page=58}}{{Cite web|url=https://leg.mt.gov/legislator-information/roster/individual/5069|title = - Montana State Legislature}} Skees chairs the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2021/apr/29/rep-skees-announces-2nd-run-public-service-commiss/|title = Rep. Skees announces 2nd run for Public Service Commission|date = 29 April 2021}}

Career

In November 2011, Skees won the election and became a Republican member of Montana House of Representatives for District 4.

In 2013, Skees ran for Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor in 2012, but lost to incumbent Monica Lindeen.{{cite web|last=Banks|first=Marnee|title=Whitefish's Derek Skees joins State Auditor race|url=http://www.kaj18.com/news/whitefish-s-derek-skees-joins-state-auditor-race/|publisher=KXLH|access-date=24 September 2011|date=14 September 2011}}

In 2014, Skees ran for Montana's 5th Public Service Commissioner seat, but only secured 34% of the vote in the primary.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Brad_Johnson_(Montana)|title = Brad Johnson (Montana)}}

Since 2016, Skees has been a member of Montana House of Representatives for District 11.

In April 2021, Skees announced that he will seek election to Montana's Public Service Commission, the agency responsible for regulating Montana utilities. He previously sought election to the commission in 2014, though was defeated in the Republican primary election.

In 2021, Skees was the master of ceremonies for the Red Pill Festival held in St. Regis, Montana, which sought to promote anti-government conspiracy theories.{{Cite web|url=https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/hard-pill-to-swallow-red-pill-festival-prescribes-christian-conservatism-and-conspiracies/article_7eeaf6db-fafa-596c-9a85-4009e618d99b.html|title = 'Hard pill to swallow': Red Pill Festival prescribes Christian conservatism and conspiracies| date=26 July 2021 }}

In 2021 Skees, unhappy with a preliminary injunction that blocked three anti-abortion bills, said “we need to throw out Montana’s socialist rag of a constitution.”{{cite web |last1=Dietrich |first1=Eric |title=Prominent Republican says Montana should 'throw out' state Constitution |url=https://montanafreepress.org/2021/11/18/derek-skees-calls-for-replacing-montana-constitution/ |website=www.montanafreepress.org |date=19 November 2021 |publisher=Montana Free Press |access-date=30 November 2021}}

Personal life

Skees is married to Ronalee Skees; they reside in Kalispell, Montana.

References

Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives

Category:University of Central Florida alumni

Category:People from Whitefish, Montana

Category:People from Flathead County, Montana

Category:1968 births

Category:21st-century members of the Montana Legislature