A New Path Forward
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Memories From the Campaign Trail
2025 Prothonotary Campaign
2/10/2025: Montana Hartman announced their 2025 campaign for Cumberland County Prothonotary.
2/19/2025: At the first petition signing event of the season, hosted by Karen Overly Smith, Montana explains what "Prothonotary" means to the first of many, many voters who will ask.
2/21/2025: Montana collecting signatures at the Camp Hill Dem's Petitions and Pasta event.
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3/11/2025: After submitting the petitions to the election bureau, Montana had more than enough signatures to make the ballot, having gathered over 400.
3/27/25: Montana once again was pleased to have earned the endorsement of Run for Something, a progressive organization that recruits and supports young candidates of unconventional backgrounds.
Letters to the Editor
February 25, 2025: "In 1948, during a campaign stop in Pittsburg, President Harry Truman posed the question “What the hell is a Prothonotary?” I’m Montana Hartman and, on May 20th and November 5th, I’m asking for your vote to be your Prothonotary- so allow me to answer:
The role of Prothonotaries, unlike congress, isn’t legislative, it’s judicial. If elected, I couldn’t put forth bills to bring down prices, defend our rights and freedoms, or hold accountable the greed that strangles our government. But what I could do is be your county record keeper, act as a liaison between our community and its court, and ensure you the accessibility of public records and court services.
Prothonotary is Latin for “First Scribe,” and it’s fitting- The greatest honor of holding public office is being a voice for your community- but in the case of Prothonotary, it doesn’t come with a voice. The honor is in being a signature in the process of major life events, certifying name changes, divorces, custody agreements, and more. The Prothonotary also gives, not decides upon, but gives citizenship to those who’ve completed the process. In Middle and High school, I volunteered for Cumberland Valley’s ESL program, where I tutored classmates from Italy, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Jordan, France, and Brazil- and it would be such an incredible honor to now present citizenship to those from abroad who have chosen Cumberland County as their home.
Upon meeting a Prothonotary, Truman said it was “the most professional-sounding political office in the U.S.” Pennsylvania is the only state that elects prothonotaries, so this role has a unique history in our Commonwealth, and it’d be a great honor to serve as yours. I hope you’ll join this campaign for Cumberland County Prothonotary, the keeper of
our county’s records- it’s history; Our Story, Written Together." -Montana Hartman.
March 19th, 2025: “Our nation is experiencing such fascinating firsts with the returning administration! The first anti-vaccine activist to become Secretary of Health, the first person slapped by their son on national television to become Secretary of Education, and the first news entertainment host to become Secretary of Defense- now the first to leak war plans in an unsecured groupchat. With all of these rather unconventional resumés, is it really a stretch for your county record keeper to have worked retail? My name is Montana Hartman and on May 20th and Nov. 4th, I'm asking for your vote to be your Prothonotary.
My parents couldn't afford to send me to law school, but that doesn't mean I have a background untouched by the courts. For fifteen years I watched my loved ones defend my brother on the stand during a medical malpractice lawsuit. From Civil to Appellate, I spent my entire childhood witnessing the judicial system function for those in need. As for employment, I spent my time in retail doing more filing and recordkeeping than even management performed. Having worked layaway and photo lab for five years, l've managed records of thousands of transactions and hundreds of copyright releases. As Judge of Elections and a candidate, l've also shown time and time again what I am capable of when it comes to organization, serving those of all ideologies, and closely following procedures.
I have an unconventional resumé, as do many, and I believe it unwise to discredit what working-class jobs teach us, how they shape our worldview, and how they prepare us for future opportunities. If elected, my promise is to put our community and this job first- to be an efficient, personable, and dedicated Prothonotary… that won’t leak details of your divorce, custody, or name change in a groupchat with a reporter.” - Montana Hartman
2024 State Representative Campaign
9/1/2023: The Montana for Pennsylvania campaign was officially announced online.
9/14/2023: (from left to right) State House candidate Sara Agerton, Montana, and Cumberland County Commissioner Jean Foschi celebrating the birthday of madam commisioner.
9/19/2023: Our official campaign pins arrived in the mail from the Keystone Buttoneer, a union button maker based in Harrisburg.
10/11/2023: Montana for Pennsylvania was endorsed by Run for Something, a progressive organization that recruits and supports young candidates.
10/21/2023: Montana went Trick-or-Treating with his biggest little-fans; while they got candy, Montana got raffle prizes from local businesses for the Montana for Pennsylvania Campaign Kickoff Concert.
10/25/2023: Montana went to the Carlisle Halloween Parade with one of his biggest fans to pass out fliers, buttons, and candy.
11/18/2023: (from left to right, top to bottom) Performers at the Montana for Pennsylvania Campaign Kickoff Concert line up for a photo by Liz Brown of Brownhaven Photography: V!SN, Montana, Lani L<3ve, Autumn Sky Hall, Noa Carter, Local News Legend, Taylor Lagyak, and Mary Firestone.
11/29/2023: Montana had the opportunity to sit down with the Dickinson College Democrats to discuss the campaign and enjoy conversations about the local political issues and climate.
12/24/2023: Montana played the electric violin out on The Square in Carlisle on Christmas Eve to bring attention to the campaign while volunteers hand out cookies and cups of hot chocolate to spread hope for the future of the community.
2/9/2024: (from left to right) Shamaine Daniels and her daughter, Montana for Pennsylvania campaign manager Sara Scheffler, and Montana enjoy pizza from Nonna Ilva during Montana's A Day with the Candidates.
2/10/2024: Montana performed and opened for local musicians at 90's Night at The Bunkhouse Vintage & More.
2/28/2024: Montana and Sara went to Wednesday's with Walt Open Mic at Back Porch Brewing Inc., where Montana performed and promoted the campaign.
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3/8/2024: Montana for Pennsylvania was honored to receive the endorsement of Planned Parenthood PA.
3/13/2024: Montana performed at Farmers on the Square to hand out fliers and support the local businesses.
3/29/2024: Montana helps Greyson tune his violin so that he can perform at Open Mind, Open Mic.
4/4/2024: Montana for Pennsylvania received the endorsement of the newly-formed South Central Young Democrats of Pennsylvania.
4/23/2024: Montana was unfortunately unsuccessful in securing the Democratic nomination for the 199th District, and the Montana for Pennsylvania 2024 campaign for the State House of Representatives had come to an end- but this is just the beginning of A New Path Forward.
Letters to the Editor
March 19th, 2024: "As a millennial who has lived through many, many, many “once in a lifetime” events - from 9/11, to the economy completely crashing the moment I entered adulthood, being blamed for the collapse of industries, not knowing a time without a war and the U.S. bombing someone, and seeing the effects of climate change every single year – I. Am. Tired.
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I am tired of the same old people in office, of getting blamed for collapsing industries, tired of continuous hate from older generations because when they were our age they could afford a house, car and to eat on one income when people in my generation can barely afford anything with multiple incomes. I am tired of the same geriatric people in office doing the same things over again. I am tired of younger people getting discounted for being young and inexperienced when older people in office seemingly don’t know what they are doing either, for this world has not gotten better but infinitely worse.
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I am ready to usher in a new generation, without the hatred between generations like we millennials received when we were barely out of high school. Gen Z is the future. Montana is 23 years old and has bright visions for the future – as bright as can be considering Gen Z is inheriting a worse world than even I experienced when coming into adulthood. We don’t need to continue to usher in the same politicians over and over again. It’s time for someone new. It’s time for us to uplift the younger generation so that true change can happen. Montana is part of that change, and I implore you to vote for them in April." -Sara Scheffler