Joe Barnett

Joe Barnett
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 76th (1991–1995) and 32nd (1995–2001) district
In office
1991–2001
Preceded byVernon Westlake
Succeeded byJoe Balyeat
Personal details
Born(1929-08-04)August 4, 1929
Gallatin County, Montana, U.S.
DiedJanuary 5, 2025(2025-01-05) (aged 95)
Belgrade, Montana, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Janelle Stiff
​
​
(m. 1949; died 2021)​
Children3
Parents
  • Joseph William Barnett (father)
  • Francis Kelly (mother)

Joseph William Barnett Jr. (August 4, 1929 – January 5, 2025) was an American politician from the state of Montana. He served as a Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives from 1991 to 2001.[1]

Life and career

Barnett was born in the Horseshoe Hills, north of Manhattan, Montana. He was the son of Joseph William and Francis (née Kelly) Barnett, and he was orphaned by the age of eight. He was raised in Manhattan, and attended Montana State College, earning a bachelor's degree in physical education. He married Janelle Stitt in 1949, and they remained married until her death in 2021. He served in the U.S. Air Force, then was hired by Bozeman High School in 1956 as a history teacher and coach, earned a master's degree in administration from Montana State, and taught until 1984. In 1963, he and his wife purchased a beekeeping business, which would grow into his fulltime profession.[1]

In 1990, Barnett ran for the Montana House of Representatives, narrowly defeating incumbent Democrat Vernon Westlake.[2] He was re-elected with ease four times, then in 2000, he was term-limited and decided to run for a seat in the Montana Senate. He lost that election to fellow state representative Emily Swanson.[3][4] He died at his home in Belgrade, Montana, on January 5, 2025, at the age of 95.[1]

Electoral history

1990

Primary election

Montana House of Representatives, District 76, 1990 primary election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett 1,192 100
Total votes 1,192 100

General election

Montana House of Representatives, District 76, 1990 general election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett 1,933 52.2
Democratic Vernon Westlake * 1,771 47.8
Total votes 3,704 100

1992

Primary election

Montana House of Representatives, District 76, 1992 primary election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett * 1,288 100
Total votes 1,288 100

General election

Montana House of Representatives, District 76, 1992 general election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett * 3,656 73.8
Democratic Sean R. Knight 1,298 26.2
Total votes 4,954 100

1994

Primary election

Montana House of Representatives, District 32, 1994 primary election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett * 1,096 100
Total votes 1,096 100

General election

Montana House of Representatives, District 32, 1994 general election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett * 2,923 75.7
Democratic Lorene L. Blakely 939 24.3
Total votes 3,862 100

1996

Primary election

Montana House of Representatives, District 32, 1996 primary election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett * 1,358 100
Total votes 1,358 100

General election

Montana House of Representatives, District 32, 1996 general election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett * 3,889 81.6
Democratic Bob Roughton 875 18.4
Total votes 4,764 100

1998

Primary election

Montana House of Representatives, District 32, 1998 primary election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett * 749 100
Total votes 749 100

General election

Montana House of Representatives, District 32, 1998 general election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett * 3,434 100
Total votes 3,434 100

2000

Primary election

Montana Senate, District 15, 2000 primary election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Barnett 703 100
Total votes 703 100

General election

Montana Senate, District 15, 2000 general election
* denotes incumbent     Source:[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Emily Swanson 3,853 59.5
Republican Joe Barnett 2,618 40.5
Total votes 6,471 100

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Joseph William Barnett". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. January 11, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "1990 General Election Results - Legislative Candidate" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. 1990.
  3. ↑ "Candidate Profiles: SD 15". The Billings Gazette. October 21, 2000.
  4. 1 2 "2000 Legislative General Election Results" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. 2000.
  5. ↑ "1990 Primary Election Results - Legislative Candidate" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. 1990.
  6. ↑ "Report of the Official 1992 Primary Canvass" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. 1992.
  7. ↑ "1992 General Legislative Results" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. 1992.
  8. ↑ "Results in Legislative Races, Primary" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. 1994.
  9. ↑ "Results in Legislative Races, General" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. 1994.
  10. ↑ "Results in Legislative Races, Primary" (XLS). Montana Secretary of State. 1996.
  11. ↑ "Results in Legislative Races, General" (XLS). Montana Secretary of State. 1996.
  12. ↑ "Results in Legislative Races, Primary" (XLS). Montana Secretary of State. 1998.
  13. ↑ "Results in Legislative Races, General" (XLS). Montana Secretary of State. 1998.
  14. ↑ "2000 Legislative Primary Results" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. 2000.
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