Montana voters recently elected Taylor Brown, nephew of Niel Brown of Lampasas and cousin of Charlie Brown of Lampasas, to represent State Senate District 22.

Brown, a Republican, defeated Democrat Lane L. Larson 55 percent to 45 percent. Brown garnered 4990 of 9112 votes.

He will serve a four-year term and will be eligible for re-election in 2012.

Senate District 22 stretches from the southeastern edge of Billings to just south of Miles City in southeastern Montana.

Brown owns the agricultural media company Northern Broadcasting System, which produces daily radio programs for more than 70 radio stations in four states and broadcasts two daily agricultural programs seen on nine Montana and Wyoming television stations.

He decided to run for the state office in order to foster long-term economic growth.

"We have seen some pretty good economic times in the past couple of years," Brown said in an e-mail, "but I am concerned that we are in real danger of squandering a historic opportunity to lower taxes, shrink government and develop a pro-business, pro-jobs economy."

Brown also said he will defend property rights and support agricultural research and ag education both in Montana high schools and in the state's university system.

Montana's legislative session will begin Jan. 5, and will last no more than 90 working days. The Senate will meet again in 2011.

Brown and his family operate a ranch in Montana that the senatorelect's grandfather, William James Brown, established after leaving Lampasas in 1917 to work as a cowboy.