ABOUT
I’m running for the same reasons I choose to live in Missoula - I love our community, and as we continue to grow and change, I’m committed to improving our city while keeping Missoula the place we all know and love.
I am so grateful to call Missoula my home. My ambition to serve comes from a place of wanting to understand how local government can help people, and to play a small role in some of the important decisions we face as a community.
Climate, open space preservation and tax reform are all interconnected and require humility, innovation and immediate action if we are to build a community for all here in Missoula. With your support, I’m committed to taking on these challenges.
I’m excited to get out in Ward 1 and talk with neighbors and constituents, am eager to get up to speed with whom I hope will be future colleagues at Council, and am busy learning as much as I can about local government. It would be an honor to serve my neighbors and community, and I look forward to talking to you soon!
I’m endorsed by Missoula Mayor Jordan Hess, City Council President Gwen Jones, Ward 1 Council Member Heidi West, Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick, Retired Mayors Dan Kemmis & Mike Kadas, the Missoula County Democrats, Montana Conservation Voters, Missoula Area Central Labor Council and many more!
ISSUES
Climate Change -
Missoula is a leader in Montana on Climate. The City of Missoula has created and adopted several innovative plans to combat the climate crisis and make our community more resilient in a changing world. The Conservation and Climate Action Plan, Zero by Fifty Waste Reduction Plan, and a recently passed Resolution calling for 100% Clean Energy by 2030 are all meaningful steps in the right direction. I support these plans and if elected, will work to ensure they are adequately funded and resourced so they can be implemented.
Tax Reform -
Our tax system ought to match our economy. There was a time where it did, several decades ago. Missoula was in a much different place then, we had several large industrial employers that carried 60% of the property tax burden, with the remaining 40% falling on the backs of residents. Home values were significantly lower then, even by national standards, and Montana had a small (but growing) tourist economy. Fast forward to today and those big industrial employers no longer exist, and our local economy depends more heavily on tourism (3.5 million visitors in 2022 alone!) and the tax burden has shifted from industry to residents. Our property tax system is not sustainable and is in desperate need of reform. If elected, I will push for necessary changes to make our tax system function for all Missoulians again.
Open Space Preservation -
We can't create more land. And as Missoula grows and expands, it's critical that we protect and preserve the open spaces we have. Open space provides so much for our community - places to be in and learn from nature, recreation opportunity, wildlife habitat, preservation of our viewshed and so much more. Conservation of and access to these spaces is why so many of us choose to live in Missoula, it's what sets us apart from so many other western towns. It's important to me that we do our best to preserve the few remaining open lands for the benefit of future generations, and I will work to make sure these places are accessible for everyone to enjoy.
ENDORSEMENTS
Jordan Hess, Missoula Mayor
Gwen Jones, City Council President
Heidi West, Ward 1 City Council
Josh Slotnick, Missoula County Commissioner
Dave Strohmaier, Missoula County Commissioner
Mike Kadas, Missoula Mayor, Retired
Daniel Kemmis, Missoula Mayor, Retired
Elaine Shea, Former Ward 1 City Councilor
Missoula Area Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO)
Montana Conservation Voters
Missoula County Democrats
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana
Eva Rocke
Sarah Cobbler
Bobby Grillo
Tim Bechtold
Matt Leow
Phil Gardner
Aaron Derry
Jill Johnson
Trent Baker
Karen Knudsen
Joellen Shannon
Julie Gardner
Dave Harmon
Kathy Reid
Shawn Robertson
Lorrie McKinny
Chris O'Brien
Anita Melson
Peter Lambros
Dylan Johnson
David Weinstein
Jack Reid
Shawn Skinner
Kimberly Baker
Lars Martinson
Kinsey Vetter
Kierstin Godson
James McKinny
Jason Kiely
Kylie Paul
CONTRIBUTE
I would love to earn your support. If you would like to donate to my campaign, please click HERE
experience
Education
Colorado State University, CO
Bachelors of Science, Natural Resource Management, 2008
Work History
Program Director, Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation
Associate Region Director, International Mountain Bike Assoc.
Advocacy Director, International Mountain Bike Assoc.
Engagement Organizer, Outdoor Alliance
Program Manager, Resources Legacy Fund
Campaign Consultant / Lobbyist, Tenacious Campaigns
Consultant, Partnership for The National Trails System
Outdoor Project Director, Public Land Solutions
Volunteer Experience
Founding Board Member, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance
Former Vice President, MTB Missoula
Board Member, KFGM Missoula Community Radio
Volunteer DJ, KFGM Missoula Community Radio
Volunteer, Soft Landings Missoula
Interests
I enjoy traveling across the American West with my wife Eva and our 16yr old black lab Pogi, hiking, biking, fishing, floating and camping. Outdoor recreation connects me to our public lands through meaningful experiences. When I'm not enjoying the outdoors, I spend my time with friends and family around home-cooked meals, tinkering in my garage, DJ'ing for KFGM Missoula Community Radio and cheering on Brighton & Hove Albion FC.