Campaign Phone
(406)217-0750
My job as a City Council member is to make policy according to the mandates of the citizens of my Ward.
An excellent Council member will know the opinions of the citizens by regularly asking them for their opinions.
An excellent Council member will make every effort to communicate with the other 11 council members, to collaborate with them, and to strike a compromise with them when necessary. An excellent council member serves the community best when the council member persuades rather than blames, builds up rather than demonizes, uses facts rather than ideological talking points, seeks unity rather than division, and always works towards actual solutions that serve the community. Local government is no place for political posturing.
In survey after survey, Missoulians say that affordability is their number one concern. Home prices are out of reach for many people, rents are too high for many people, forcing some of them into homelessness. And our tax structure places an unfair burden on residential property taxpayers (and renters).
Missoula has a long term affordable housing shortage. Other cities have mitigated this problem by building enough affordable housing to bring the market into balance. Other cities have created funds for building affordable housing that the private (for profit) market cannot or will not build, and these cities have built housing according to need, regardless of interest rates, the economy, or the business cycle. Missoula should do the same.
Please see my response to the previous question.
Like it or not, we are living in a time of uncertainty, especially with regard to grants and other funding from the State and Federal governments. Missoula would do well to ensure the financial independence of our City by creating a permanent, self-supporting revolving fund that we could use to pay for things like housing, child care, transportation, climate resiliency, homeless services, and whatever else the citizens of Missoula mandate. Other jurisdictions have created such funds. Missoula should do the same.
Please see my responses to the above questions.
The City's budget is relatively lean. Any major changes to the budget would be controversial, and likely would not improve our quality of life. Missoula's greatest need, then, is to find alternate sources of revenue. Ideally, these alternate funding sources would not involve any new permanent taxes.
Other jurisdictions have created alternate revenue sources. Missoula should do the same.
Campaign Phone
4062409070
A City Council member’s job is to represent their constituents, listening closely to community concerns and turning them into action, whether that means proposing ordinances, advocating for infrastructure like sidewalks, or collaborating with city departments to find solutions. The most important qualities are strong listening skills, integrity, accountability, and the ability to follow through. Councilors must be approachable, prepared, and willing to learn, while working respectfully with colleagues and staff. I believe no special professional background is required to serve well; what matters is ensuring the Council reflects the diversity of Missoula so every resident sees themselves represented and knows their voice is valued.
Residents of Ward 6 consistently raise three main concerns: infrastructure, property taxes, and housing affordability. Many streets still lack sidewalks, safe crossings, and traffic calming, which can be addressed locally by prioritizing investments in these basics. Property taxes remain a major burden, so I will push for budgets that reflect community needs, reduce unnecessary spending, and support measures like lowering sidewalk assessments. On housing, while state policy sets limits, the city can do more by requiring affordability in projects using city land or MRA funding, bolstering the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and supporting zoning reforms to expand options.
Ward 6 is deeply affected by rising home values, inflation, and the increasing cost of everyday essentials. Even with some property tax relief, many families, renters, and seniors feel squeezed. As your Councilor, I believe we must prioritize spending on the services and infrastructure that directly improve people’s lives, such as safer streets, sidewalks, and accessible housing. I will continue pushing for greater transparency and accountability in how we allocate funds, support tax relief measures like lowering sidewalk assessments, and advocate for policies that ensure affordable housing is included in projects built on city-owned or MRA-funded land. My focus is on easing the burden while building a more livable, affordable Missoula.
Missoula’s budget maintains the status quo, with most tax revenue going to cover staff wages and departmental increases, some salaries exceeding $170,000, while urgent community needs like sidewalks, lighting, and affordable housing remain underfunded. We must use priority-based budgeting with program effectiveness measures so tax dollars support what truly works and aligns with residents’ priorities. This means auditing programs citywide, funding contiguous sidewalks and traffic calming in wards with the least infrastructure, ensuring affordable housing in city- or MRA-funded projects, and setting fair staff pay, no more than $115,000 at the top, with a livable $25/hour starting wage. This approach directs dollars that improve daily life.
