Campaign Phone
4064617594
Education and Occupation
Carroll College, BA: History & International Relations, Southern Methodist University, Masters: Education - I work for an education non-profit.
Over the past five years, I’ve delivered real results for Helena while serving as a City Commissioner and I’m ready to fight for our community as Mayor. I believe that all Helenans, no matter their background, deserve a city that works for them. I will bring a collaborative and practical approach to solving Helena’s most pressing challenges. I am proud to have spearheaded efforts to stabilize city government, strengthen community partnerships, improve transparency, and modernize city operations. Though we’ve made progress, there is more work to do.
I am the third generation of my family to live in Helena and have personally seen its growth and change. As Mayor Pro Tem and Commissioner, I’ve built a track record as a pragmatic voice; I’ve focused on bringing people together to move Helena forward. In my experience as a teacher and a policy professional, I understand how policy and systems impact our daily lives. On the Commission, I’ve championed expanding recreational opportunities, investments in emergency services, and sustainability, including bringing the amendments to fund City solar projects. As your Mayor, I will bring the same commitment to building coalitions, solving problems, and having a deep understanding of the issues to make thoughtful decisions.
During and following the pandemic, our community navigated challenges in housing supply, workforce shortages, and the rising cost of living. As Mayor, my priorities will align with the concerns of our community. We want a vibrant community with safe neighborhoods where kids can play and retired neighbors can age in place, modern infrastructure that is maintained to last, and effective city services that meet the needs of all residents. I'm committed to preserving what makes Helena special while bringing a new generation of leadership to move us forward.
I've worked to be a public servant who doesn't just talk about what Helena needs, but I’ve been doing the work to make it happen. As your Mayor, I will prioritize quality City services: investing in emergency services to ensure the well-being and safety of our growing community, protecting open lands, and continuing to modernize the City’s digital infrastructure, transparency, and security. We will ensure community vitality is at the center of all decisions. We’ll achieve this through supporting responsible policies to increase affordable housing, expanding collaboration with community partners, and making it easier for local organizations and businesses to interact with the City.
Education and Occupation
Master's in special education
I am running for mayor because my quality of life was diminished when our public water was switched to lake water all because of lack of preparedness for the parts that were known to break down. I want to guide our city with policies that are future minded in basic services like smooth roads, clean water, great pay for police and firemen just to name a few. I want to bring true transparency to the commission meetings so that policy is clear. This is one example of many things going wrong in Helena, and we are capable of so much more. We can be a five star city.
I will draw from my experience as a military wife and teacher to guide the commission to create policies that work for the people of Helena rather than grow government. I've lived all over the country and travelled internationally. I've seen what works and what doesn't, and this experience is unsurpassed by any other candidate.
As a community, there are housing and transportation issues that affect quality of life. Our roads are in terrible condition, and so are the utilities under our roads. We need to continue to focus on funding and resourcing our community safety needs as crime is growing more frequent.
I am a dedicated action driven individual that wants what you want. A safe fun place that can be enjoyed. I do not merely talk about what should happen, I take action and get results.
Education and Occupation
Medical Receptionist
I'm running for this position because I care about my community. In this current political moment, there is much instability coming from the federal and state government. In this moment, the best thing a mayor can do is help safeguard our community by investing in our community. Making the average person's life more affordable is our best hope of keeping our community strong. We will achieve this by making sure there is affordable housing, and affordable transit. High monthly bills keep many of our neighbors living paycheck-to-paycheck, and that's no way to live. As mayor I will do what I can to keep Helena the best place to live in the Last Best Place
My main qualification is that I am a relatively average Helena citizen. I feel that I am keyed in to the issues that affect middle-to-lower income residents, as I am one of said residents. Between my and my wife's wages, we make about median income for this area. You can trust that I will make decisions with the average person's needs in mind.
As in many places in the US currently, housing is one of the paramount issues of the day. Rising rent prices, high property taxes, and house prices that well outside the average person's reach have made Montanans of all ages struggle with one of their most basic needs. Many people I know in my personal life feel trapped by the current market. We need to ensure that the people of Helena have quality affordable housing options.
Beyond that, Helena is a growing community. We must take steps to ensure that we are ready for more people. I suggest we expand our current Capital Transit bus system to include a regularly scheduled bus line. This will help alleviate increased traffic, and downtown parking issues.
Aside from my earlier stated positions, I'm also keen to see renewal in other areas. I'd like to make active strides to help curb our homeless population. Ideally, I'd like to see at least one other shelter built in town, as there isn't enough room as it currently stands. I'd like to get these people better access to job services, and mental health counseling. It's hard for people to reintegrate into society if they're constantly worried about surviving and dealing with severe health issues.
I'd also push for investment in things to do in town. If you're not an outdoorsy person, (or if the weather isn't permitting), it can be hard to find cheap entertainment in town, which can lead to greater delinquency. I hope to change that.
Campaign Phone
5612625209
Education and Occupation
Boston University, College of FIne Arts, BFA 1990, Artist and Art Non-Profit administrator
The easiest answer to this question is change. I truly believe I have what it takes to hold elected city officials responsible and make sure we all govern for every citizen of Helena. Staying the course is easy, making real change is hard. It's easy to say one shows up to work, its the actual work that's challenging. I'm not a politician and I have NO plans on running for higher office. I'm not in this to make friends, I'm in this because I am not afraid to challenge those around me to do what is right and not cower to any specific group because I have some agenda other than that of representing the people of Helena.
With over 30 years of experience in the arts non profit sector, I feel I am qualified to be Mayor of Helena. I have devoted my life's work to sharing the healing power of the arts with as many people as possible. I have been directly responsible for the creation, funding and implementation of numerous healing arts programs throughout the country. These programs were developed to address the mental health needs of at risk youth, victims of sexual trafficking, veterans, first responders, cancer patients and survivors and many more. I have always been seen as an artist first and administrator second, even with my record as a successful arts administrator. Being an artist gives me the unique ability to see things around me in a different way.
After participating in the recent "Speed date the Candidates" it was clear that most of the people who attended were concerned about many issues, but the ones that kept coming up were the following:
High cost of living
High property taxes
Downtown issues like parking, the unhoused, crime and the need for more businesses that will attract more people to downtown.
City infrastructure
Transportation
Education
Food insecurities
These were the issues that seemed to come up the most and I agree that they all need to be addressed as quickly as possible. While I don't claim to be an expert on any of these issues, I know how to find the people who are and build relationships and teams who can help solve these issues.
While participating in the "Speed date" event last week, what struck me the most was the distinct difference between those who currently hold public office and those of us running for the first time. Those new to politics seemed to speak more from the heart, weren't afraid to discuss the current state of our city in real terms, and spoke of service to our community. Speaking for myself, I am not a politician and don't think that's a bad thing. I know I have the qualifications to be Mayor, I might not be as informed about some of the issues and inner workings of the city government, I speak from my heart, which sometimes can come across as not being as prepared as others, but I am not afraid to "ruffle a few feathers" to make change.
Campaign Phone
4062494546
Education and Occupation
Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Montana. Executive Director of the Montana Building Industry Association & City Commissioner
Other social media
Nextdoor
I believe in our community and know we can build a stronger Helena together. I’m a lifelong Montanan who has made Helena home. It’s where I met my wife, started a family, and have the honor of serving as your City Commissioner. Today, I serve as Executive Director of a statewide organization advocating for more affordable and attainable housing.
As your Commissioner, I’ve learned that public service means showing up, listening, and leading. I’ve worked to solve challenges with parking, permitting, and event planning, helped approve thousands of new homes, and invested millions in housing and infrastructure.
As mayor, my priorities remain Our People, Places, and Prosperity. Together, we can build a stronger Helena.
I am committed, experienced, and ready to deliver results. I have served on the Helena City Commission for three years, gaining firsthand knowledge of local government and community needs. I am the Executive Director of a statewide organization advocating for affordable housing. I chair the Helena Farmers’ Market board and Montana Business Assistance Connection, an economic development group supporting Helena’s businesses. I serve on advisory boards for the Cancer Support Community and two for Helena College. I’m also active with the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce and the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team, volunteering locally to strengthen our community.
Helena’s greatest challenges over the next decade will be managing growth while preserving what makes our city special. Housing affordability and availability are top priorities. As more people choose Helena, we must create attainable housing without compromising neighborhood character. Infrastructure is critical. We need to invest in roads, sidewalks, water systems, and other essential services to support growth and quality of life. Public safety is key, ensuring resources and personnel keep neighborhoods safe. Balancing economic development with environmental preservation and open spaces will require thoughtful planning and community collaboration. Addressing these challenges calls for leadership, partnership, and commitment to Helena.
My priorities as Helena's Mayor:
Our People: Improve city services and communication, increase efficiencies, strengthen critical infrastructure, and prioritize public safety by supporting firefighters, police, and detectives who keep Helena safe.
Our Places: Champion housing solutions, create safe, accessible, and connected neighborhoods with better roads and sidewalks, preserve our history, and protect parks, trails, and open spaces for future generations.
Our Prosperity: Encourage entrepreneurship, streamline permitting, invest in downtown, promote Helena, and work with small businesses and partners to build a strong, resilient local economy.
