Missoula County Commissioner 6 year term
County Commissioners are elected at-large to represent specific districts. They set policy, approve budgets, and oversee county departments, The Board of County Commissioners functions as the executive branch of the county government. Because Missoula County is a general powers government, the commissioners can only enact ordinances or laws specifically granted to them by the state. Core ResponsibilitiesFiscal Management: Setting the annual county budget (which was approximately $131 million for FY2025), determining tax levies, and managing county funds and assets. Infrastructure: Overseeing the construction and maintenance of county roads, bridges, and public buildings. Policy & Legislation: Adopting county-wide ordinances regarding public safety, health, and land use (such as fire prevention and waste disposal). Administrative Oversight: Appointing members to various county boards (e.g., planning, health, and fair boards) and hiring department heads for non-elected positions. Public Safety & Services: Managing the Missoula County Detention Facility and coordinating with the Sheriff’s Office and Justice Courts to ensure public safety.Key Skills & QualificationsWhile there are no formal education requirements to run for office beyond being a qualified elector in the district, the role typically requires:Leadership & Crisis Management: Navigating public health crises, natural disasters, or community-wide economic shifts. Financial Literacy: Understanding complex government accounting and budgeting. Public Engagement: Holding regular open meetings and responding to constituent concerns. Term of OfficeMissoula County Commissioners serve staggered six-year terms. Elections are held every two years for one of the three seats to ensure continuity within the board. Annual salary 2026: $105,726.40
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Juanita Vero
(Dem)
What challenges do you foresee in your coming term, and how will you address them? Please include any new ideas or innovations.
How can the County taxpayer dollars be used to make your department or area of responsibility more effective and efficient?
Please describe successes of your current term. What role did you play in these achievements?
Campaign Phone
4063605821
Challenges include: meeting the climate crisis; needed road, sewer and water projects; repairing rural bridges; providing affordable housing and childcare; addressing mental and behavioral health; and ensuring wildfire preparedness.
As commissioners, we preside over an engaged citizenry who demand nothing less.
We've made great progress but many residents still struggle. Too many people feel the squeeze of rising costs. Efforts are in progress that I want to complete. Specifically: Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Seeley Lake sewer, county wide land use planning, and bridge re-openings.
Trust is paramount to success. It is the most important component of any endeavor or relationship. Creating space where people trust is my jam!
James Kouzes and Barry Posner have said "Leadership is the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations." Effective leadership is efficient and productive. With around 800 employees across 30 different departments, Missoula County is blessed to have some of the best and brightest in the nation choose this community to be where they commit their experience and expertise to advance public service. It is essential that this county remains an attractive place to live, work, play, raise a family and age in place. Taxpayer dollars are creatively used to provide quality public services, leveraged to save money, while protecting and enhancing the well-being of Missoula County's people, resources and environment.
Even with a pandemic, we thrived. We were awarded a $13 million grant for community infrastructure supporting 6,000 units of housing. We revitalized our Fairgrounds and Fair. Our public library won an international award. We built the largest roof top solar array in MT to reduce energy costs. We partnered with others and opened Marshall Mountain Regional Park. We helped create a successful Temporary Safe Outdoor Space to address homelessness (the first in MT). Trinity and Villagio housing were built to advance affordability goals. We completed the first county zoning code update in almost 50 years and protected riparian areas, wildlife connectivity and agricultural soils. My role was helping create a culture and atmosphere of "can-do".
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