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Born in Denver, I moved to Helena at five, as my family is from Montana. I will be 53 on election day. My family’s roots in the Bell system shaped my understanding of regulated services and their impact on captive rate payers. I was CEO of a local internet company and have worked in phone, fiber, train, and tech services. Now, I own a company supporting hundreds of Montana businesses with their IT needs. Driven by curiosity, I analyze and optimize systems. Growing up in Helena instilled a commitment to community investment. I’ve served on boards like Queen City Ballet and Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies and founded the Happiness & Joy Foundation, directing the Montana Pride celebration for over 12 years.
Demand and costs, especially regarding proposed data centers, are critical issues. NWE’s attempts to obscure their plans through redactions and deletions are unacceptable. We need someone on the PSC to demand transparency about proposals, promises, and their impact on Montanans. Responses like “this is how it’s done” or “trust us, it’ll be fine” are not sufficient and will provoke strong opposition. The PSC is supposed to protect Montanans, yet our rates have risen the highest. NWE’s fiduciary duty should align with protecting Montanans; the PSC is not a rubber stamp. The oversight of the Laurel Gas Plant, delayed until public pressure intervened, highlights the need for new commission members.
Utilities can profit, but they shouldn’t exploit people. The wage gap at NWE since Montana Power’s failure, the surge in residential electricity costs due to deregulation, and the neglect of climate-responsible growth over 40 years show that Northwestern Energy’s executives and board have failed both shareholders and Montana’s residents. By not investing in the future, neglecting aging infrastructure, and failing to adapt, they endanger our state, homes, and lives. Denton didn’t have to burn, but it requires smarter, more caring leadership from NWE and the PSC.
Why are these data centers needed, and who benefits? They’re often built on speculation from the current “AI Goldrush,” which many see as a bubble about to burst. You can buy a Mac mini for $600 to run advanced models at home, eliminating the need for massive back-end infrastructure. Existing data centers and compute power are being upgraded with faster hardware. Constructing 500,000 sq-ft data centers depletes city water supplies, creates excessive noise, and releases heat that could end snow seasons. They don’t create lasting jobs; the AFL-CIO supports them, but builders could focus on housing, which is more needed and provides longer-term employment. Once built, data centers require minimal staff. Without good answers, approval won’t hap
I am a fourth generation Montanan and third generation U.S. Army veteran who was born at Walter Reed Army Medical Ceter in Washington DC.i will be 66 years old on Election Day 2026. My permanent residence is in Helena. I currently serve as Chief of Staff of the Office of the Montana State Auditor. I graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in Economics and Philosophy with a minor in government. I did graduate studies in Management at Willamette University.
I previously served as the Executive Director of the Montana Public Service Commission where I won the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Performance. I also have served in leadership of other state and federal regulatory agencies which qualify me to serve at the PSC.
Affordability, accountability, and accessibility for the energy industry and the PSC itself are the three most important and fundamental challenges facing the PSC today. I will also add rebuilding and restoring the reputation of the Commission is a high priory since the Commission has devolved under the current Commission into a sideshow of political infighting and personal animosities.
I will refocus the Commission on its core mission and its strategic objectives. We must have a functioning Commission to safeguard Montana’s hard-working families and economic future.
I would prioritize the economic interests of Montana utility ratepayers over the interests of the monopoly utilities and their insatiable appetite for higher rates determined by “cost plus” pricing mechanisms. I would lead the Commission to explore performance-based rate making techniques which would drive service improvements for consumers and efficiencies and innovation for utilities.
The most important factor should be fairness in terms of the economic costs driven by data centers. Residential ratepayers should not be forced to bear the burden of electricity costs generated by giant, private technology companies. I’m also concerned about the cost and availability of other resources that go into the development of these businesses.
