Hear from Bozeman's candidates for City Commission

The candidates running for the two empty City Commission seats are Trevor Nameniuk, Roger Blank, Emma Bode, Emily Talago, Eli Anselmi and Alison Sweeney. Read on to hear their responses to the Exponent’s 2025 candidate questionnaire.

Candidates were given three weeks to respond to the questionnaire and were given word counts for each response. By no means is this an exhaustive account of all of the policy positions and ideas supported by each candidate in a particular race. It is the Exponent’s hope, however, that this concise guide to candidates’ ideas in their own words can serve as a useful resource for voters to decide who they want to vote for. All photos were provided by the candidates’ respective campaigns. 

Trevor Nameniuk

Would you be able to provide a brief biography?

Nameniuk: I’m running for City Commission because I have the experience, knowledge and passion required to help lead Bozeman forward. Our community deserves a governing body that sets politics aside and delivers on priorities like housing affordability and public safety. I’m ready to listen, lead and act to make those things happen.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them?

Nameniuk: My top priorities are transparency and accountability, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. It was made apparent to me that many Bozeman residents do not feel heard to well-represented by current city leadership, so I will make it my mission to earn their trust back. With that, it’s my understanding that local government’s primary duty is to keep its residents safe. And so prioritizing the staffing of police, fire and EMS through use of the general fund and not bonds or additional taxes needs to be at the top of our list.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

Nameniuk: MSU’s respective constituents should vote for me because I’m already taking active steps in engaging with them via the coordination with individuals like Gracie C. to implement things like a student advisory board, as well as my own initiative to pilot a public polling platform through MSU that will provide transparency and accountability in decision-making.

Roger Blank

Would you be able to provide a brief biography?

Blank: I am an attorney with 27 years-experience admitted to practice in federal, state and before the U.S. Supreme Court. I’m a former prosecutor, practicing now in criminal defense combined with a civil practice representing employees in employee/employer disputes. I support conservation and serve on the board of an animal welfare charity.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them?

Blank: 

1. Fiscal responsibility of the commission and city government. The current members of the commission have been fiscally irresponsible by voting for programs and policies that have been expressly rejected by the public but favor the individual commissioners preferred special interest groups and diverting city hall resources to issues outside their jurisdiction. The public can expect an objection from me when other members of the commission propose wasteful spending and irresponsible use of tax dollars and city hall staff.

2. Currently public safety, police, fire and EMS are underfunded, understaffed and overburdened due to the irresponsible spending of tax dollars on the commissioners special interest groups. By objecting to wasteful commission spending, tax dollars can be directed to support public safety without the commission’s current default position which is to raise taxes when it seeks to spend more than is available. One of the ways this negatively impacts students is the increased tax burdens are passed on to students through higher rents for students in off-campus housing and greater costs for products and services.

3. Affordable housing achieved through free market principles and responsible development. The City Commission should be, but is not, working with MSU’s administration to adequately address MSU’s ongoing failure to provide sufficient student housing. As a result, substantial numbers of students are forced into the off-campus residential housing market thus driving up rents for the community at large and for the students and adding to the already high burden of student educational debt.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

Blank: I will confront the abdication of responsibility of the current commissioners to address the failure of the MSU administration under its prior president to sufficiently expand student housing for MSU’s substantial and growing student body population.

I will work with MSU to expand the CatTracks campus shuttle service to run on a regular schedule between campus and downtown both during the week and on weekends so that students who both work and seek entertainment options downtown do not have to drive. This will benefit the downtown business and residential community where parking is already in very short supply. It would also benefit the hard-working students, reducing their financial burden of commuting, even locally to work. This will further benefit both the greater public and students from a public safety perspective; they will not have to worry about driving or hoping for a lift after having consumed alcoholic beverages.

Emma Bode

Would you be able to provide a brief biography?

Bode: Emma Bode earned bachelor's and master's degrees from MSU in environmental science. She worked for Forward Montana after graduating and is currently a data analyst. In her first year on the city commission she has championed affordable housing and sustainability, protecting tenants’ rights and accessible local government.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them?

Bode:

1. Affordable housing and smart growth: We can meet Montana's housing and commerce needs while protecting what makes this valley special, but it requires building smart. I advocate for well-planned urban development that creates a diversity of housing for a diversity of people at every stage of life and income level.

2. Right to commute: Bozeman is car centric, but many Bozemanites are too young, physically unable or cannot afford to drive. Multimodal transportation is about connectivity — ensuring that all Bozemanites can access the great things this community has to offer. It reduces traffic and carbon emissions, and supports affordable housing goals. I will champion current efforts to close gaps in our pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. In my current role on the Urban Transportation District Board, I will push to expand bus route coverage and increase frequency to 30 minute service on all routes and 15 minute service in major thoroughfares, while keeping it free for all users.

3. Public safety: We need to invest in a system where when someone calls 911, they get the help they need. The team responding should have the skills best suited for their situation — whether that be the police, firefighters and EMS or behavioral health experts. Public safety is also about feeling welcomed and accepted in our community no matter our differences. I will advocate for the full implementation of our Belonging in Bozeman Plan and see this as intimately tied to residents’ sense of safety.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

Bode: I am a recent MSU graduate and I taught a class at MSU for a semester after graduating. I know both how important it is to foster a relationship between MSU and the city and the unique challenges students, teachers and researchers face because I’ve personally faced those challenges myself.

MSU is an incredible resource for our community, and I am committed to relying on input from experts in their fields, many of whom live in this community, to make data-informed decisions about our town’s growth and change.

I will champion creating an ex-officio, non-voting seat for MSU students on each of our advisory boards, mentoring young leaders and exploring means to gather statistically representative surveys of resident opinions on cross cutting issues so that the needs and values of students and faculty are represented in city decisions.

Emily Talago

Would you be able to provide a brief biography?

Talago: I’m a scientist-turned-strategist who’s called Bozeman home for over 15 years. I now work in horticulture, connecting people with the landscapes they love. My background blends research, management and community leadership — skills I bring to thoughtful, pragmatic decision-making and a deep commitment to Bozeman’s future.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them?

Talago: My first priority is rebuilding trust in local government. That means restoring integrity and respect for the vocation of civic duty — showing up prepared, listening with intent and open mind and earning public confidence through transparency and follow-through.

Second, we need to put community back in community development. Growth should strengthen, not divide, the people who live and work here. That requires meaningful public engagement, respect for neighborhood stability and policies that reflect shared values rather than one-size-fits-all mandates.

Finally, we need to get the basics right. Roads, water, infrastructure and safety are core responsibilities, and we should approach them with common sense, prioritizing what works, avoiding waste and making data-driven decisions that balance fiscal reality with long-term vision. I’m not interested in political theater or ideology. My focus is on pragmatic, results-oriented leadership that makes Bozeman work better for everyone.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

Talago: I understand MSU’s role in Bozeman — not just as an employer and educator, but as a partner in shaping our community’s future. I’ve been part of that campus myself, both as a student and a research lab manager, so I know what it means to work hard here and build a life here.

If elected, I’ll bring that same work ethic to city government: practical, data- informed and focused on results. Students, faculty and staff deserve a city that listens and plans responsibly — one where growth doesn’t come at the expense of livability, safety or opportunity. I’ll always value collaboration over conflict and decisions grounded in reality, not rhetoric.

Eli Anselmi

Would you be able to provide a brief biography?

Anselmi: I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, immigrated to the U.S. in 1983 and made Bozeman my home in 1987. For nearly four decades, my wife and I raised our family here, built lifelong friendships and embraced the natural beauty and strong community that make this valley special. I’m proud of my growing family of three sons, two stepchildren and two grandchildren.

Professionally, I spent 28 years in management and director-level roles in the complex rehab and IT industries, leading national sales teams, international distribution networks and engineering groups in product design and testing. These experiences strengthened my belief in accountability, teamwork and practical problem-solving — values I will bring to public service.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, exploring the outdoors, traveling, reading and joining friends on motorcycle rides around the valley.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them?

Anselmi:

1. Strengthen public safety and support law enforcement: Bozeman’s rapid growth has stretched public safety resources. I will ensure our police, fire and emergency services have the funding, staffing, training and tools needed to keep our neighborhoods safe. Responsible investment in safety infrastructure, while protecting the rights of both residents and officers, is essential. A secure community is the foundation for economic stability and quality of life.

2. Restore fiscal responsibility and accountability: Bozeman taxpayers deserve transparency and discipline in city spending. I will push for an independent review of budgets to identify waste, eliminate redundancy and refocus on essential services. City Hall must live within its means, just like local families and businesses. Every dollar should serve residents, not political interests or activist agendas.

3. Manage growth with balance and respect for property rights: Uncontrolled expansion has strained Bozeman’s infrastructure, housing and traffic systems. I will promote balanced, responsible growth that aligns with community character and respects private property rights. Development should be supported by realistic infrastructure planning and local decision-making, not government overreach.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

Anselmi: MSU is one of Bozeman’s greatest assets, and I believe the city and MSU should work together to ensure both thrive. As City Commissioner, I’ll prioritize public safety, fiscal responsibility and balanced growth so students and faculty can live, work and study in a safe, affordable community. I’ll support law enforcement and infrastructure improvements that protect neighborhoods while keeping taxes and city spending under control. I’ll also ensure MSU voices are heard. Too often, city decisions ignore the perspectives of those who contribute so much to our local economy and culture. My goal is simple: a Bozeman where opportunity, education and quality of life are accessible to everyone, without overreach or unnecessary bureaucracy.

A vote for me is a vote for common sense, accountability and a city government that listens — to residents, students and faculty alike.

Alison Sweeney

Would you be able to provide a brief biography?

Sweeney: I’m a lifelong Bozeman resident, a jeweler, hunter, gardener, beekeeper and traveler.

As a founding member of the Better Bozeman Coalition I’ve dug into our municipal code, housing policy and creative financing tools. I’ve been honored to represent my neighborhood on the Inter-Neighborhood Council for two years.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to

address them?

Sweeney: My top priority is to elevate the voice of residents in public policy-making by strengthening the neighborhoods program and making sure the advisory boards have real power. We need a standard method for communicating advisory board recommendations to the commission.

Secondly, we need to improve quality of life for residents which includes fully resourcing our police and fire departments, maintaining roads and schools, while we better protect our urban forest and neighborhoods from unsympathetic and speculative development. Part of increased quality of life is housing that people who work here can afford. Our city needs to take a much more active role in building and preserving affordable housing through the use of revenue bonds to build mixed income housing that pays back the bond and doesn’t raise property taxes. We need neighborhood-created, pre-approved plans for infill housing that builds community rather than crushing it, preserves our economic diversity in core neighborhoods, and helps keep existing residents in their homes.

These priorities both support my third goal which is to manage our growth. In order to do this we need to rewrite our community plan (a.k.a. growth policy) with resident participation this time. This document guides all plans, policies and codes in our City and it is currently inadequate to protect the things that make Bozeman unique as we grow. I’m committed to rebuilding and improving our Historic Preservation Program, and working with neighborhoods to determine appropriate infill development that can be confidently approved by the planning department.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

Sweeney: Serving your community at a neighborhood level teaches you to find common sense, workable solutions for a broad range of people. You have to leave ideology out of it in order to be approachable and pragmatic. You are directly accountable to the people you see every day. I would like to serve at the municipal level with these same values; service, pragmatism and accountability. If you believe the city government should take direction from the people who live here, while respecting our history and natural environment, vote Sweeney for commission!