Web Editorial Board Endorsements

For students who are still on the edge about who to vote for, or looking to better understand each candidate’s merits, the Exponent’s editorial board convened to discuss and endorse a candidate from the Bozeman mayoral race and four-year city commission race. The editorial board interviewed each candidate before discussing and voting on their particular race. This monthly editorial column represents the consensus opinion of the Exponent editorial board and serves as the paper’s official position on pertinent topics. The Exponent editorial board recently reformed for this edition and will continue to gather to discuss important topics. Throughout the semester, issues will be brought forth at monthly meetings and discussed before a consensus is voted on at the following meeting.

The board values public input and topic suggestions, and invites readers to attend our public comment during the first 15 minutes of our monthly board meeting. Next meeting: Monday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in SUB 366.

The board currently has two open seats for MSU students. Those interested should contact Gabe Barnard, our editor-in-chief, at Exponenteditor@montana.edu.

To listen to the full recordings of the candidate interviews, visit this Box folder: https://montana.box.com/s/vlwlmbtizlgxsabsbcdwnn2a9opekzfz

Editorial Board Members:

Gabriel Barnard Editor-in-chief

Phoebe Zea Managing editor

Jaxson Bishop Sports and outdoors editor

Meghan AmRhein Culture editor

Wyatt Tidwell Ad director

Brady Bemer Opinion writer

Gallage Ariyaratne Opinion editor

Bozeman Mayor Endorsement: Terry Cunningham

Bozeman should be in for a tight race across the board on Tuesday, Nov. 2, as excellent candidates compete for multiple open city commission seats. The mayor’s race is no exception, with current commissioner Terry Cunningham and former finance department employee and long-time city advocate Brian LaMeres vying for the seat with MSU architecture student Chris Brizzolara. The elected candidate will serve as deputy mayor for two years before stepping into the mayor position.

Brizzolara hints at a fresh approach for the city commission, advocating for the city to buy land for affordable housing developments in line with a series of proposals he developed through his experience in architecture. A student himself, Brizzolara aims to confront housing and water crises and bolster employment opportunities through the lens of a young Bozemanite.

When it comes to city finances, LaMeres cashes in on more than two decades of experience working in Bozeman’s finance department and on city boards. This gives him a keen eye for responsible fiscal decisions and a mindset oriented toward allocating appropriate funding within the city’s existing budget to address local issues without increasing taxes. He has an ecstatic energy for prioritizing the needs of the public over personal politics in city hall.

Ultimately, the strong alignment of Cunningham’s commission track record with student priorities such as housing, diversity and sustainability earned him the vote of the editorial board. During his current commission tenure, Cunningham has worked with fellow commissioners and local organizations to develop Bozeman’s comprehensive Climate Plan, Community Housing Action Plan and Inclusive City Plan. His agenda targets a 5-7% rental vacancy rate to incentivize competition for students renting housing in Bozeman, and he has a demonstrated record of working to raise wages in Bozeman, a crucial step in making living expenses surmountable for students. We see this record as a strong indicator that students will be pleased with results provided by Cunningham in the mayor position.

Bozeman Four-Year City Commission Endorsements:

I-Ho Pomeroy

On November 2, Bozeman has an important decision to make. With housing becoming more expensive and the effects of climate change beginning to impact the city directly, the choice for city commission has never been more crucial. Vying for the two open seats are Chris Coburn, who was appointed earlier this year to fill an open seat, I-Ho Pomeroy, running for a third term on the commission, and Emily Talago, looking to win her first term as a city commissioner. The two winning candidates will serve four years on the Bozeman City Commission.

As Bozeman and the rest of Montana emerge from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Coburn offers strong insight with his experience on the Gallatin County Board of Health and working within the Bozeman healthcare system. Coburn also seeks to address the affordable housing crisis in Bozeman by encouraging density within new and existing neighborhoods to ensure that more quality affordable houses can be built.

Talago, running in tandem with Evan Rainey who is seeking the two year seat, looks to overhaul the city zoning codes into a more simple and workable version to help lower the costs of housing in Bozeman. She also seeks to ensure that the money Bozeman receives from the Federal Government’s stimulus program is used responsibly and effectively, while also committing to not raising taxes on small businesses to assist the owners of these businesses.

As a small business owner in Bozeman for 30 years, I-Ho Pomeroy knows firsthand the issues facing both workers and employers and has a strong connection with the City. Her extensive experience and dedication to the city of Bozeman earned her the endorsement of the Exponent’s editorial board. During her time on the city commission, Bozeman has made serious progress on affordable housing and environmental policies. Her priorities include conserving Bozeman’s water sources, building affordable housing while keeping the city walkable and preserving the natural and recreational spaces in Bozeman. In discussion with the editorial board, Pomeroy also explored implementing a sales or gas tax in Bozeman as a way to gain funding through tourism. These priorities show that students can bank on new directions combined with a solid record in casting a vote for Pomeroy.

Emily Talago

Right now Bozeman is facing new and unique challenges that require a fresh perspective on the City Commission and city government. Emily Talago meets these requirements.

Talago would bring that new perspective to the composition of the City Commission. She knows firsthand the struggles of renters and the low income residents. She works with community groups that support at risk individuals and has made it known she is invested in the Bozeman community.

As a property owner, small business owner and member of the Midtown Urban Renewal Board and Interneighborhood Council, Talago knows the struggles of the younger people, working class and renters of Bozeman. As a younger individual, Talago is 34-years old, she would bring a much needed and fresh perspective to City Hall. These new perspectives will be useful as Bozeman tackles multiple crises like affordable housing and water.

Talago also is wise fiscally, making sure money is spent well and in the right way. She aims to make sure the budgeting process is transparent so Bozemanites know how their taxpayer dollars are being spent.

In regard to affordable housing. She aims to simplify the building codes of Bozeman. This would grant more freedoms to individuals and builders to construct housing for more people.

Regardless of who you plan to vote for, all MSU students and members of the Bozeman community are encouraged to make their voices heard by voting in the upcoming local election on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Bozeman Community Housing Levy

Bozeman is bursting at the seams with a rapidly growing population, a dilemma forcing MSU students to navigate an increasingly impenetrable housing market that makes it difficult to afford living and studying in Bozeman. The city is in need of a solution that establishes and protects opportunities for renting affordable housing in Bozeman, not only to steward a future here for young community members but also to make living accessible for all current community members.

We had the opportunity to hear a robust array of potential solutions to the housing crisis from the candidates competing for your vote. From the city purchasing lots for housing development to a complete overhaul of Bozeman’s development code to incentivizing the development of more rental housing, there was no shortage of directions for the city commission to take. We’re confident that students will see this issue prioritized by all of the current candidates.

The way we see it, the Community Housing Levy provides a necessary foundation for the commission to implement any — ideally many — of the ideas on the table. At an estimated cost of $33.67 per year to homeowners, the levy would raise a dedicated revenue stream of roughly $1 million annually for affordable housing measures and projects in the city. The depth and urgency of the housing crisis warrant new funding options outside of the city’s general fund, options delivered by this levy.