Strohmaier Outlines Priorities for County Commissioner

MISSOULA - For those of you who don't know me, I am Dave Strohmaier and I'm running to be your next Missoula County commissioner. I'm a Democrat and father of two school-age kids. My wife is on the staff of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church.

I'm running because I firmly believe that it's our duty to give back to our communities through public service. To serve well, it's essential to remain accessible and accountable to the public.

Priorities for the next six years include:

1. Leadership. From working as a wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, to serving as a supervisor, project manager and business partner in the private sector, I know what it takes to set a vision and get a job done. Government should be about doing what we can't do individually and figuring out ways to get to 'yes' rather than simply saying 'no.' This compels mutual respect and balancing competing interests.

2. Land Stewardship and Conservation. As a lifelong hunter, fisherman and conservationist, I know the importance of wildlife, wild places, healthy habitat, public lands, pure water, clean air and food security. We can and must be good stewards of Missoula County for current and future generations. This is an ethic that I held while chairing the City of Missoula's Parks and Conservation Committee as an alderman, and it will be my goal as commissioner.

3. Planning and Economic Development. Whether you live in Seeley Lake, Lolo, Frenchtown or the heart of Missoula, we all live in Missoula County and we must bridge the urban-rural divide that too often dominates land-use, economic development and political rhetoric. I'm a strong believer in the value of neighborhood plans and the connection between good planning and economic prosperity.

4. Public Safety and Health. We must support a safe and healthy community. As Missoula councilmember I served as the chair of the Public Safety and Health Committee, during which time I sponsored initiatives to crack down on DUI and distracted driving, reduce speed limits in residential neighborhoods and provide our emergency responders with the resources they need to protect our community. As commissioner, I will work to improve mental health and addiction services in Missoula County.

5. Social Justice. Several important roles of elected officials are to look out for the most vulnerable in our community, promote the common good and stand up for all of us, not a select few. This involves fighting against discrimination of all kinds. As a historian I know the long and shameful history of Indian policy in this state and nation and as a Missoula County Commissioner I'll work hard to foster government-to-government relations between the tribes and the county.

These goals all contribute to being a good steward of all that we've inherited, caring for our neighbors, and leaving this place better than we found it. It would be an honor to serve Missoula County as your next commissioner. I hope I can earn your vote. Please learn more about our campaign at StrohmaierForCommissioner.com.