2024 Candidates

Alexander is a proud Montanan who served overseas in Syria, fought wildfires, and responded to the January 6th insurrection–all in his capacity as a Montana National Guardsmen. After three years of working in the Montana Legislature as a nonpartisan staff member, he became a first-hand witness to the dysfunction of the current state of Montana politics.

The ostracization of lawmakers who did not conform to the will of the few powerful individuals at the top, attempts to pass laws that infringed on Montana citizens’ rights, and lack of action towards an increasingly urgent housing crisis convinced him to step up. He means to effect change and fight for the residents of District 68–to have affordable housing, secured water for the future, rights without government infringement, and proper representation.

I am a lifelong Montanan, born and raised in Bozeman. I graduated from Montana State University in May 2021 with Sociology and Political Science degrees. Growing up in Bozeman, the child of divorced parents who worked paycheck-to-paycheck, I learned the value of hard work. My family always showed me the value of love, family, and hope. I learned I could achieve anything if I put my mind to it.
Since high school, I have been working in restaurants to fund my way through college and now to make sure the bills are paid. My true passion is to have a meaningful positive impact on my community.

Since high school, I have been working in restaurants to fund my way through college and now to make sure the bills are paid. My true passion is to have a meaningful positive impact on my community.

When we can help each other, we are all better for it. Some days, it is hard to imagine a future beyond my generation, let alone feel like resources are available to put down roots and stay in the community I call home. This community has grown so much, even just in my lifetime. Now, we are at a point where it is hard to deny that so many people in our community are fighting to survive. Whether they are living paycheck to paycheck, losing access to affordable healthcare, being priced out of their home, or simply lacking respect- the list could go on and on. Life does not have to be this hard.

Once we unite around shared experiences and values, we can make a government an institution that provides stability for our communities. That hope is why I have stayed engaged and am now running for the legislature.

I am tired of watching legislators make laws without listening and interacting with the public. Montana has a relatively transparent and accessible legislative process that was designed to allow the public to engage. But legislators still need to listen to the public. Simply being a voter, following what’s happening, and trying to activate my network is not enough anymore. I am running for the state legislature to be a lawmaker who votes with integrity to promote community and sustainability.

Becky is a 26-year resident of Bozeman, working mom of three daughters, local small-business owner, and an executive director of a national conservation organization. Vital voices are largely missing from the state legislature–her family struggles with affordability issues and she worries her teenage daughters won’t have access to quality public education or safe healthcare. Edwards made a career of protecting our cherished public lands and climate.

Becky’s Values:

• Women’s & LGBTQI+ Rights
• Conservation & Climate
• Education
• Affordability

Brian Close moved to Bozeman in 1994, where he created an independent law office specializing in estate planning and tax law. Over the last 30 years, he has served as Chairman of Galavan, chaired the city task force on transit, pushed through Bozeman’s Smokefree Ordinance, co-wrote the Bozeman City Charter, which includes ethics reform, and chaired the Recreation board that proposed and passed the creation of Bozeman’s park district. A staunch opponent of censorship and advocate for public libraries, Brian served as a Lawyer for Libraries, pro bono, and is a recipient of a special award Intellectual Freedom award made by the Montana Library Association.

In his own words, Brian says on his candidacy, “I am running for the statehouse office after hearing the concerns of my fellow citizens about decisions made at the recent session of the Montana State Legislature. Seniors, in particular, are being devastated by the irresponsible property tax hike pushed through by Republicans in the last legislative session. As a tax attorney and experienced policymaker, I have the skill to fix that.

The state constitution, medical privacy rights, libraries, the LGBTQ+ community, professional credentials, and the Montana Supreme Court are all under attack by Republicans. Meanwhile, our antiquated tax system, state hospital at Warm Springs, mental health infrastructure, and Medicaid wither on the vine dying from lack of attention. We need less culture war and more good government.

As we campaign across the district, I look forward to hearing from the voters and better understanding their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Government should serve the people. If elected, I will devote my legal expertise and policy-making experience to protect taxpayers, and improve how our government works for all Montanans, especially the most vulnerable among us.”

I’m Carl and I’m proud to be running for Montana House District 67 to represent Belgrade in the state legislature.

I was born and raised in a small  Eastern Montana town—for many folks,  just a gas station stop called Forsyth, on the way to North Dakota or the distant mountains of Western Montana.

My dad was a family physician for forty years. Often throughout that time, he was the only doctor in Rosebud County—a vast area encompassing Montana’s fifth-largest county. My mother was an X-ray and laboratory technician working at the Forsyth Hospital where she and dad met. I have 3 brothers; my eldest brother has served in the Coast Guard for 25 years, my elder brother has been a union pipefitter for 20 years, and my younger brother served in the army for four years with two tours in Iraq earning him a Purple Heart.

Through their hard work raising our family and bringing healthcare to one of Montana’s most remote and underserved places, my parents set an example of service—giving to one’s friends, neighbors, and community without expecting anything back. It is out of that legacy of service that I decided to run for the Legislature to represent Montana HD 67.

I’ve called the Gallatin home for 13 years. It’s here that I’ve chosen to build a life with my partner Coleen and our daughter, Krystal, both proud members of the Blackfeet Nation.

We’ve watched with dismay as social media and poisonous political messaging try to tear us apart. We must do better. We must find common ground.

That is why I am running for Montana HD 67. I respectfully ask for your vote. Together, we can forge a new beginning as friends, neighbors, and Montanans.

I look forward to serving and working for my neighbors in HD 77 and all Montanans across the state!

I support

• Public Lands
• Healthcare
• Affordable Housing
• Small Businesses
• Equality for All

Josh Seckinger is a long time Bozeman resident and fly fishing guide. A passionate, pragmatic, progressive, Josh is committed to protecting our public lands, upholding women’s reproductive rights, and strengthening our public school system. Josh is also willing to work with anyone who has a good idea on tax relief, climate change policy, increasing access to health care, or housing availably and affordability. Josh is looking forward to getting to work, for the people who go to work everyday.

Through his frequent travels and love for the outdoors, Josh has gained a deep understanding of Montana and its people. His outgoing and personable nature has allowed him to connect with individuals from all walks of life, giving him a unique perspective on the needs and desires of everyday working Montanans. After years of simply talking, listening, and engaging with the people of Big Sky Country, Josh is convinced that the preservation of Montanan’s way of life is of utmost importance to its residents. He strongly believes that Montanans are dedicated to ensuring that the “last best place” remains just that.

Red Line Issues:

• Reproductive Rights
• Public Lands
• Public Education
• LGBTQ+ Rights

Pragmatic Issues:

• Property Tax Relief
• Fair Share Income Taxation
• Climate Change Policy
• Healthcare
• Local Government Control
• Housing Availability & Affordability

Peter served Bozeman as a public school teacher for nearly three decades, primarily at Irving Elementary School. In that role, he was named 2007 Montana History Teacher of the Year and 2019 Teacher Fellow with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Also, he worked actively to secure three sizeable grants through the US State Department, bringing to Irving full-time Arabic teachers and programming from overseas. In addition to his teaching role, Peter served as a legislative organizer for MFPE for three years, where he discovered the possibilities afforded by legislative organizing, even when confronting an extremist supermajority. All of these are markers of his commitment to the community.

While acquaintances are sometimes puzzled by Peter’s switch from teaching children to running for office, to him the progression is natural: Schools present arguably the most complex, emotionally charged, high-stakes, unpredictable work environments in the valley. When you can remain productive and successful there, you are well poised to ride the rollercoaster that is our current legislature. Peter has dedicated himself tirelessly to Bozeman families for decades, and now he seeks to give similarly but in a fresh way.

Peter wants to see Montana’s government return to serving the needs of regular Montanans rather than the interests of gargantuan corporations and the hyper-elite. Montana should prioritize expanding access to opportunities for people who can’t pay for them out of pocket: robust public schools for our children, meaningful access to services, affordability and fair taxation, stopping governmental overreach into our private lives, protections, and fair compensation for anyone on the clock, reproductive rights, and access to public lands.

Peter feels lucky to have raised his three now twenty-something children in the Bozeman community with his wife, Cameron Hildreth. You may have seen him walking the streets with one of his better friends, his wheaten terrier, Severus.

Learn more about his campaign at strandformontana.com

My name is Rio Wittmayer Roland. I was born and raised in the Turtle Mountains of north-central North Dakota. I have an undergraduate degree at Oregon State University in Bioresource Research and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Minnesota.

I’ve worked as a land use and environmental planner for Minnesota, and later at an environmental consulting firm focused on hydrologic restoration opportunities and critical trout habitat preservation. I have spent the past 16 years working for renewable energy developers and wind turbine manufacturers.

I also volunteer on the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, for state and local Democratic candidates, as an Executive Committee member of the Gallatin County Democrats, and as a commissioner on the Bozeman Citizen’s Transportation Advisory Board.

Oh, I love to fly-fish and have a super cute dog, BeBe, who loves being on the water.

I Am Running Because I Have A Vision For Montana’s Future

• Affordable Housing
• Fair Taxation
• Public Lands
• Renewable Energy
• Responsible Growth
• Personal Freedom

Scott is a proven entrepreneur, executive and Business Development expert, with significant experience in the leadership of technology growth companies. He has built success with organizations of many sizes, from smaller start-ups up to and including mid-size and multinationals. Scott creates customer and employee loyalty by leading and executing projects with unwavering ethics and an endless pursuit of win-win partnerships, driving organizations to succeed on their merits, with technical success.

Scott has built repeated success in the wireless space (satellite, cellular, wireless and IOT), applying decisive insight to successfully work through complex challenges, working with multi-partner organizations. He has one, lingering career goal, which is to bring to the US Government the best and most cost effective asset tracking solution it has ever had.

Scott is also a BridgerCare Ambassador.