Leadership and Vision for the Future

Missoula County is a great place to live and raise a family, but to keep it that way we need leadership with a clear vision for the future, rooted in stewardship for this place, which is why I'm running to become your next Missoula County Commissioner. As a former wildland firefighter, I know a thing or two about hard work and leadership, even amidst sharp differences of opinion-attributes that are desperately needed in county government and throughout our community. I'm running for my two children and for future generations of Missoula County residents.

Too often, urban areas are pitted against rural. We need to bridge this urban-rural divide and recognize that we are all in this together. And I am very pleased to have received the endorsement of Commissioner Jean Curtiss.

As a county that connects iconic wilderness areas such as the Bob Marshall complex and the Selway-Bitterroot, as a county that embraces the headwaters of world-class trout streams, rich agricultural lands and has a reputation for openness, inclusivity and social justice, Missoula County matters throughout Big Sky Country and the nation.

So whether you live in Seeley-Lake, Lolo, the Ninemile, Target Range, Bonner or in the heart of Missoula, we all live in Missoula County and we must bridge the urban-rural divide that too often dominates land-use and economic development rhetoric. And all of this begins with good planning to chart our own destiny.

For those of you who don't know me, I worked more than 18 years for both the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service in a variety of roles but mainly as a wildland firefighter. I subsequently served for eight years on the Missoula City Council where I chaired both the Public Safety and Health and the Parks and Conservation committees. And I've spent a tremendous amount of time over the years traveling throughout northeast Missoula County-hunting deer and elk and campaigning for the legislature. I have two kids in the Missoula County Public School system and my wife is on the staff of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Missoula.

As a problem solver, I'm willing to listen to diverse viewpoints and then roll up my sleeves and work hard to craft legislation and policy that balances competing interests-whether through preserving agricultural lands and promoting stewardship of our working landscapes, ensuring clean air and clean water for future generations, investing in infrastructure, championing the arts, fighting for the individual rights of all citizens and standing up for our outdoor heritage.

For the past 13 years I've worked in the private sector as a historian with Historical Research Associates, Inc., where I'm keenly aware of what it takes to run a business, balance a budget and provide leadership for our employees. I also recognize the value of our precious cultural and historic resources, which embody the heritage of our communities.

My campaign centers on five main themes developed in response to what I've heard from Missoula County residents: leadership; land stewardship and conservation; public safety; and human rights, social justice and cultural enrichment. To read more about my five-point plan, visit http://www.strohmaierforcommissioner.com. This plan outlines my goals and speaks to my vision and values for Missoula County.

I've been blessed with many opportunities in life. As a steward of all that I've been given, I believe that it is my obligation to give back to my community in equal measure, whether that is digging fire line with a Pulaski, keeping my door open for constituents, camping with my kids or serving as your next Missoula County Commissioner.