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Statement of Interest for Vacant Bozeman City Commissioner Seat
I first moved to Bozeman in the early 2000s, and I worked as a barista at the Leaf & Bean and fell in love with
the mountains and the charm of this town. While the city has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, the
appeal of the city has stayed the same. Our neighbors choose to live in Bozeman because of the love of the
outdoors and the Montana spirit, yet today many in our community struggle to live a comfortable life. The rapid
growth that we have experienced is not a new thing and has happened in many wonderful places similar to
Bozeman. Our response to this growth in the next few years will shape the future of our town, and the Gallatin
Valley, and we are at an incredibly important time to thoughtfully plan our vision for Bozeman’s future. But who
is entrusted to make this plan and set this vision? I sure do hope it is the people of Bozeman! And that is why I
am applying to the Bozeman City Commission, so that I can be a voice for our community.
Twenty percent of households in Bozeman have children, yet there is no one representing these families on our
commission. My desire is to bring a voice to city hall for these families, and advocate for programs and services
that would directly benefit them. How would I do this? I am a working mother with three children, so I am
acutely familiar with existing programs and services in our community. I will represent families across Bozeman
by continuing to get out into the community and talking with families to understand where they feel Bozeman
excels and where we have opportunities to do better. Since I made the decision to apply for the vacant
commission seat, I've already had meetings with numerous leaders and residents in our community to
understand their concerns and visions. As a commissioner, I would continue to talk to neighborhood groups,
local organizations, and residents to understand the issues that are most important to them.
Listening to community voices isn’t new to me, it is something that I regularly do in both my volunteer work and
my career as a Biostatistician. As a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)/GAL (Guardian ad Litem) volunteer
in Gallatin County, I advocate for abused and neglected children. In this role, I work with all parties that are
involved in a CPS (Child Protective Services) case, and most importantly the child. First and foremost, I listen. It
is only after listening to all the parties involved and getting a broad understanding of a dynamic situation that I
am able to form my recommendations that are presented in court. I believe these skills would enable me to be
an effective commissioner who systematically approaches problems in an effort to develop solutions.
Another approach that I regularly employ is consulting with experts and leaders, and collaboratively working
together to craft solutions to problems. In my career as a Biostatistician, I have become an expert after working
in the field for 20+ years, however I’m not expert on everything. I've learned how effective a team can be when
we share our unique perspectives, learn from each other and value opinions and expertise. I am not an expert
on all the issues facing our city, and I believe that is a strength. As a commissioner I will engage with experts,
leaders, and fellow commissioners to work towards solutions.
As you may imagine, as a Biostatistician, I am very data driven. I use data to understand complex questions that
face clinical trials, and I would employ those same tools to problem solving as a commissioner. For example,
Lauren Hill
Statement of Interest for Vacant Bozeman City Commissioner Seat
when I wanted to understand more about affordable/work-force housing in Bozeman, I downloaded and
analyzed both HUD and Short Term Rental data.
I have been an active resident in every community I have lived in. During my 20 years in Colorado, I was a board
member for several HOAs where I was a voice for residents. As a member of the historic Alamo Placita
Neighborhood Association, I helped to preserve the rich character of our 100+ year old homes and
neighborhood in the face of development. Also in Colorado, I volunteered countless hours as a Precinct
Committee Person and Caucus Leader over many years, leading straw polls and caucuses, and engaging
constituents in civic events. In Bozeman, my community engagement continues as a CASA/GAL, Special Olympics
volunteer, consistent volunteer in our schools, and as an active member of the Bridger Ski Foundation.
The issues that I care deeply about and would focus on as a commissioner are work-force housing, sustainable
development that respects and protects our environment, access to mental health care especially for youth,
school safety, and implementing a Bear Awareness Program.
I look forward to future conversations with the commissioners to answer any questions and get to know me
better.
Respectfully,
Lauren Hill
November 16, 2023