HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-03-24 Public Comment - D. Fladmo - In Support of Tom WoodsFrom:Diane Fladmo
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]In Support of Tom Woods
Date:Sunday, June 2, 2024 6:17:30 PM
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I offer my highest recommendation for Tom Woods to fill the current vacancy on the Bozeman
City Commission. I have known and worked with Tom for well over a decade and am well
aware of his commitment to public service, his superior personal qualities and effective, deep
skill set. In general, Tom is professional, brilliant, personable, informed, hardworking, and
effective. I am convinced that Tom would diligently bring these and other positive assets in
serving successfully on the Commission.
I know Tom best through his work as a Representative in the Montana House and his stellar
work as a Physics lecturer at MSU. I was privileged to work in a professional capacity with Tom
throughout legislative and interim sessions while I served as both Director of Research and
Public Policy for the Montana Federation of Public Employees. Tom was an excellent
Representative - consistently prepared, extremely well-informed, a skilled communicator, with
an obvious mastery of the subject matter in his various roles. He was elected to a leadership
by his caucus and worked very effectively across the aisle.
I worked closely with Tom early in his legislative career, in particular during the 2013 session
as he successfully served as the primary sponsor of a HB 377, a bill to reverse years of
actuarial instability in the Teachers Retirement System (TRS). Thousands of Montana public
educators, both in K-12 and higher education are members of the TRS and rely upon it for a
secure retirement. As primary sponsor, Tom worked for months to shepherd the bill through
the legislature, through myriad procedures and votes. This work is grueling and difficult with
the primary sponsor having a heavy burden to thoroughly understand the system complexities
and provide information and explanations to legislators, staff, advocates, and the public. He
worked tirelessly and effectively and HB 377, was signed by the Governor in early May of
2013. HB 377 worked as evidenced by the most recent 2023 MT TRS Valuation. Tom's skilled
advocacy was instrumental and has positively affected thousands of retired, active, and future
Montana educators.
Tom also served on Montana Legislative Budget committees, a very important role. He was
instrumental in advocating for, and securing funding for, public education, both K-12 and the
Montana University System. His knowledge of budgeting and the process would serve the City
of Bozeman well.
Tom has wonderful experience, fortitude, knowledge, and a proven track record of public
service. He is well-prepared to be a successful Bozeman City Commissioner. His record of
effective representation of public interests, successfully tackling challenging issues in public
policy, and successfully serving MSU students have prepared him well for this role. He would
be beyond an excellent choice.
Respectfully,
Diane Fladmo,
Retired Director of Public Policy, Past Director of Research
Montana Federation of Public Employees