HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-26 Public Comment - K. Beach - Bozeman Study Commission RecommendationsFrom:Karen Beach
To:Bozeman Goverment Study Commission
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Bozeman Study Commission Recommendations
Date:Tuesday, January 27, 2026 4:26:36 PM
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Dear Study Commission Members,
Thank you for all the work and time you are putting into evaluating how our city is being run. I’d like to
share a few changes I’d like to see in the future.
I’m very interested in how Bozeman is governed and would definitely like to see some reforms.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to attend your meetings because of the time of day they’re held.
First, I’d like to see the position of Deputy Mayor abolished. We voted for change last year, yet we still
ended up with Joey Morrison—who has a significant conflict of interest due to his membership in Bozeman
Tenants United. Now we must wait two years until the new mayor takes office, and even then, he’ll only
have two years to implement meaningful changes in Bozeman.
I’d also like to see elections return to partisan voting, so voters know which party each candidate identifies
with and can better understand what they’re getting. Additionally, when a commissioner resigns, there
should be a special election to fill the seat. No more appointments by the city commission of special-interest
group members or others who haven’t been vetted by the voters. We should get to choose these
representatives directly. What I’ve seen too often is that the commission appoints someone, and then that
person runs unopposed in the next election and “wins” the seat again. This feels like a sneaky tactic by the
city commission.
Finally, the city commission should remain at five members, and the positions should stay part-time. Part-
time status reinforces the idea that commissioners are citizens first, not career politicians. We need people
who actually live in our community, experience the property tax burden, and understand the impacts of
growth in Bozeman—not individuals who primarily represent renters who face no direct tax burden. All
seats should be limited to a maximum of two four-year terms.
Thank you again for your efforts,
Karen Beach
Bozeman Resident