HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-26 Public Comment - D. Carty - Study Commission Meeting today (Jan 28)_ Public CommentFrom:Daniel Carty
To:Bozeman Goverment Study Commission
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Study Commission Meeting today (Jan 28): Public Comment
Date:Wednesday, January 28, 2026 11:23:09 AM
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Jan 28, 2026; 11:25 am
Dear Study Commission:
My suggestions for changing Bozeman's form of government:
(1) Commission size: Increase number of Commissioners to 7, which would include 1 Mayor
and 6 Commissioners. The Mayor and 6 commissioners would all be of equal standing (one
exception noted below. There would be no Deputy Mayor.
(2) Make City Attorney a nonpartisan, elected position.
(3) Elect Mayor at large, elect Commissioners by District (6 districts), and elect City
Attorney at large. The Mayor's seat, all 6 Commissioner seats, and City Attorney would be
nonpartisan.
(a) Hold elections for all 7 Commission seats and City Attorney every 3 years.
(4) Term Limits for all 7 Commissioners and City Attorney:
(a) Mayor: If two, consecutive 3-year terms, then cannot afterward run for Mayor or
Commissioner or City Attorney.
(b) Commissioner: If two, consecutive 3-year terms, then cannot afterward run for Mayor or
any Commission seat in any district, or City Attorney.
(c) A one-term Mayor could later become another one-term Mayor or one-term
Commissioner or one-term City Attorney, but could not run for any City office after serving a
total of two 3-year terms combined. Same general rule would apply to a one-term
Commissioner or a one-term City Attorney.
(5) Salary and Stipend: Continue current salaries and stipends. Note: Term limits would
preclude anyone from becoming a "forever" Mayor or a "forever" Commissioner or a "forever"
City Attorney via bouncing among the three offices.
(6) Filling Unanticipated vacancies: For Mayor and City Attorney, hold a citywide special
election. For Commissioner, hold a district-only special election.
(7) Mayoral power: Mayor can veto any vote-based decision made by the City Commission,
but that veto could be overridden within the next 30 days by a 5-2 vote of the Commission.
(8) City Manager stays in control of day-to-day operations; however, the Commission could
override a decision made by the City Manager via a 5- 2 vote (30-day limit on override).
Daniel Carty
213 N. 3rd Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715