HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-26 Public Comment - M. Bateson - Wards - A Bad Idea for BozemanFrom:Mary Bateson
To:Bozeman Goverment Study Commission; Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Wards - A Bad Idea for Bozeman
Date:Wednesday, January 28, 2026 8:44:19 PM
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Dear City Study Commission members,
I spoke to you tonight at your January 28 meeting. Thank you for your attention. For therecord, here is what I said:
I don’t think this is today’s topic, but to me, the most disturbing issue before you is the proposal to
split the Bozeman electorate into wards. The decisions of our City Commission affect all locations in
this community, and commissioners need to be keeping the whole in mind. Often a person lives at
one address, works across town, and recreates all over. People shop at several different stores,
even several different grocery stores! People live in the whole community.
For me, the most important characteristics of a candidate for any office is their experience, whatthey say they believe in, and how they represent themselves. I do not want to be voting oncandidates based on where they live in Bozeman. I want to be able to vote on candidates because oftheir views. In the past election, one of my favorite candidates did not live near me. I expect that inthe future, the candidates that could best represent me would not necessarily be in my ward.
So, are wards a solution in search of a problem? One reason I have heard for why wards are
preferred is that in the past, commissioners have been mostly from the south side of town, in the
older neighborhoods. Isn’t that historically where more well-off people have lived? Isn’t this really
an issue of who can afford to serve? The compensation for the work of commissioner is in no way
commensurate with the time and effort required. If you want the commission to be more
representative, we need to increase their pay. Unless the main qualification for commission
positions is meant to be wealth.
I believe that today’s topics are decisions on the governing body. Some of these depend on whetheror not the ward system gets proposed and accepted by voters. Size: I think 5 is adequate, but withwards you would need more. Pay: should be higher. But with more members needed for wards thisbecomes even more expensive.
I hope to hear more discussion of these issues over the course of this meeting and your future
meetings. Thank you again for your service.
Sincerely, Mary Bateson, Bozeman Resident