HomeMy WebLinkAboutStatement of Interest and Qualifications_Damion Lynn September 29 h, 2020
Damion S. Lynn
3303 Fallon St Unit 2B
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406)490-6339
Lynn.damions@gmail.com
To the City Commission of Bozeman MT,
I am writing to you in regard to my interest to become a Bozeman City Commissioner.
As a scientist,who recently graduated from MSU with a bachelor's degree in environmental
biology, I understand the importance of research and devoting focus to the issues at hand. I am
currently working as an analytical chemist at a local EPA certified water testing lab. I am also
part of Bozeman's young professional residents, a demographic prominently impacted by
Bozeman's housing and rental market's difficulties. As a result, I can speak personally to the
struggle of entering the local workforce while trying to find a home in Bozeman. Finally, I have
been active in local political groups, which has given me a familiarity with the Strategic plan.
Over the last few years, I have grown to love the community here, and I know that my
participation will help shape the future for the better.
As a scientist,my background requires reading various documents, from standard
operating procedures to technical notes related to methods and instrument operation and
maintenance. I can translate these skills to read, interpret, and conduct research into topics and
proposals brought to the Commission. I am deeply familiar with the environmental and climate
change issues that Bozeman is facing, such as water supply for a growing population and the
snow-driven hydrological system's potential to change as the earth warms. I have also been apart
of projects thatlook at the tension between land development and the need to preserve wetlands
parallel with the benefits and problems of wetland banking systems. Gathering disparate facts to
make informed decisions on the issues faced by Bozeman residents is the best way to serve the
community;this would be my goal when interacting with the Citizens Advisory Board and the
Strategic plan.
As a resident of Bozeman since 2014, I have witnessed firsthand the struggle to find
affordable housing. I was fortunate enough to find an apartment that I could afford with two
roommates while I was in the University system; however, I was persistently afraid of a sudden
increase to my rental costs. After graduating, I decided to purchase a home, quickly discovering I
could not afford a single-family dwelling nor a townhome. My only option was a condominium,
which I would not have been able to afford the down payment on without years of planning,
saving, and a gift from family. These experiences exemplify the issues many Bozeman residents
are facing. After reading through the strategic plan,in order to better understand potential
solutions, I felt it wise to research what other cities and towns are doing in the face of their
affordable housing crises. This research included the multistep approach of easing height
restrictions, changing or eliminating restrictive zoning, expanding usable land, and mandatory
inclusionary zoning,all of which are potential ways in which Bozeman could address affordable
housing. This crisis is an incredibly complex issue that requires in-depth research,
experimentation, and adaptation; I have the skill set necessary to help create affordable housing
in Bozeman.
I have been lucky enough to become involved in Bozeman's local political scene and
have met with many terrific people who encouraged me to become a precinct committeeman.
Their influence has given me a greater sense of community; I have had the pleasure of getting to
know my neighbors better by talking with them and listening to problems that other Bozeman
citizens encounter, including annoying stoplights,worries about loss of wetlands, and
dissatisfaction with snow plowing. In tandem with comprehending my fellow citizens' concerns,
I also became aware of how many younger Bozeman residents feel underrepresented in the
political system, which is compounded when important meetings are held at inopportune times.
This, in turn, leads to a lack of knowledge of the pathways to get involved. As a City
Commissioner, I would be capable of redoubling my efforts to bring residents of my age group
into our city's planning future.
In conclusion, my skillset as a biologist and chemist can be used by the Commissioners to
help shape Bozeman's future; I can provide in-depth, well thought out research and commentary
to the various Citizen Advisory Boards. I will use my personal experience living and working in
Bozeman as a young professional to provide context to the city's affordable housing problems
and act as an example to similarly situated young residents of Bozeman on how to get involved
in politics local government.
Regards,
Damion S. Lynn