HomeMy WebLinkAboutDouglas Fischer 1410 S. Montana Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715
Nov. 16, 2023
Bozeman City Commission
121 N. Rouse Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715
re: Application for the City Commission seat
To the Commission:
I love my work as a trustee of the Bozeman School District.
I'm part of a high-functioning board that has earned the community's trust. Together,
we’re focused on our mission: Providing an excellent education that ensures every
student can succeed in our fast-changing world.
This trust did not come easily. It's the result of hard work, a strong culture of excellence,
and a willingness by board members to check individual agendas and keep kids at the
center of any discussion or decision.
After three terms on the school board and 13 years as a Bozeman resident, I feel
connected to this city. My wife's family history here, especially her grandfather Rolly
Renne's legacy as the sixth president of Montana State, deepens that connection. As
importantly, her grandmother Polly was a Bozeman native who fought for wilderness
protections.
I’m seeking a seat on the City Commission because I value the city’s vision of a
community that remains safe and inclusive while fostering civic engagement and
creativity, a thriving diversified economy, a strong environmental ethic, and a high quality
of life as Bozeman grows and changes.
I'm motivated to join the Commission because I believe trust in our city government
needs strengthening. We face many difficult challenges, not unlike what the school
district has faced during my tenure.
I have learned how to build consensus and community trust – skills I hope to bring with
me to the Commission.
I have been through the Covid wars, the mask wars, the fight over critical race theory. In
2021, in a crowded, contentious schools election, I emerged as the top vote-getter in a
field of nine candidates, with 8,395 votes. I was on the board when we proposed – and
voters approved – the largest bond issue in Gallatin County history, a $125 million
proposal to build Gallatin High and renovate Bozeman High. I know what it takes to build
the support necessary to pass essential bonds and levies.
I bring no expertise – nor agenda – on zoning, affordable housing, community
development. Instead, I've learned from leaders like Carson Taylor the importance of
acting as a bridge between residents and city experts. This approach ensures everyone's
needs and visions are understood and met.
Keeping our focus on the big picture – cultivating a thriving, diverse economy and
ensuring a high quality of life – is what I believe leads to success.
My commitment to Bozeman is long-term. I’m about to mark my second year on the city
Sustainability Advisory Board. Before that I served on the Bozeman Area Pedestrian and
Traffic Safety Commission.
My wife, Stephanie Ewing, teaches soil science at Montana State University. We are
proud parents of two Bozeman public school graduates. Our youngest, Phineas, is at
Montana State, making his mark on the Bobcat Nordic Ski Team. I lead a Bozeman-based
nonprofit, Environmental Health Sciences; my professional life is dedicated to bridging
science and policy, emphasizing the importance of informed discussions on our
environment and health.
I'm motivated to join the Commission because I believe that trust in municipal leadership
is essential if Bozeman is to navigate the growth and challenges ahead of us. I’ll bring a
commitment to consensus and a focus on mission.
I look forward to the opportunity to contribute my experience, passion, and dedication to
collaborative leadership to the City Commission.
Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Douglas Fischer
406-600-8469