Bozeman in Puberty & an Election Season Call to Action

Bozeman, Montana is like a teenager in the throes of puberty - confused, growing rapidly, and trying on identities with dizzying speed. One minute it’s proudly showing off its looming luxury condo buildings along Mendenhall and Willson Avenues and artisanal Main Street boutiques selling $3,000 boots and custom cowboy hats. The next it’s moaning about traffic and is overwhelmed by the attention it’s getting in glossy magazines and on top ten lists. 

There's a hormonal imbalance in Bozeman with the rising cost of living clashing with stagnant wages. On the surface Bozeman is scarred with an acne of chaotic zoning and the haze of construction dust.

Adolescent Bozeman isn’t sure what is going on and doesn’t quite know how to act in public. It’s cranky and angry one day spewing malice on Reddit towards developers, the homeless, rich people, and newcomers. The next day it’s insufferable and brooding wondering why we can’t find common ground and asking the city to adopt the Pride flag. 

Like a teenager, Bozeman is testing out different identities – college town, ski town, tech hub, heaven for wealthy wannabe cowboys. It tries on these personalities like a new outfit, unsure which one fits best and changing multiple times before heading out the door.

Bozeman grew too fast and moves in a gangly gait full of pointy elbows and protruding knees. It’s significantly bigger than it was not long ago and shambles around oscillating between swagger and self-doubt. Bozeman is not sure what to do with a body that is becoming showier, sexier, and is no longer young and innocent. And it can’t decide if this is a good thing or a tragedy.

Bozeman’s youth is over. If it can survive these next few awkward years, perhaps it will evolve into something spectacular. Will Bozeman learn to live with itself or become a Peter Pan town forever chasing a fantasy of endless adolescence? 

Unlike real teenagers, not all towns go through puberty. Some stagnate; others fade into irrelevance. There isn’t a uniform roadmap for what comes next. Some tell Bozeman to look to Boulder, Jackson Hole, and Aspen, but Bozeman believes it’s unique. By refusing to take note, it risks repeating their mistakes and becoming another playground only for the wealthy.

A Call for Participation this Election Season

Bozeman is changing and many of these changes are painful. If the city is going to survive its awkward adolescence, we need an electorate that shows up on November 4.

I’ve been reading candidate statements and attending public forums, trying to figure out who might be best to lead Bozeman through the rough challenges of puberty. And that decision is not easy. Everyone has a different idea on growth, affordability, and how to keep Bozeman a vibrant place to live. There is no simple answer or tidy path marking a way forward.

For instance, I don’t know what to make of WARD ballot initiative. I hesitate to vote “Yes” as I don’t want decisions about affordable housing left to the developers. But if I vote “No” it’s as if I’m voting against water conservation and affordability. Either vote seems like it will result in a loss for the community.

And I’m equally perplexed when it comes to who I’ll vote for in the city commission and mayor races. But I do know I’ll be looking for someone who:

• Has a record of getting things done

• Understands systems and processes

• Doesn’t divide residents into “us” and “them”

• Thinks broadly, brings in ideas from beyond Bozeman, and has life experience reflecting a diverse world.

This election season I’m paying attention to who is organizing, who is speaking out, and who is listening. Whose names do I see on yard signs in all quadrants of the city? Who’s writing letters to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and what are they saying about candidates? Who knocks on my door or sends a postcard addressed to me? These things don’t give all the answers, but they show me who is doing the work.

I’m not here to tell you who to vote for since I don’t know myself but I’m asking you to vote and to do it thoughtfully by putting in the time. 

Attend candidate forums. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Think past the slogans, catch phrases, or who’s lived here longest. We need to vote for people with vision, integrity, and a willingness to do the hard (sometimes not very interesting) work. 

The future of Bozeman is being decided by those who vote. Make sure that includes you. 

Become involved election season

Vote on November 4. Visit the Gallatin County Elections department to find out more.

Attend the next candidate's forum on September 30.

Attend the League of Women Voters forums at Bozeman Public Library: 

• Wednesday, October 8, 6:30-8 p.m., Meet the Candidates for Bozeman City Commissioner
• Thursday, October 9, 6-8 p.m., Meet the Candidates for Bozeman City Mayor and WARD (Water Adequacy for Residential Development) ballot initiative discussion

A few Bozeman candidates have answered questions here. 

Keep an eye on the Bozeman Daily Chronicle  and Montana Free Press 

There are a lot more things you can do. Let your thoughts, resources, and comments in the comments section of this post.