Missoula Votes '09

Houseman's victory bolsters council's liberal majority

2009-11-03T23:52:00.000-08:00

By EVAN PHILLIPPE and PIPER HAUGEN

The election of a new councilman in Ward 2 further cemented the liberal majority in the Missoula City Council following Tuesday’s general city elections.

Residents in Ward 2, which encompasses the Northside, Westside and Grant Creek neighborhoods, replaced incumbent John Hendrickson with Roy Houseman Jr., (pictured) who won the seat with 56.6 percent of the 1,937 votes cast.

Houseman was the sole candidate to defeat an incumbent council member in the election, and he used a combination of high-tech campaigning and old-fashioned door knocking to propel him to the upset.

Houseman promised to uphold his platform of increased communication with his district, saying, “First I’ll call and thank everyone who helped out with my campaign. Then I want to go out and see what my ward has to say.”

Across town, Ward 5 Councilman Dick Haines won a tight race against Mike O’Herron, beating his opponent in the Miller Creek area by just 70 votes out of the 2,740 cast. Haines had taken some pressure as one of three council members who sued the city over a proposed new zoning code and lost.

He said he will continue to do what he thinks is right for the city, even if it makes him more enemies.

Incumbent Councilman Dave Strohmaier won 1,824 of Ward 1’s votes, beating candidate Ryan Morton by more than 1,200 votes.

Bob Jaffe retained his Ward 3 council seat with a decisive win over opponent John G. Quandt. Jaffe received 1,458 of the 1,940 votes cast in the university neighborhood, or just over 75 percent of the vote. Ward 4’s Jon Wilkins ran unopposed and received 96.6 percent of the 2,118 votes in his ward.

Kathy Greathouse lost her bid for the Ward 6 council seat to incumbent Marilyn Marler by a count of 559 votes to Marler’s 1,126.

More than 200 write-in votes weren’t nearly enough to uproot unopposed Municipal Judge Donald Louden, who received almost 98 percent of the vote to maintain the position he has held for more than 20 years.

Mayor John Engen, who also ran uncontested, garnered almost 96 percent of the more than 12,000 votes cast in the mayoral election and will remain in his seat for another term.

This year was the second election in which the city has used mail-in ballots to combat historically low voter turnout. Missoula County Clerk and Recorder Vickie Zeier said the public response to the new system has generally been positive, although the total voter turnout this year was down from last election.

More than 40,000 ballots were mailed to Missoula residents for the general elections. A total of 14,037 ballots, or about 33 percent, were counted following the closing of polls at 8 p.m. Tuesday night. Zeier said the turnout for last year’s election was about 46 percent.

“This is a pretty good turnout for the mayor and judge being unopposed,” Zeier said.

Council members serve four-year terms for their wards. Elected candidates will take office on Jan. 4, 2010.

- Emerald Gilleran, Hannah Stiff, Layla Turman and Joe Pavlish also contributed to this story.

With no opponent, Engen sails to second term as mayor

2009-11-03T23:32:00.000-08:00

By LILY RABIL

While celebrating his re-election in downtown Missoula Tuesday night, Mayor John Engen said he hopes people voted for him because of his hard work and dedication to the job.

With 95.69 percent of the vote, the election was almost no contest for Engen, who ran unopposed. Engen received 11,718 votes, while 528 votes went to write-in candidates.

Not all of Engen’s decisions as mayor have been popular, but he said he tries to be fair and hopes that Missoula residents support him because he is reasonable and responsible.

He said it feels fantastic to be re-elected. He chuckled while thinking of what he would name a beer if he could invent one to describe the feeling.

“I’d call it the Missoula Miracle,” he said.

Engen said he plans no official first acts as a second-term mayor, but he will continue to do his job.

“Tomorrow I’m going to get up and go to work,” he said smiling, “just like I did yesterday.”

Marler wins easily to reclaim Ward 6 council seat

2009-11-03T23:16:00.000-08:00

By HOLLIS KENNEY and KYLE SPURR

Incumbent Councilwoman Marilyn Marler held her Ward 6 seat in the Missoula City Council election Tuesday night, defeating challenger Kathy Greathouse by nearly a 2-to-1 margin.

“It’s a great feeling to have the support of your neighborhood,” Marler said while celebrating with fellow council members at the Union Club.

Marler won her second term receiving 1,126 votes, or 66 percent of the ward’s total votes. Greathouse, running in her first campaign, took 559 votes, equaling 33 percent.

Marler said her previous civic experience and time on the council aided in her victory. “Being the incumbent does help,” Marler said. “But I also worked really hard.”

In her time on the council, Marler served as chairwoman of the Conservation Committee. Through her work there, she earned the Montana Conservation Voters endorsement. With Missoula’s large number of environmentally concerned voters, Marler said, the endorsement strongly influenced her victory.

The top issues on Marler’s agenda include improving public works and making Ward 6 greener.

“I want to continue to get more sidewalks built,” Marler said. “And also there are two potential park acquisitions that I would like to see happen.”

Greathouse, a Missoula builder and resident for the past 25 years, said the campaign was a worthwhile experience.

“People should understand what it is like to run,” Greathouse said.

Though Greathouse lost the election, she will still be involved with the future of Ward 6.

“It was always good to interact with her,” Marler said. “She ran a very cordial campaign, and I look forward to working with her.”

Both candidates said they will work together on the neighborhood council in Ward 6. Greathouse lives three houses down from Marler.

Having been on the council for four years, Marler said she is eager to serve a second term.

“It sounds corny to say it is a privilege to serve,” Marler said. “But I can’t wait to get started.”

Haines hangs on to win tight contest in Ward 5

2009-11-03T23:09:00.000-08:00

By LAYLA TURMAN and JOE PAVLISH

City Councilman Dick Haines fought off a strong challenge Tuesday to claim a second four-year term.

In the closest contest of the night, Haines received 1,398 votes to Mike O’Herron’s 1,328, earning 51 percent of Ward 5 ballots.

The 70-vote margin was not close enough to require a recount, said Vickie Zeier, Missoula County’s clerk and recorder.

Haines, a former Republican state legislator, won a second term on the council despite a controversial first four years. In that time he and two other council members sued the city over the updated zoning code, which he said was created without proper citizen notification.

A judge in Helena ruled against Haines on the zoning issue and said the council did all it could to inform the public.

Haines said he didn’t know what to expect from voters but plans to do what is right for the city, in his mind, whether others on the council agree with him or not.

“I don’t really care what I say at this point,” he said Tuesday. “I’m going to make people mad whether I win or lose.”

O’Herron said knew he was fighting an uphill battle. “It’s hard to unseat an incumbent,” he said.

O’Herron focused his campaign on improving transportation and enhancing the local economy. He said he wanted to expand bus service to his ward and bring in businesses that were a good fit for Missoula.

He said he feels good about his campaign and he has taken good things from the experience.

“It’s enriching to learn about how the election process works,” he said. “It’s a big part of America.”

Jaffe rides large margin to win re-election in Ward 3

2009-11-03T22:37:00.000-08:00

By ROMAN STUBBS and JOSH POTTER

Missoula City Councilman Bob Jaffe’s win tonight in Ward 3 didn’t exactly come as a surprise, but he said won’t let the widespread support make him lazy in his next term.

On Tuesday, Jaffe defeated opponent John Quandt, winning 1,458 votes to Quandt’s 469.

Jaffe attributed the wide margin to his like-minded constituents and his work to maintain a district "where life is pretty good.”

“That really helps,” he said. “It’s a Democrat-leaning ward. I’m running against a Republican and it’s obviously in my favor.”

Part of Jaffe’s agenda moving forward will be to continue address the issue of affordable housing in Missoula.

“We are going to try to move forward with some kind of actual solution, local solution for affordable housing,” said Jaffe.

Last term, the City Council debated denser housing for a growing Missoula population. Jaffe supported the construction of auxiliary dwelling units, or so-called "granny apartments," in some neighborhoods.

That riled Quandt during the campaign this fall. “I hope he doesn’t attempt to bring them back,” Quandt said Tuesday.

The idea of building the dwelling units never left the ground as the council couldn’t come to a consensus, but Jaffe said he is open to reopening the debate to work toward a solution.

“Whether ADUs have a play into the mix, I’m not so sure yet,” Jaffe said. “Everything we do there is a large component of public process and public input.”

Quandt said that he intends to be part of that debate by maintaining his presence at council meetings, where he also will fight to keep taxes at a minimum.

“I hope he does take up the issue of not raising taxes,” Quandt said.

Although Quandt said he intends to wish Jaffe the best of luck by phone in the near future, he won’t give Jaffe the benefit of the doubt when it comes to issues such as affordable housing. He also said he refuses to fade from the Missoula political scene.

“Don’t be surprised if you see me in four years,” Quandt said.

Strohmaier cites his record in Ward 1 re-election win

2009-11-03T22:22:00.000-08:00

By DANIELLE LELLEK and KATE WHITTLE

Age, wisdom and a record his constituents seem to like helped City Councilman Dave Strohmaier ward off a challenge in Ward 2, the victor said tonight.

Strohmaier (pictured) beat challenger Ryan Morton with 75 percent of vote to win a second four-year term. Strohmaier received 1,824 votes to Morton’s 562 in the all mail-in ballot election.

“It’s an affirmation that I think people are happy with what I have done,” said Strohmaier, 44.

Morton, 30, former government affairs director for Missoula Building Industry Association, had said his business background was the biggest difference between him and Strohmaier.

Strohmaier helped create the comprehensive Downtown Master Plan, which is designed to promote healthy growth in Missoula’s downtown. Strohmaier said his goal is “continuing to keep Missoula unique.”

Strohmaier said his upcoming projects also include the Conservation Land Management Plan, which outlines how Missoula Parks and Recreation will supervise conservation areas including Mount Jumbo, the South Hills, and lands west of Reserve Street.

Morton could not be reached for comment.

Unopposed, Wilkins cruises to second term in Ward 4

2009-11-03T22:13:00.000-08:00

By JUSTYN FIELD

Despite raising far less than other candidates running for a seat on the Missoula City Council, Ward 4 Councilman Jon Wilkins pulled in the most votes in Tuesday's mail-in council election.

With 2,045 votes, the unchallenged Wilkins received more than 96 percent of the vote in his ward. The remaining 73 votes went to write-in candidates.

Wilkins, an outspoken opponent of new construction in family-zoned neighborhoods, credited his victory to defense of local homeowners.

"I fight for the neighborhood," Wilkins said, "and I've got a great neighborhood."

Also the creator of a rental safety program that allows landlords and tenets to have apartments checked by a city inspector for $15, Wilkins said the agenda for his second term is unchanged.

"I plan to do the same thing I've been doing for the last four years: fighting for the neighborhood," Wilkins said.

Houseman says networking helped him win in Ward 2

2009-11-03T22:07:00.000-08:00

By EMERALD GILLERAN and HANNAH STIFF

Challenger Roy Houseman celebrated his win over Ward 2 City Councilman John Hendrickson Tuesdaybyu posting to his Web site, Facebook and Twitter pages, and by chatting and texting on his cell phone.

He said his “fresh approach” of combining city politics and networking technology helped him win Tuesday’s election for a four-year term on Missoula City Council.

With the win, Houseman, 28, will be the youngest member of the council. Houseman won 1,096 votes to Hendrickson’s 834. A union leader at Smurfit-Stone, Houseman was endorsed by Missoula Democrats.

Hendrickson served Ward 2 for four years, promoting more efficient traffic routes, fiscal responsibility of the city budget, and public safety. He could not be reached Tuesday night for comment.

Although Houseman did some high-tech campaigning, he also said he knocked on more 1,200 doors with his wife, Andrea.

He said the first goal on the council will be to make good on his promise to increase communication within Ward 2.

“First I’ll call and thank everyone who helped out with my campaign. Then I want to go out and see what my ward has to say,” Houseman said.

At this time last year Houseman said he was sitting in the Union Club, reading the state election results. The next day he found out he’d be laid off from his job at Smurfit-Stone.

“To come this far a year later,” Houseman said, “it’s amazing.”

Turnout in city's mail-in election tops 30 percent

2009-11-03T21:49:00.000-08:00

By JESSICA COSGROVE and JED NUSSBAUM

The switch from poll-based voting to mail-ballot voting has more than tripled the turnout in Missoula City Council elections, according to Missoula County Clerk and Recorder Vickie Zeier.

Zeier said the results of poll-based voting in the past yielded a roughly 10 percent turnout in off-year city elections. Unofficially, nearly 32 percent of Missoula voters who received ballots cast them in Tuesday’s voting. Nearly 44,000 ballots were mailed out, Zeier said.

Zeier said that the transition from poll-based voting to mail ballots has decreased the workload for election officials, dramatically scaling back the number of judges needed and shortening the time taken to count votes.

However, all-mail ballots in a college town pose problems for the student population, who frequently change residences. Recent graduate Tyler Albrethson said having the ability to vote at polls would have enabled him to vote.

“I think it’s good to have both options,” said Albrethson. “In my case, I just moved into my new place and didn’t get a ballot.”

UM student Layla Turman said she was in favor of the all-mail ballot system, but people needed to be more informed that mail ballots were the only way they could cast a vote.

“Both of my roommates got ballots, but I didn’t get one,” said Turman, who didn’t realize that no polls would be open. “I was under the impression that we could also vote at the polls.”

Zeier acknowledged this problem and stressed the importance of updating your address information when you move.

“It’s really important that all citizens update their voter registration,” said Zeier. “We don’t want to see an undeliverable ballot.”

Progressives bolster their City Council majority

2009-11-03T21:17:00.000-08:00

Incumbent City Councilman John Hendrickson lost his re-election bid in Ward 2, making him the only incumbent to lose in Tuesday's Missoula city elections.

Challenger Roy Houseman (pictured), a young union leader endorsed by local Democrats, won the seat handily.

Mayor John Engen, unopposed, led the remaining incumbents to victory. Winners included Dave Strohmaier, who won a second council term in Ward 1, and Bob Jaffe, who gained a second term in Ward 3. Councilman Jon Wilkins ran unopposed in Ward 5.

The night's closest race was in Ward 5, where incumbent Dick Haines edged Mike O'Herron. Councilwoman Marilyn Marler won a second term as well.

With the exception of Haines, all of Tuesday night's winners in the council races were endorsed by Missoula Democrats.

Most incumbents lead in early vote counting

2009-11-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

Incumbent City Council members were leading in four of five contested city wards, according to early returns released by Missoula County elections officials.

Ward 2 Councilman John Hendrickson was the only incumbent trailing in his bid for a second four-year term. Hendrickson faces a strong challenge from Roy Houseman, a 28-year-old union leader endorsed by Missoula County Democrats.