| User Blox 4 |
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Barack Obama  |
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Rob Kailey is a working schmuck with no ties or affiliations to any governmental or political organizations, save those of sympathy.
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Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 12:03:11 PM MST
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| I'm a big fan of Missoula Mayor John Engen. I lent a (very small) hand to his campaign in '05 even as I was living down in Billings. He continues to impress. He cares deeply about the health of his home town. He's smart. He listens. He's a good politician, in the best sense of that term. He focuses, constantly, almost to a fault, on making measurable progress.
So this is good news: But Engen more than made up for that a few weeks later when he provided a detailed outline of the [economic development] project's mission and methods, and made it clear that he is prepared to continue cracking the whip in order to get results right away. And check out the team he's assembled to help:St. Patrick Hospital president Jeff Fee, University of Montana executive vice president Jim Foley; Williamsworks founder and president Whitney Williams, NorthWestern Energy president Bob Rowe, First Security Bank president Scott Burke, Washington Cos. president Larry Simkins and Missoula Redevelopment Agency director Ellen Buchanan That's a damn smart collection of folks.
My only complaint? The focus seems to be, as it is so often, on recruiting business. There are huge gains still to be made in Montana by developing homegrown businesses. Le Petit's expansion can be big local news. Big Sky's expansion has brought lots of jobs to town. Kettlehouse's growth is having a similar effect. There are interesting tech companies already based in town. Helping these folks grow is likely a surer bet for stable economic expansion than poaching industries from elsewhere.
It's not that poaching business is a terrible idea. I just think it shouldn't be job one. |
| Matt Singer :: Mayor Engen's Impressive Economic Team |
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