Left in the West - John Engen

Mayor Engen's Impressive Economic Team

Matt Singer — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:03:11 GMT

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.

Missoula city council approves a November referendum on Iraq

Jay Stevens — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:41:53 GMT

Good news: the Missoula City Council will allow its citizens to vote on a referendum on the Iraq War in November.

There have been the usual complaints made from the usual corners:

...local jeweler, Jim Adair, who has a son in the Marines, echoed others in the crowd, maintaining the council has no say in foreign affairs and the measure is an insult to the armed forces.
"Not one of you were elected to advise the president or the Congress on international issues," he said. "If you want to do the right thing, support our troops."

First, every one of us -- every American citizen, man, woman, and child -- has the right to advise the President and Congress on international issues. Thus, the First Amendment.

Second, holding a referendum on Iraq is not an "insult" to the troops -- such an accusation is an insult. Expressing our God-given rights in a democratic forum is a celebration of our liberties and rights. Overextending tours of duty, denying veterans adequate health care, slashing veteran benefits, sending troops into war without the proper equipment and training, sending them on a mission with no discernable goal or strategy -- in short, treating each and every member of our armed forces as disposable trash -- all the while thwarting our democratic institutions here at home, that is an insult to the troops and to the people and country they fight for.

Shame on those council members who voted to deny Missoulians a voice in the biggest issue of our lifetimes. The only reason I can think of to block such a vote is out of fear of the outcome of the referendum. That, my friends, is a terrible reason to obstruct an election.

Congratulations to Mayor John Engen for casting the deciding vote.

TONIGHT: Progressive Happy Hour with Mayor John Engen

Matt Singer — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:40:55 GMT

Forward Montana is hosting a special Progressive Happy Hour with John Engen this evening. We'll be discussing the use of vote by mail in this fall's election, affordable housing, and other stuff.

5:00pm-7:00pm at the Badlander (Formerly the Ritz and Hammerjacks).