The Challenge Before Me

I went down to the Missoula County Fairgrounds after dropping my son Paul off at kindergarten.
 
The County Elections Office is there and that’s where you need to go if you want to file for City Council.
 
I did so, filing for Ward 4.
 
And boy, it’s gonna be a challenge winning that seat!
 
First of all, Ward 4 looks like this:
 

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Missoula Ward 4, north

Missoula Ward 4, south

 
It stretches from Rimel Road high up in the South Hills and goes all the way north to the University Golf Course and a couple blocks into the University District.
 
From the east it takes up most of what’s butting up against Pattee Canyon while in the west it goes as far as Paxson Street.
 
John DiBari – one of Ward 4’s representatives, and one not up for election again until 2019 – has a very good look at the ward’s schools, businesses, and neighborhoods on his campaign website.
 
He tells us that there are 11,472 residents in Ward 4.
 
So yeah, a lot of work.
 

 
I told you I’d be filing for office back on March 11, and the reasons I’d be doing so.
 
I’m interested to see what the TV stations might have on today’s filings later tonight.
 
I’m confident the Missoulian won’t mention them at all.
 
Martin Kidston has a post up on Missoula Current talking about them, however.
 
He mentions Mayor Engen going down to the Elections Office and filing this morning as well.
 
I was happy that I beat him to the punch.
 
I wasn’t the first one there, however – an older gentleman was there before me, and since then we’ve seen Ward 1’s Jordan Hess file as well.
 
I’m sure others have or are going to, but the current candidate list isn’t up on the election site yet.
 
Kathleen Jenks has also filed to serve as Municipal Court Judge once again.
 
Kidston mentioned that I’d filed, which I appreciated, calling me a “perennial candidate.”
 
He also mentioned that Ward 5’s Annelise Hedahl and Ward 6’s Marilyn Marler “aren’t expected to seek another term.”
 
I was happy to hear that. Personally, I think our rubber-stamp City Council is doing a terrible job when it comes to reining-in Engen’s disastrous policies and procedures.
 

 
So far I’ve raised $370 from 4 people.
 
I also had to throw in $150 of my own money for the filing fee today, as you can’t use campaign money for that.
 
So I’m well on my way.
 
My plan to win this election looks like this:
 

• Over the next few months, do small, $5 Facebook ads targeting Missoula voters to inform them of my campaign and financial problems in Missoula.

 

• Over the next few weeks, print up 1,000 campaign business cards and 10 yard signs. More can be made later.

 

• Begin a once-a-month letter writing campaign to the Missoulian discussing financial problems in Missoula.

 

• Starting sometime this summer, I’ll begin going out most nights with the goal of knocking on 50 doors or more.

 

• I’ll alternate between the top of the South Hills and the areas further north by the university. This way I get a good mix of what different demographic groups are thinking.

 

• Each house will get one of my 3.5x2 inch business cards with my name and issues on the front and a county license plate list on the back.

 

• Houses that are receptive to my message will be asked if they want to put a sign in their yard.

 
And that’s it.
 
Mostly it’s just going out and knocking on doors.
 
That’s easier if you have some help, but really – if you’re running then it’s your job to do that yourself.
 
I don’t do phone calls as I don’t like ‘em and I’m sure others don’t either.
 
I do know people liked my campaign card design, so I’m doing that again…except this time I’ll spell Chouteau County correctly.
 

 
And there you have it – the exciting world of city elections.
 
If you’d like to donate to my campaign you can do so via the Act Blue button below, or you can send a check to:
 
Greg Strandberg
610 High Park Way, Apt. A
Missoula, MT 59803
 
Thanks for your support!
 
And please stay tuned – I’ll have a lot more about Missoula and it’s financial problems in the months ahead.