Editor’s note: The following story was written by students in Professor Nadia White’s Public

Affairs Reporting class at the University of Montana. You are free to share or publish this story
provided you retain the reporter byline. Questions? Email nadia.white@umontana.edu.

Anderson, Landquist both call themselves unique in

commission race
By Cameron Rasmusson and Collin Behan

Both candidates running for the Missoula County Board of

Commissioners this year believe they will bring the most diversity to
the position.

Democrat challenger Michele Landquist says she would be the only

commissioner to live outside the city limits of Missoula. This would put
her more in tune with the county, not just the city of Missoula.

Incumbent Larry Anderson judges himself to be distinctive because he

would be the only Republican on the commission.

The two candidates have focused on very different issues throughout

their campaigns.

Landquist has focused on growth management and the promotion of

agriculture. She is also concerned with environmental conservation and
ecological friendliness. Having lived outside Missoula city limits her
entire adult life, Landquist wants to ensure the county’s smaller
communities are equally represented. She wants community members
to feel that they are being heard and acknowledged by their local
government.

Anderson’s campaign focuses on responsible growth and management

of transportation in a fast growing community. Building community
plans to preserve the unique personalities of the county’s smaller
towns is also key, he said. As a Vietnam veteran, securing the benefits
and maintaining the wellbeing of soldiers returning from Afghanistan
and Iraq is important to Anderson. He feels strongly that an elected
official should serve and listen to all the people, not just the majority
that elected them.

Landquist has spent significant time engaged in community activity.

She currently serves on the Lolo Watershed Group, Montana
Environmental Education Association, and Lolo Community Club. She
also served two terms on the Lolo Community Council and Lolo Area
Community Organization. As a resident of Missoula County for over 30
years, she believes it’s time to pay her community back.
“Missoula County has been a great place to live and raise a family and
serving as county commissioner is one way I can give back,” she said.

Anderson has served as city administrator and one term on the city
council in Missoula. In addition to owning his own rental supply
business, Anderson has worked for the Bureau of Land Management
across the West. He assisted former Sen. Conrad Burns and Rep. Denny
Rehberg as a field representative.

“I learn something new every day and meet new people and that’s
what makes the job interesting,” Anderson said about his time on the
commission.

Currently, Anderson serves on the commission with Democrats Jean

Curtiss and Bill Carey. Anderson took over the position from retiring
commissioner Barbara Evans in August 2007.