Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce encourages members to run for City Council

Organization wants to see more pro-business candidates

The Missoula City Council http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/citycouncil/ is not pro-business enough, so the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce http://www.missoulachamber.com has e-mailed chamber members an appeal for more candidates, said CEO Kim Latrielle.

By Robert Struckman of the Missoulian http://www.missoulian.com

“This is the single most important business involvement request this Chamber will make,” Latrielle wrote in the e-mail, which went to about 1500 business owners. The chamber has 800 business members who represent more than 18,200 employees.

Then Latrielle got down to the brass tacks: The pay is $11,200 per year plus health benefits for council representatives for a minimum of 20 hours per week.

“(The appeal) is quite simple,” explained Latrielle, it’s about balancing business needs with other needs.

You can run, too

The application deadline to run for Missoula City Council and mayor is June 30. Applications can be picked up at City Hall, 435 Ryman St.

“No matter how good you are when you go to City Hall, if you don’t have (business) people sitting there, you’re beating your head against the wall,” she said.

Latrielle was careful to add that the chamber does not give financial support to any candidates or campaigns, nor does the organization advertise.

“All we do is encourage people to run,” Latrielle said. In addition, the chamber endorses candidates to its membership. Endorsement decisions are based on membership surveys, candidate forums and a final vote by the chamber’s board of directors.

The chamber’s activism isn’t altogether news; it’s just never been this pronounced.

That’s because the upcoming fall election is so important, Latrielle said.

With six seats and the mayor’s job open, this is a critical election, she said.

The problem is that business owners are often so engrossed with their work that they take no notice of local politics until they need and OK from the city.

Then, if the council isn’t business friendly, it’s too late.

“I’m not saying we don’t have any (pro-business voices). We do. Bu we need balance,” Latrielle said.

The application deadline is June 30. Applications can be picked up at City Hall.

Reporter Robert Struckman can be reached at 406-523-5262 or [email protected]