Controlling The Mayor’s Office: A Conspiracy Theory

by Travis Mateer

Missoula’s longest-serving Mayor, John Engen, died in office after securing his historic fifth term, but thanks to John’s arrogant attempt at directing $16 million dollars in Tax Increment Financing to a Wisconsin transplant flush with Daddy’s money, John died in office knowing his self-deprecating fat jokes no longer provided the political cover he enjoyed for so many years.

Instead of leaving in a body bag, I had hoped a decent political candidate would come along to provide an actual challenge to Mayor Engen, but decent is NOT how I would describe Jacob Elder. In fact, looking back, I’ve come to an interesting conclusion about Elder’s candidacy and, if I’m right, I think something similar may be developing to help our current Mayor, Andrea Davis, keep her job as the smiling figurehead for the REAL power that runs this town (I’m looking at YOU, Ellen).

Local liberals came at Jacob Elder HARD, so I figured he was a serious candidate. I caught a political intern using her position at the Montana Human Rights Network to make public claims about Elder’s supporters, I listened to the vigorous whisper campaign about Elder’s behavior towards women, and I gave Jacob an opportunity to play his HOMELESS REFUGEE card when I interviewed him for my podcast. When Elder crashed and burned, a nagging suspicion started growing. Was Jacob Elder an unwitting dupe who got played by more sophisticated political handlers to create the ILLUSION of a political opponent?

Elder’s use of the homeless card was an obvious play, considering those of us in the know back then understood that the issue of homelessness in Missoula was becoming political kryptonite. The Executive Director of United Way, Susan Hay Patrick, for example, was instrumental in positioning Ellie Boldman into the director position at the homeless shelter, the Poverello Center, where I started working in 2008. 

Ellie infamously used the shelter to launch her political career after doing favors for the important people, like employing Ellen Buchanan’s daughter, Keenan Whitt, as the Poverello Center’s Development Director. After that position, Keenan got a job at Blue Line Development, an “affordable housing” developer acting as a private tentacle for our local octopus.

Another important figure who understands how much kryptonite I possess is Eran Pehan, the director of everything who helps provide the kind of continuity I appreciate Elon destroying at the National level. Eran was the one who let me know (because she has an FBI pal) that the killer who evaded Missoula police in 2014—the killer who potentially knew I helped identify him before he fled Missoula—was ticketed by Colorado authorities just a few dozen miles from where I had gone with my family to vacation. Since the Colorado cops were as effective at understanding what they were dealing with as our Missoula cops were, Kevin Lino made it all the way to Louisiana before finally being caught, charged, and convicted of his violent crime.

I like reminding our local “leaders” about my role kicking ass for this community by dealing with ACTUAL threats because now it’s ME who is being depicted as a deranged threat requiring immediate legal intervention. Is that why legal considerations of due process are being conveniently ignored by certain politicians? 

Soon after Mayor Davis’ announcement of her reelection intention, Mike Nugent, her previous opponent, figuratively castrated himself and made his gelded offering on Gomer’s platform, the Missoula Current:

“I’ve seen firsthand her dedication, leadership, and deep commitment to our city,” said Nugent. “In her short time as Mayor, Andrea has shown a willingness to tackle our city’s most pressing challenges head-on, form advancing critical code reform to tackling housing affordability.”

If can-kicking in the form of work-shopping-away time in order to empower a few homeless tokens is Mike’s idea of tackling challenges head-on, then I hope he’s keeping track of the success stories. Am I talking about the conveniently-timed story of 12 Veterans housed in the homeless sprint competition? No, I’m talking about Brad, the urban camper who recently added an assault on a cop to his record of indignant persistence at doing what this community has LOUDLY declared they don’t want him doing anymore in public parks. 

While Brad’s political use now appears truncated by circumstance, I have more confidence in the alleged arsonist’s political future because of his curious write-in candidacy for Sheriff of Whatcom County. That is, unless my attention on this Potential Political Ploy (PPP) is somehow counterproductive to it, because it kinda seemed that way when I got all excited over the candidacy of Missoula’s former Sheriff, T.J. McDermott.

I’d like to say more, but I’m going to leave it there, for now. If you appreciate my detailed knowledge of local politics, please donate to Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF). Any little bit helps.

Thanks for reading!