Letters: Diane Magone has the effective leadership needed in Montana Senate

I first met Diane Magone when I moved to Montana and we were both involved with the ACS Relay for Life, but I didn’t get to know her well until after the 2016 election when she and another community member put out a call for people interested in reactivating the Mineral County Democratic Central Committee. This group quickly formed and Diane was elected Chairperson.

Over the next four years I witnessed her quiet but effective leadership and her willingness to step out and involve herself in community activities, from attending Hospital Board meetings and Mineral County Commissioner meetings, to working on the Rails to Trails project, to running in the 2014 race as the Democratic candidate for Montana HD14.

I accompanied her a few times as she canvassed homes in Mineral County and observed her genuine interactions with so many Mineral County residents of both parties as she listened to their concerns while avoiding partisan conflict. Now she is the Democratic candidate for Senate District 7 and, sadly, very little personal contact can take place, but she is still meeting and listening to community members whenever or wherever she can.

Diane grew up in the Superior area and after getting a degree in social work and working in Missoula, she returned to Superior to care for her aging father. Since returning she has consistently been involved in the community. She is a strong advocate for healthcare and our rural critical access hospitals, public schools, public lands and our local small businesses.

My husband and I strongly support Diane Magone for SD 7, she is indefatigable and she will be a strong champion for the people of rural Montana.