Missoula officially turned the page on a new era of governance on Monday when the city's new mayor was sworn into office, followed by the celebration of dozens of jubilant supporters
In what would be the last City Council meeting of his tenure as mayor, Jordan Hess praised Missoula's city employees, its innovation and the accomplishments it has notched over the last decade, most of which he spent as one of Missoula top elected leaders.
While the city's sidewalk needs and who should fund them have been an issue for more than a decade, for now, several dozen residents in one Missoula neighborhood will be assessed their share of the cost of a planned new greenway.
With the election in the rearview mirror and the canvassing of ballots set to begin, the city's newly elected mayor, Andrea Davis, is gearing up to begin the job she set out for eight months ago when launching her campaign.
Incumbent council member Sandra Vasecka currently trails Sean Patrick McCoy by five votes, or a margin of roughly 0.17%. That sits within the threshold of state law allowing Vasecka to request a recount and have the elections office fund it.
Several members of the Missoula City Council on Monday night declined to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance but rather, they sat at their desk waiting for the meeting to begin, each in silent protest of a personal cause.
The Missoula County Elections Office on Wednesday began working to resolve 12 ballots that were rejected in Tuesday's race in Ward 6 for City Council, and the results could sway the outcome of the night's closest contest.
Sam Kulla writes, "First and foremost, we must safeguard human rights on all fronts to create the foundation for caring for our planet and each other. These issues are interconnected."