Your City Your Say: AARP Montana Holds Helena City Candidate Forum

Helena Election Forum: Candidates Discuss Priorities and Transparency

With Helena’s general election approaching on November 4, 2025, candidates for mayor and City Commission shared their visions at a packed forum at the Opportunity Bank Conference Center on September 30. Hosted by AARP Montana, the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, and the League of Women Voters, the event drew a large crowd. Montana Radio Company's Stewart Davis moderated the event. Davis is the News and Sports Director for the KCAP news talk radio station in Helena and host of the community-focused program, Cup of Joe.

This fall's election is an "all mail" election with ballots set to be mailed on October 17.

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"All living is local living. Engaging in city politics isn't just about casting a vote—it's about shaping the streets, sidewalks, parks, and policies that define our daily lives,” said AARP Montana State Director Tim Summers. “By getting involved, we help already great communities become even better for residents of all ages – which is why we sponsored this Helena city candidate forum and encouraged folks to participate.” 

City Commissioners Emily Dean and Andy Shirtliff, who advanced from Helena’s first municipal primary in 24 years, are vying for mayor. Dean, director of engagement for the Montana School Boards Association, earned 36.53% of primary votes, while Shirtliff, executive director of the Montana Building Industry Association, secured 48.34%.

Four candidates—Haley McKnight, Melinda Reed, Ben Rigby, and Shawn White Wolf—are competing for two City Commission seats. White Wolf was absent from the forum. McKnight manages Sage & Oats Trading Post, Reed is the incumbent and director of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, and Rigby leads Montana Rural Water Systems.

Public Engagement: AARP Montana recently released a Helena Community Survey that revealed 41% of Helena’s residents aged 50+ feel unheard by local officials. Dean proposed regular town halls for open dialogue, while Shirtliff suggested adjusting meeting times and livestreaming updates. McKnight called for dedicated public information officers, Reed emphasized clearer municipal process explanations, and Rigby stressed approachability.

Project Updates: Using the debated “mini-malfunction junction” as an example, candidates shared ideas for better communication. Shirtliff advocated for an online project dashboard, McKnight suggested direct outreach to affected residents, Reed proposed public documents with clear action plans, Rigby favored improving existing project trackers, and Dean urged earlier public input.

Affordable Housing: Candidates tackled Helena’s housing crisis. McKnight supported converting historic buildings into affordable units, Reed pushed for expanding the city’s $100,000 Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Rigby focused on reducing zoning barriers, Dean highlighted “aging in place” with Accessory Dwelling Units, and Shirtliff suggested building upward to cut infrastructure costs.

The forum highlighted candidates’ commitment to transparency and addressing voter concerns as Helena prepares for the upcoming election. For more on local issues, stay tuned for updates.

Did you miss the forum?
If you missed the Helena City Candidate Forum you can see the replay here:
👉 View Recording: Helena Civic TV - Channel 189 - ON DEMAND


Hear from the candidates.
Tune in to the online radio voter guide posted by KCAP News Radio Cup of Joe from candidate interviews:
👉 Listen to the podcasts: KCAP News Radio Voter Guide


Voting Questions?
Visit the Lewis and Clark County Elections Office for information on:

• Voter registration
• Absentee and mail ballots
• Polling places
• Election deadlines