Issues

Every day, I hear from my neighbors that everything just costs too much. Home prices and rent are out of control; childcare, food, and energy prices keep climbing; and healthcare remains unaffordable. Helena has always been a safe, affordable place to raise a family and enjoy retirement. We can’t let that slip away, which is one of the biggest reasons I want to serve you in the Montana Legislature. 

I’ve dedicated my life to public safety, especially protecting Montana’s most vulnerable children and families. From my early days working in group homes and child protective services, to my over fifteen  years at the Montana Department of Justice, I’ve worked firsthand to build safer communities and I know what it takes to drive crucial improvements in our public safety.

I believe nothing is more important to the future of our democracy than public education, and I’m deeply committed to making sure every child has access to high-quality schools.
 

I attended Montana public schools from kindergarten through graduate school, served nine years on the Helena School Board, and raised three children in the Helena public school system.

Access to Montana’s public lands is our greatest gift, and it must always be protected. When my kids were young, summer vacations for our family meant two-week camping trips at places like Benchmark in the Lewis & Clark National Forest, Branham Lakes in Madison County or Monture Creek just down the road from Helena. We didn’t have much money—but that didn’t matter, because Montana’s public lands gave us access to world-class adventures, right in our own backyard.

Montana’s history is filled with moments when everyday Montanans stood up to powerful corporations and demanded better pay, safer conditions, and a voice in the workplace - from the union halls of Butte to the timber crews of the Bitterroot and the railroad yards of Havre, working people built this state. I grew up hearing these stories in my living room from my father K. Ross Toole who famously delivered lectures on the extraordinary history of the labor movement in Montana. 

I am driven to public service by the people in our communities - I want to hear from you! What challenges are you facing? What concerns you about the direction of our state government? What successes in your community do you think deserve more attention?