Jennifer Owen
City Council Member & Candidate for Mayor
Ballots have arrived and, after months of campaigning, voters in Billings will have their say. In these last days of the election, I want to express my sincerest gratitude to the thousands of voters that I’ve met this year. Your prayers, encouragement, questions, and engagement remind me why I am so excited about the future of Billings.
As you consider your choices in this election, I am asking for your vote, for your support in leading Billings boldly. I believe that local government should be about real results and serving people: protecting families, showing value for every tax dollar spent, and ensuring the roads, water, sewers, and public systems that we depend on don’t fail when we need them most.
We stand at a pivotal moment. Exciting new investment is flowing into the community, bringing new jobs, expanding amenities, and showing that Billings is a city on the move. At the same time, growth means increased pressure on basic services: police, emergency services, roads, and infrastructure. Now is the time for a clear vision to deliver on the tremendous potential of Billings and address the challenges that lie ahead.
While we build our future, we must ensure that every neighborhood, every family, and every taxpayer benefits. I’m running for Mayor because I believe in a Billings that is defined not by change happening to us, but by action, accountability, and leadership that protects what we love about Billings while embracing the chance to flourish.
Billings is on the brink of tremendous opportunity. The leaders of our community will make a difference in how we move forward. Billings needs a Mayor that can deliver on public safety, responsible budgeting, accountability in local government, and infrastructure that lays the foundation for prosperity.
For the last four years on City Council, I have pushed for change, challenged assumptions, and advocated for the taxpayers. We have built new partnerships with the County to hold criminals accountable, added police officers, invested in crime prevention programs, and brought law enforcement and domestic violence advocates together to launch Montana’s first Family Justice Center. We increased Council budget oversight and worked to better align spending with priorities.
We’ve made progress, but there is more work to be done. As mayor, my focus will be on fiscal discipline, investing in infrastructure across all neighborhoods, and tackling systemic criminal justice issues so that law enforcement is supported and root causes of crime are addressed.
Throughout my life, I’ve met hard things: as a mother balancing work and care, as someone who lost my husband to cancer, as someone who has worked with vulnerable children and families. Those experiences have taught me two lessons: that pain and adversity can be transformed into strength through service, and that leadership means showing up, even when the path is hard. I am running for Mayor because I believe Billings has that same potential. We’re not without obstacles — crime, aging infrastructure, tight budgets — but we have the energy, talent, and community spirit to overcome them.
This election isn’t just a choice between candidates; it’s a choice between a future where change happens to us, and a future where we lead change that reflects our values and aspirations
Billings is my home. I’m relentlessly optimistic about our city and serious about tackling our challenges. I’m not content to simply run meetings. Now is the time to lead boldly and advocate for Billings. As you cast your ballot, I ask for your vote. Let’s shake up the status quo and build the Billings we deserve — together.
Published in the Billings Gazette, 10/19/2025
https://billingsgazette.com/opinion/column/article_b555c3ca-848d-47de-8ffc-77844322bacf.html
