Protecting Montana’s Public Lands: What Actions Tell Us

Montana residents love open spaces. Many of us want those lands to stay free for everyone, not just the rich. Politicians often promise that protection during campaigns. After elections, their deeds speak louder than words. In recent years, some leaders have backed bills that give big money holders more say over national parks and forests. They also support cuts to federal agencies that guard these lands, and they back plans that close off public access. When a candidate votes for agency heads who favor privatizing parks, they undermine the rules that keep those places safe and open. These moves quietly shrink public lands bit by bit, a loss that becomes obvious only after many years.I grew up near an irrigation ditch behind my house. One day, a sudden family breakup made me run toward the creek and into the nearby woods—public land that felt like a refuge. That experience taught me how essential open spaces are, especially when personal troubles arise. Now I worry that elected officials might slowly hand over these places to private interests. Montana voters need clear, honest answers from candidates about their real plans for public lands. True leadership shows itself in actions, not promises. If a candidate truly cares about protecting these lands, they must vote accordingly and stand by those choices. This election is a chance to choose leaders who will keep our public lands for future generations. We can no longer rely on political rhetoric; we must look at what people actually do.