FROM STAFF REPORTS
HELENA –
Brooke Dodson has entered the Helena City Council race, declaring his candidacy for Place 4. Dodson has lived in Helena since 1999 and wants to focus on increasing public access and government transparency throughout the community.
Dodson has previously applied to fill two vacant council seats. He had the opportunity to discuss methods of improving city-wide communication with the council.
“Helena has grown significantly since my family and I moved here over 25 years ago,” Dodson said. “And while growth brings opportunity, it also demands more accountability and better communication from city leadership. We must preserve the small-town sense of community that makes Helena special, where neighbors know one another, voices are heard, and decisions are made with transparency and integrity.”
Dodson’s campaign is centered around seven parts, all of them highlighting ways to make communication between the government and community more transparent:
- Posting agendas with supporting documents in advance
- Timely, permanent posting of meeting minutes
- Expanded public comment
- Dedicated time for open public comment at every council meeting
- Livestreaming and archiving all major meetings
- Budget transparency through real-time tools
- Restoration of archived meeting agendas and minutes lost in website upgrade
Surrounding communities, including Hoover, have many of these things put in place already. Dodson would like to see Helena catch up.
Dodson believes an important step toward generating more public participation in the city is communication. He wants the people of Helena to have the opportunity to receive information and voice their concerns.
“I believe that good government begins with engaged citizens,” Dodson said. “Our current processes can, and must, do more to give the people of Helena access to timely information, the opportunity to ask questions, and a chance to be heard before decisions are made.”
Dodson’s motivation for running is bridging the gap between the council and community, opening the door for increased communication and putting the best interests of Helena first.
“I’m asking for your vote for Helena City Council, Place 4,” Dodson said. “Together, we can restore and strengthen public trust, open the doors to meaningful participation, and ensure that Helena continues to thrive, for everyone.”
