Many eyes watching Bozeman Pass race (my district)

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Many eyes watching Bozeman Pass race

By WALT WILLIAMS Chronicle Staff Writer

Republican Bill Warden and Democrat Mike Phillips both entered politics for the same reason -- to right a wrong.

In Warden's case, his first foray came after graduating from Montana State University in the early 1970s. He ran for Bozeman City Commission, not to land a commission seat, but to challenge a law proclaiming that only property owners could run for commission. The law was overturned in federal court.

"I feel good we were able to do that, that you didn't have to own property to be a city commissioner," he said.

Phillips' political ambitions began brewing much later, in the mid-1990s when Congress was holding hearings about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park. He was struck and angered by the rudeness of politicians toward those witnesses delivering testimony contrary to their ideology.


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