Sidney Native Elected Missoula County Commissioner

Sidney native and 2002 high school graduate Nicole (DeVries) Rowley was recently elected as Missoula County Commissioner; one of three County Commissioners, Rowley's six year term begins with anticipation for the changes that she hopes to make in the office.

"I really feel that I can do more for the county," Rowley said of her decision to campaign. "My hope is that I can get the county to move forward."

Rowley made the decision to run with a "Fresh voice, Fresh energy" campaign against the incumbent candidate, communicating a strong need for transparency with the county. Some of Rowley's top priorities include the growth policy which challenges her to maintain rural areas in the county by protecting agriculture while identifying land for housing and development. Another pressing issue to be addressed is how to improve the safety of women and children and she is looking forward to working with the County Attorney's Office and Sherriff's Office.

"When you're an elected official, it's not just a job, it's a way of life," Rowley commented. "I don't want to disappoint my community,"

Having always wanted to live and work in the area, Rowley admits that she never expected to be involved in politics. After attending college in San Diego and receiving her Bachelor's of Science in Biology from Dickinson State University in North Dakota, she attended the University of Utah and earned her PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology. She then worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, MT and later accepted a position as the Health and Nutrition Manager for Ravalli Early Head Start. Currently Rowley is an Environmental Specialist with the Missoula City-County Health Department. Her work in health and community services gave her plenty of experience with regulations; being pragmatic, analytical and focusing on current objectives are all well practiced skills that she feels give her experience to serve her community as an elected official.

She is also focused on the economy and how to create a healthier business climate. Negotiations with the county can be lengthy and undecided, hindering the bureaucratic process and stagnating progress. Rowley is confident in her abilities to "streamline the regulatory process" while maintaining good relations between government, businesses and private citizens.

"Interpretation of regulations has been a problem," Rowley says of the county's need to move forward. "We can't lose sight of what regulation is for."

Despite the challenges she faces, Rowley is hopeful that her experience and drive can benefit the office and is very grateful for the opportunity.

Rowley currently lives in Missoula with her husband Steve Rowley and their daughters Rayna and Kacey. She looks forward to her position as Missoula County Commissioner as well as being involved and connected with the community she calls home.