New Ward,

Same Commitment

to Missoula

Meet Jennifer Savage

At the center of my service on city council the past three years as a Ward 1 representative has been bringing underrepresented voices to the tables of power. I’ve worked to elevate those voices at every possible turn.

My husband and I moved to Montana more than 20 years ago in a van packed with books and a futon. We came for a one-year job and never left. We lived for years on five acres of tall grasses and broken down fences in Arlee. Then, with two small daughters, we moved to Missoula’s Northside where we lived for 16 years.

I grew up in North Carolina, the granddaughter of textile mill workers. I spent much of my early years at my grandmother’s house. She lived in a mill town where the houses were close and families were tight. There, I gained a deep understanding of community. Growing up, I saw strong women, like my grandmother, stand up for the places they love.

My working-class background created in me a strong work ethic and made me want to be a voice for my community and neighbors when I ran for office in 2021. Because things were never handed to me, I learned early that to get things done I had to listen to people, build trust and negotiate, even (and especially) with people I don’t always agree with. I’ve done all of those things as a city councilor and I’ve been a thoughtful contributor to the hard conversations we’ve had as a community the past three years.

Professionally, I’ve spent most of my years here working to make things better for people. I’ve helped women access their healthcare at Blue Mountain Clinic, I’ve worked on behalf of staff and students behalf at UM, and I’ve helped launch a foundation working to improve the health of western Montanans. I currently run communications at MCPS.

I raised my family in Missoula by choice. This year, as our two daughters launched into lives of their own, my husband and I looked at what was next for us. We’ve always loved and found creativity in restoring old houses so we sold our Northside home and bought a house that has served the community as the Unitarian Universalist Church for more than 50 years. We have been working hard to make it our forever home.

As I move to one of Missoula’s most dense and diverse neighborhoods this summer, I want to continue to work for my neighbors and elevate their voices where decisions are being made about their lives.