by Todd Wilkinson
Red, white, blue accented with spring greenup: In these times, how can we restore a higher sense of common civic good in the Rocky Mountain West? It is, and has always been, our intent at Yellowstonian to serve as a catalyst for solutions, not be a mere dispenser of facts without context.
The truth is that without a functional representative democracy, which upholds institutions, laws and ensures that citizens have a say in decisions, there is little hope of being able to protect a wildlife-rich bioregion like Greater Yellowstone and the birthright we share of public lands.
The truth is that without a functional representative democracy, which upholds institutions, laws and ensures that citizens have a say in decisions, there is little hope of being able to protect a wildlife-rich bioregion like Greater Yellowstone and the birthright we share of public lands.
That’s why we’re serving as a catalyst for a rare special evening. Once fierce rivals and enormously popular among their respective tribes, Marc Racicot and Dorothy Bradley will talk about the need for unity in a lively discussion at the historic Ellen Theater in Bozeman. This free public event, on Thursday, May 22 at 7 pm, is co-sponsored by Yellowstonian, the Montana Wildlife Federation and the good folks at The Ellen. If you’re in the region, we hope to see you there. Let it be a model of how civic engagement is supposed to work.
Here’s the intriguing backdrop that sets the context for the evening. In 1992, Bradley was vying to become the first woman governor of Montana after serving eight terms in the Montana legislature, and at age 23 when first elected, had been the youngest woman lawmaker in Helena. Bradley, a Democrat and inspirational figure to many women in Montana, faced another rising star, Marc Racicot, the state Attorney General, who later went on to become chair of the Republican National Committee.
Racicot edged out Bradley by just 10,000 votes in a race with 408,000 cast. Rather than become bitter foes, they are rallying together now to restore civility and a sense of “the radical middle” where good governance resides. Our event is intended to foster the values of goodwill that truly did make the country great, including the legacy of public lands, conservation and heeding the rule of law. Could their coming together be a symbol of what’s possible elsewhere?
