Brendan O'Connor for Mayor!

In a City Hall crowded with policy wonks and insiders, I’ll be the voice of Bozeman’s working class. My boots stay on the ground, my eyes on the everyday realities most leaders never see, and my ear tuned to the people who keep this city running. As mayor, I’ll turn those street-level truths into action so government finally works for the folks who do the real work.

My first priority

Affordable housing

Bozeman doesn’t have a housing shortage, it has an affordability shortage. We need to reform how we use TIF: no more handouts to luxury developments. Instead, tie those public dollars to real affordability. With smart incentives and real enforcement, we can ensure young families, workers, and seniors have access to homes they can actually afford, without selling out the character of our community.

My second priority

Amenities for all

Bozeman has an abundance of bars, overpriced breweries, restaurants, and boutiques, but it lacks entertainment and amenities for the average person. We need to prioritize developing community-focused spaces and activities, places where families, young professionals, and everyone in between can gather, relax, and have fun without breaking the bank. Through public-private partnerships, the city can help locally owned entertainment businesses get off the ground in Bozeman’s suffocating market. It's time to ensure that our city caters to all residents, not just the elite few

My third priority

Opportunity for small business.

To help Bozeman’s small businesses grow, we need to invest in the kinds of amenities that make people stay. Entertainment and recreation options like skating rinks, indoor skateparks, and rec centers don’t just provide fun, they drive citizen retention by giving families and young adults a reason to plant roots here. These year-round spaces act as economic multipliers: they support local contractors, cleaners, repair techs, and other B2B services while drawing consistent foot traffic that benefits nearby restaurants, coffee shops, and retail. When we support these kinds of community anchors, we’re not just creating jobs, we’re creating reasons for people to build their lives in Bozeman and keep their dollars circulating locally