Former Missoula City Councilman Dave Strohmaier will officially announce his candidacy for the Missoula County Commission on Friday morning at the Missoula County Elections Office.

Strohmaier, who served two four-year terms on the Missoula City Council, is currently an historian with Historical Research Associates.

"I've always believed in giving back to the community, and as I've been working on issues close to my heart, many of those at the county level, it just seems the right thing to do," Strohmaier said. "Even though the office is currently held by Stacey Rye, I don't feel that I'll be running against anyone, as running for public service here in Missoula County."

Strohmaier contrasted the governing styles of the city council, with 12 members and a mayor, as opposed to the trio of county commissioners.

"County government is a good deal more constrained in the type of legislation that can be enacted, versus a municipal entity," he said. "Really, the county commissioners are the executive branch, along with the legislative branch. It's clearly a more intimate environment because you have three commissioners and to get anything done you have to gather the support of at least one more commissioner."

One commissioner already behind Strohmaier's candidacy is Jean Curtiss, who has endorsed his campaign, and will appear with him at the county courthouse for the official announcement Friday morning at 9.

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