FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2022

MCV Hosts Annual Gala with Senator Tester and Federal and State Candidates After Two-Year Hiatus

Livingston event boasts conservation leader attendance from across the state 

(LIVINGSTON, Mont.) – Today over 125 people gathered for Montana Conservation Voters’ Annual Gala at the Livingston Depot in Livingston. Montana’s Senior U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Justice Ingrid Gustafson, a federal Congressional candidate, several state legislative candidates and conservation partners from across the state gathered to support MCV’s mission to protect Montana’s public lands, clean air and clean waters.

“Montana Conservation Voters is an organization that moves the needle in its tireless work to keep Montana the Last Best Place,” Tester said. “The Montanans that power this organization make their voices heard from Big Sky Country all the way to Washington DC. And it’s because of your work that we passed the most significant climate legislation this country has ever seen. I’ll continue to stand with Montanans as we fight to protect our public lands and ensure future generations enjoy our clean air and water.”

Andrew Posewitz, the longtime conservation advocate and son of late conservationist Jim Posewitz, also spoke at the event and highlighted real urgency to protect Montana’s public trust.

“We are at a crossroads in Montana and our public trust is in jeopardy,” said Posewitz. “100 years of citizen-led efforts, including our constitutional right to hunt, fish and enjoy a clean and healthful environment, have become political pawns for the elite greed merchants and those who do their bidding at your expense. Now more than ever, we need organizations like MCV to keep our public lands and wildlife in the hands of the public.”

And Montanans are paying attention when it comes to protecting Montana’s outdoors. According to a 2022 Voter Survey on Public Lands by the University of Montana, 85 percent of Montanans say issues involving clean water, clean air, open spaces and public lands are important when deciding to support an elected public official.

“With only 33 days until Election Day, MCV is hard at work and on the ground to prevent an anti-conservation supermajority in the Montana state legislature and protect our pro-conservation majority on the state Supreme Court,” stated MCV Executive Director Whitney Tawney. “Our clean air, our clean water and our public lands are on the ballot this November and if we don’t show up, we will threaten Montana’s outdoor way of life for future generations. This is not a drill, we’re on fire and we need every Montanan who cares about the future of our state voting to protect Montana’s outdoors.”

Top-level Premium sponsors of  MCV’s 2022 Annual Gala include Lisa and Tom Cordingley and The Messina Group. Leader sponsors include Clearwater Credit Union, David and Monica Paoli, Robin Tawney Nichols and Dr. William Nichols. Partner sponsors include C.B. Pearson, The Kendeda Fund, League of Conservation Voters, Montana Wildlife Fund, PacificSource Health Plans and Penny Ronning.

This was the first time the Annual Gala was back in person after two years due to the pandemic. The event also featured live music from Montana’s Dennis Downing, local food from Crazy Mountain Catering and a sponsored bar by Livingston’s Katabatic Brewing Company.