After Maptronix was acquired by a major public safety company called Tiburon, I got the chance to take my experience with 911 mapping systems and apply it on a national scale.
I started out running the mapping business unit, but after about a year I was promoted to head of the products division. In that role, I ran all of our software development teams. We expanded our focus from real-time mapping and geofile services to the entire scope of public safety infrastructure, building the core dispatch and records management systems that first responders rely on every single day.
That job took me all across our country, working directly with police, fire, and EMS departments. I got to see firsthand how different agencies operate under pressure, from watching a moose walk through the parking lot of the Anchorage Police Department one morning to being in the New York Transit Authority dispatch center when reports of someone "throwing fire" on a victim in the subway came in. Through it all, I learned what it actually takes to support the men and women on the front lines.
Working so closely with public safety professionals taught me that when a crisis hits, there is absolutely no room for political games, red tape, or communication breakdowns. When agencies refuse to share vital information or work together, the system breaks down and regular citizens pay the price. Keeping communities safe requires total, seamless cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement.
That is exactly the mindset I want to bring to Helena. When our local volunteer fire departments, search and rescue teams, and sheriffs go out on a call in Gallatin County, they need a state government that prioritizes practical infrastructure, law enforcement cooperation, and public safety over political posturing. Let's ensure our local heroes have the backing and the integrated systems they need to keep our communities safe.
That's Montana common sense.
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