Newspaper owner runs for Legislature

The publisher and editor of a Park County weekly newspaper is the first to file for a shot at representing the Livingston area for Montana’s House District 62.

Reilly Neill, who founded, owns and runs the Livingston Current, recently announced she is seeking a seat in the Montana Legislature.

The Current is an alternative weekly paper that focuses on arts, entertainment and culture as well as investigative journalism.

Neill has filed as a Democrat, though she said her political interests and philosophies are open-minded and don’t adhere strictly to one party or the other.

Reached by phone Wednesday, incumbent HD 62 Rep. Dan Skattum said he intends to run again but has not yet filed to do so.

Skattum, a Republican from Paradise Valley, won the seat in 2010 by narrowly beating Livingston Democrat Bob Ebinger, who had been the HD 62 representative for the previous two legislative sessions. Before winning the HD 62 race in 2010, Skattum was a political newcomer.

This election season marks Neill’s first foray into campaigning for public office. But after years of listening to Livingston residents, Neill says she is ready to be a voice for citizens.

“The primary reason I’m running is because I am in constant contact with the community,” said Neill, 38.

Through her role with the Current, she is always talking with residents — from fellow business people to government workers to clergy members and regular people, Neill said.

The driving factor in her decision to run is that while talking with community members, she’s heard many say they feel their voices haven’t been heard, she said. Bringing their perspectives and interests to Helena is her main goal — even above and beyond her own political goals or ideas, Neill said.

She thought about running as an independent, but Montana’s political system is geared toward two parties, so she is running as a Democrat despite having broad support among Republicans, Neill said.

“I do consider myself a very moderate Democrat,” she said.

Examples of topics on which she might lean away from typical Democratic stances and toward Republican philosophies include support for gun rights and consideration of allowing recreational motorized travel in backcountry areas, she said. What matters most to her, though, is what she hears that citizens want to see happen in Helena.

“I really feel like in this country we’ve gotten to a place of leadership government instead of representative government,” Neill said.

Issues that are personally important to her include seeing that the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad property in Livingston is cleaned up of its pollutants and that air and water quality are preserved, she said. As a legislator, she might form a committee of lawmakers who represent similarly situated towns or areas to raise awareness of polluted properties.

Neill was born in Dublin, Ireland, to American parents. She moved to the States when she was 5. She is an American citizen. Neill grew up in Memphis, Tenn., where her family is part owner of a regional publishing company.

The company includes ownership of a weekly alternative newspaper in Memphis.

Beginning from when she was a teenager to when she was 20, she held positions at that paper ranging from receptionist to working as a classified account representative. She periodically worked for the paper as a freelance writer in later years.

From 2000 to 2003, she attended the University of Montana to pursue what she describes as a nontraditional course of study that included ecology, climate change  and writing. Neill eventually made her way to Livingston before founding the Current in 2005. If elected, Neill would continue publishing the Current.

Also sprinkled throughout her professional experience are jobs in news and publishing, including The Missoula Independent. In addition, she’s held positions in marketing and management. Neill’s background also includes several years spent working as a personal and professional chef in the culinary industry, including at one time working at Livingston’s 2nd Street Bistro.

Neill has a 3-year-old son, Caen Klipp.