Bell enters legislative race for Missoula House seat held by Dudik

Teacher and union board member Matt Bell entered the race for House District 94 in Missoula this week.

Bell, who bills himself as a “Bernie Democrat,” looks to unseat incumbent Democrat Kim Dudik.

“I decided it was time to give voters a progressive choice,” Bell said in a statement. “People back home are watching our elected officials. They need to be held accountable. I am the solid voice for Missoula’s values.”

Bell teaches at Willard Alternative and Big Sky High schools and is an at-large board member of the Montana Federation of Public Employees. He was born on the Hi-Line and is an enrolled member of the Nakoda and Aaniiih Nations of Fort Belknap.

Bell criticized Dudik's votes on the environment.

“As a statewide board member for our teachers union and a voter committed to clean air and clean water, I was keenly aware that my representative was the only Missoula Democrat who voted for coal trucks to continue to travel through our community, and this frustrates me as a new father and Native American who stands in protest of the pipeline,” Bell said.

Republican Dean Rehbein has also filed to run for the seat.