I’m a lifelong Montanan, an angler, a wife, and a mom, but one thing I’m certainly not is political. However, when I heard that gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte tried to stop families like ours from accessing public lands near his home by putting up gates and intimidating signs, I couldn’t sit on the sidelines.

That’s why my husband and I decided to partner with the Montana Conservation Voters Action Fund to film their television ad.

I was hesitant to jump into the political fray, but having Greg Gianforte in the governor’s office puts our values at risk. If we elect someone who has actively worked to block access to the public lands we all share we are sure to see more gates, more signs, and less places for Montanans to explore.

We depend on being able to hike in the Rattlesnake wilderness area, fish the Blackfoot River, or hunt together on public land. Like so many Montanans, our public lands are our escape and our opportunity to connect as a family.

For me, public lands are what makes Montana so special. They are wild areas where we can fish, hike, and enjoy our state like so many generations have before us.

This is about Montana and coming together to make sure this stays the last best place. Here’s the bottom line: Greg Gianforte isn’t for Montana, he’s not from Montana and we just can’t trust him to be our Governor.

Caitlin Thompson, Bonner, MT

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