Andy Shirtliff
2022 - Present
2026
2
Andy Shirtliff is a member of the Helena City Commission in Montana. He assumed office on August 30, 2022. His current term ends on January 5, 2026.
Shirtliff won re-election to the Helena City Commission in Montana outright in the general election on November 7, 2023, after the primary and general election were canceled.
Biography
Andy Shirtliff was born in Montana. He graduated from Flathead High School, attended Flathead Valley Community College, and received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Montana. His professional experience includes working in public relations for the Montana Department of Commerce and as executive director of the Montana Building Industry Association. As of 2024, Shirtliff was affiliated with Montana Ambassadors, the Montana Economic Developers Association, Forward Montana, Montana Democratic Party Executive Board, Helena College, Montana Young Professionals, Helena Young Professionals, and Leadership Montana.[1][2]
Elections
2023
General election
The general election was canceled. Andy Shirtliff (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Shirtliff in this election.
2018
General election
General election for Montana Public Service Commission District 5
Incumbent Brad Johnson defeated Andy Shirtliff in the general election for Montana Public Service Commission District 5 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brad Johnson (R) | 57.8 | 60,434 | |
| Andy Shirtliff (D) | 42.2 | 44,103 | ||
| Total votes: 104,537 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana Public Service Commission District 5
Andy Shirtliff defeated Tyrel Suzor-Hoy and Henry Clay Speich in the Democratic primary for Montana Public Service Commission District 5 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Andy Shirtliff | 64.3 | 12,783 | |
| Tyrel Suzor-Hoy | 22.0 | 4,382 | ||
 | Henry Clay Speich | 13.7 | 2,729 | |
| Total votes: 19,894 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana Public Service Commission District 5
Incumbent Brad Johnson advanced from the Republican primary for Montana Public Service Commission District 5 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brad Johnson | 100.0 | 29,589 | |
| Total votes: 29,589 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Andy Shirtliff did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Andy Shirtliff participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on May 9, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Andy Shirtliff's responses follow below.[3]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | Better jobs, fairer Bills, and diversifing our state’s energy development, as well as protecting net neutrality.[4][5] | ” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Community development, Economic development, and public access.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[5]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Andy Shirtliff answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?
| “ | Montana’s Governor Steve Bullock, Helena’s Mayor Wilmot Collins, NASA deputy director Dava Newman, she’s from Montana, Martin Luther King Jr., Pat and Carol Williams, and Mike Mansfield.[5] | ” |
| “ | I believe that change, growth, and leadership come from within you. I’ve worked in Economic Development the last five years, and have been politically active since I was a kid; and what I’ve learned is that, if we wish to change something, we start with ourselves.
I am a graduate of the Leadership Montana program, that focuses on professional and personal development. The book, “Gracious Space,” is a key part to the curriculum, it focuses on; inviting new people and new ideas to the table, collaboration, and leadership through empowering others.[5] |
” |
| “ | Remembering who you work for, knowing your “why” your reason for being there, and asking yourself, “would I pay myself for what I’m doing right now, because it’s the taxpayers who do, and you represent them. Never forget that.[5] | ” |
| “ | I heard a great talk the other day about customer service, like politics, is about awareness.
I grew up in a blue-collar family, our folks had full-time jobs, worked well over 40-hours a week and still found time to be there for us. They taught me the value of hard work, and the importance of public service. Politics is about people, meeting them where they are at, hearing them out, working together to solve the problem. I have the experience; I’ve been a public servant my entire professional career. I was appointed by both Governors Schweitzer and Bullock to their staff, as a policy advisor and small business advocate. I’ve traveled our state several times over, worked with Economic developers, community and business leaders to create a business plan for Main Street Montana, and together created an online tool to streamline Montana’s licensing and permitting process. They don’t keep score in politics, but some sure like to try and score political points; I don’t believe in that. Because the problems we face are too great, and the opportunities we have are too important, we don’t have time for playing games.[5] |
” |
| “ | Transparency is vital to public office. Not many know what the PSC is or who they are, but one decision can change your life like the flick of a switch.
Accountability is vital as well, the role of the PSC is to hold utility companies accountable. If a company wishes to raise rates, they better have a darn good reason, like; investing in the efficiency of their production and products, and in innovation. The markets and our customers are moving in a new direction, one that Montana is suited for, we must invest in our state, our people, and our future.[5] |
” |
| “ | Change starts with us and it starts today. My goal is to make a difference, to help at least one person every day, and to empower others to realize they have it within themselves to make a difference.[5] | ” |
| “ | I grew up in the eighties and nineties, so quite a lot! End of the Cold War, the wall coming down, both Iraq wars/conflicts, the 2000 presidential election, 9/11, the Red Sox winning the pennant for the first time in a century, later the Cubs did too. The first African American President, and I attended his Inauguration in DC.
And many more.[5] |
” |
| “ | I worked at Glacier Wholesalers in Evergreen, just east of Kalispell. I was 16 at the time, worked 8 hour days; sweeping the dock, unloading trucks, stocking merchandise, and stacking frozen food in their massive freezer.[5] | ” |
| “ | Hard to pick just one! I love the holiday season, being with family over Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I love Easter, spring in Montana is something else. And of course the Fourth of July, watching fireworks over the lake, and Halloween, seeing kids of all ages dress up; even myself![5] |
” |
| “ | Daring Greatly by Brene Brown, anything by her is great.
And I’m about to start the book Power On*Energy by Former Governor Brian Schweitzer.[5] |
” |
| “ | I’m Batman.
Fictional character? Definitely Marty McFly, or Luke Skywalker; Big Sky Jedi.[5] |
” |
| “ | My deck to take photos of the sky, the mountains, and the sunsets.
And the fact it has a washer and dryer in the unit so I can do laundry whenever.[5] |
” |
| “ | The Walker by the Fitz and the Tantrums.[5] | ” |
| “ | I’ve learned that no matter how bad things may seem, that someone may have it much worse; so I’m thankful for the lessons struggles have taught me along the way.[5] | ” |
| “ | The PSC can affect your life like the flick of a switch, they set your electrical rates, water and sewer rates, telecommunication rates; things we use every single day.
The current PSC has not had our best interest at heart, and it’s time for a new vision.[5] |
” |
| “ | I will be the advocate for Montana’s consumers and small businesses on the Public Service Commission.
I will fight for Montanans and their hard earned dollars. I take a lot of pride having Glacier National Park in my district; so If any proposed energy development is on, near, over, or around public lands and streams, I will be a staunch opponent. I will remove barriers to innovation, to add diversity to our energy development, and protect our public access to the internet.[5] |
” |
| “ | The PSC as a whole is not widely known, I aim to bring a greater transparency to the commission.
The current PSC has openly tried to hold back solar companies through rate changes and moving the goal line as to make it impossible for companies to invest in Montana. I aim to change that.[5] |
” |
| “ | Though the PSC sets rates, and deals with numbers; their decisions affect people every day. Someone running for this position must understand that, because it is a major responsibility.[5] | ” |
| “ | The awareness that this post can effect people every day, that if approached with the right attitude and effort, I can make a positive impact.[5] | ” |
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I believe that change starts with us, and it starts today; no better time to make a difference than right now. I am running to fight for Montana's consumers and small businesses, to remove barriers to innovation which will add diversity to our energy development, lead to better jobs, and fairer bills. I will hold energy companies accountable, and will encourage them to improve efficiencies, and invest in clean, safe, and renewable energy development. Is there anything you would like to add? You can find me on ActBlue, and at Facebook.com/AndyForMontana[5] |
” |
| —Andy Shirtliff[1] | ||
See also
2023 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form on May 8, 2018
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with Andy Shirtliff," January 24, 2024
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Andy Shirtliff's responses," May 9, 2018
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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