For decades, East Helena has been part of my summer routine and my life in the Helena Valley.
I’ve watched fireworks light up the sky from neighborhood driveways, enjoyed the rodeo, danced and sung at East Helena High, volunteered with the school’s speech and debate program, and chatted it up at Galaxy Coffee. Through all of it, one thing has always been clear: East Helena is a place with pride, heart, and people who know how to treat their neighbors.
If you only paid attention to the headlines lately, you might think our communities are divided and driven by fear. That’s not what I see here. East Helena reflects Montana values many of us were raised with: live and let live, think for yourself, ask questions, and respect others even when you don’t agree.
This way of life came into action in the 2025 Legislature, when elected officials from East Helena chose a bipartisan path and worked together. They focused on keeping our courts fair, our hospitals open, and planning for our retirees and our children’s future.
As communications director for the Montana Senate Democrats, I supported the work of that coalition and became even more inspired to run for Senate District 41, a diverse district with a lot in common.
Across the Helena Valley, many longtime residents are feeling stretched thin. Grocery bills are higher. Health care costs keep rising. Child care is harder to find and afford.
Housing prices and property taxes are putting pressure on families who have lived here for decades and worry about whether their kids will be able to stay. These challenges are easy to see, but solving them will take hard work.
My background as an attorney, small business owner, and community leader has prepared me well for this task, and this position. I know how to listen, organize, and deliver results. I’ll focus on practical, local solutions that help families make ends meet.
Over the coming months, I look forward to continuing to listen, learn, and spend time in the community. Whether it’s over coffee, at a school event, or out in the neighborhood, I want to hear what matters most to you and what you think would make East Helena stronger.
On June 2, I would be honored to earn your vote in the Democratic primary for Senate District 41 and the opportunity to keep working for the Montana way of life: practical, fair, and grounded in respect for one another and our beautiful valley.
Erin Farris-Olsen, a Helena-based mother, attorney and small business owner, is running for Montana Senate District 41 as a member of the Democratic Party. Farris-Olsen has spent her career working on community-based solutions in natural resource management, rural development, and helping Montanans access justice and resolve conflicts. Contact her at erin4montana@gmail.com and learn more at https://www.erin4montana.com/.