An ‘outspoken advocate for Montana’s public lands and waters,’ candidate once chaired MCV’s board
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(LIBBY, Mont.) – Montana candidate for governor Ryan Busse today earned the endorsement of Montana Conservation Voters, an organization whose board of directors he once led.
In its endorsement, the nonpartisan Montana Conservation Voters Action Fund called Busse “an outspoken advocate for Montana’s public lands and waters, responsible wildlife management and responsible energy development.”
A lifelong hunter, angler and champion of public lands and conservation, Busse sat on MCV’s board of directors from 2008 through 2013, and served as its chair from 2010 through 2012.
The biggest threat to Montana’s public lands, and to American Democracy itself, is the administration of Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Busse told MCV.
“Greg Gianforte has a dangerous agenda planned for his second term, and as a politician he’s gotten pretty slick at ‘talking the talk,’” Busse said. “But nothing Greg Gianforte says or does will undo his garbage record of suing Montanans to lock up public lands, commercializing our wildlife, turning our state into a playground for fellow billionaires and eagerly making the climate crisis worse for our kids. I can’t wait to work with MCV to hold Greg Gianforte accountable to the voters of Montana—and to the future of our state.”
“[Ryan’s] commitment to working with all Montanans to defend what makes our state great makes it clear that he will do everything it takes to safeguard our clean air, clean water, public lands, and democracy,” said Jill Lombardi, chair of the MCV Action Fund.
Busse’s two teenage sons, on their own accord, were both litigants in this summer’s groundbreaking Held v. Montana trial, which successfully held the State of Montana accountable to the constitutional right to “a clean and healthful environment.”
QUICK FACTS:
- Pronunciation: Ryan BUSS’-ee
- Home: Kalispell, Mont.
- Office Sought: Governor of Montana
- Affiliation: Democrat
- Website: busseformontana.com
- X (Twitter): @ryandbusse
- DOB: 2/23/70 (53)
- Occupation: Writer, Consultant, Firearms Expert and Former Executive (Vice President of Sales, Kimber America: 1995-2020)
- Family: Married to Sara for 24 years; two sons: Lander (18) and Badge (15)
- Alma Mater: Bethany College (Kansas)
- Chevy Odometer: 280,000 miles
- Hunting Dogs: Aldo and Teddy
- Bio: Ryan Busse is an author and former firearms executive who helped build the gun company Kimber from Kalispell between 1995 and 2020. Over his 25-year career Busse directed the sales of nearly three million Kimber firearms. His memoir, Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America, was published by PublicAffairs (Hachette) in 2021. Busse was born near the Kansas cattle ranch homesteaded by his great-grandfather. He is an avid hunter, angler and champion of public lands, and has held leadership positions with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Montana Conservation Voters. Busse and his wife Sara live in Kalispell and have two teenage sons.