Lifelong resident and businessman, Charlie Loveridge has been the first to announce his candidacy for the Billings City Council.
Charlie Loveridge
Loveridge will be challenging incumbent Denise Joy in Ward 3, should she run for re-election. There will be five city council positions and the office of Mayor open for election on November 2, 2021.
Loveridge said he decided to run for city council after having spent time watching the city’s budget proceedings on the city’s “zoom” meetings, and decided “the process did not hold my Montana values.” He wasn’t happy with decisions that were made and decided “I am going to run for this and bring some common-sense leadership from my ward.”
Loveridge was quick to add, however, “I appreciate what the city council members do. It takes of lot of time.”
“I am as Billings as Billings can be,” declares Loveridge in introducing himself. Loveridge was born and reared in Billings. He attended Senior High School and played basketball in Billings. Loveridge said “all four of my kids were born here” and he coached basketball for “thousands of people.” His business, VIP Services, which employs 43 people, has thrived in Billings for 32 years.
“I care very deeply for Billings,” said Loveridge, “I feel like it is my time to serve my community to the best of my ability.” And, he believes, “I have something to offer with the fiscal responsibility.”
Loveridge said, “We need to do a better job of making Montana and Billings a place where our kids want to stay . . .. Our youth is our greatest export right now.” Besides keeping our youth here, Billings needs to be able to attract more talent, especially with the hospital sector. “People say Billings is a great place to live, but I think we can improve.”
“I am a fiscal conservative. I want to increase the tax base through higher paying and more jobs and to keep taxes as low as humanly possible going forward. Keeping our taxes low inspires more business and inspires people to want to move to Billings.”
Loveridge draws upon his experience as a business owner in working with the city. “When we spend money, we have to make sure we are either saving money with that expenditure or making money,” he said, further underscoring, “When we have more money in the community, it will allow us to lower taxes.”
Taking care of first responders is a high priority on Loveridge’s list. He understands that Billings faces a challenge in making the city safer, which also plays a role in attracting newcomers.
“We have to improve the public safety facilities,” said Loveridge. “I would like to see, for example, the police department become more centralized by utilizing the Stillwater building for a more centralized police station. It would improve the efficiency tremendously.”
Also, Loveridge added, “I really would love to improve the relationship between the city council and the county. If the city and county work well together, then that is good for Billings and the community.”
Loveridge is currently chairman of the MetraPark Advisory Board. He cares as deeply for MetraPark as he does for Billings, and is very involved in rolling out MetraPark’s developing master plan, which he says is the “biggest thing to happen in Billings in a long time.”
Other civic service endeavors for Loveridge was to help, several years ago, develop a budget plan for School District 2. He is also a member of Rotary Club and the Downtown Exchange Club.
VIP Services at 1206 Cordova Street, is a multi-generational, family business. Loveridge began working for the company at age 19. It was founded by the late Steve Gilbert, Loveridge’s father-in-law, from whom Loveridge purchased the business 21 years ago. It continues today very much as a family business, also employing his wife, Megan, and son, Steve.
Loveridge’s other children include another son, Sam, who works in Helena as communications director for State Auditor Troy Downing. He also has two daughters, Gracie, 12, who attends St. Francis School, and Emma who lives in Fromberg with husband Jese Stetson, and the Loveridges’ first grandchild, Oliver.
Each of Billings’ five wards will have one council position open for election this year.
A City Council member may serve only two 4-year terms. Some have termed out, including Shaun Brown of Ward 5; Frank Ewalt of Ward 2; and Mike Yakawich of Ward 1.
Positions open for election are that of Penny Ronning of Ward 4 and Denise Joy of Ward 3.
The position of Mayor is also open for election since Mayor Bill Cole will have ended his first four- year term. That position, too, is limited to two terms.
Candidate filing opens, with the County Elections Office, on April 22 and closes on June 21. A filing fee of $72 is charged, which is 1 percent of the salary they are paid. Council members are paid $7200 plus insurance.
If a candidate is collecting campaign contributions, they must register with the Commissioner of Political Practices and many often do even before filing for office. Three individuals have registered with the Commissioner indicating that they plan to run for City Council in Billings. They are Jennifer Owen, Tom Rupsis and Ed Gulick.
The primary for city council will be September 14 – if there is a primary. A primary election is triggered if four offices have four or more candidates or one office has five or more candidates. The last time a primary election was held was 2019.
This is incorrect. Actually city council gets paid $4,800, plus insurance. Family insurance takes $200 out of the $600 paycheck. Those who opt out of insurance receive $7,200. When will this retraction be printed? Thanks!