Hi there! Great to meet you!

Emily Dean is a proud citizen of Helena where she lives and works advocating for kids and public education. Growing up in the midst of the collapse of the Montana Power Company, Emily resolved to take on the causes of the working class through the pursuit of educational equity and expanding opportunities for families. Emily learned the value of public service at an early age through involvement in volunteerism and local politics. Through the influence and example of her mother, grandparents and family, Emily learned the value of hard work and dedication to family and community.

In 2019, Emily was elected to the Helena City Commission and re-elected through acclimation in 2023. Since then, Emily has dedicated herself to stabilizing the organization, modernizing city services, improving public access, expanding community partnerships, initiating the first City strategic planning and budget alignment process, among other initiatives.

As a City Commissioner, Emily was honored to be selected to serve on the 2025 National League of Cities Infrastructure and Transportation Federal Advocacy Committee and the Small Cities Council. She also serves as the Vice President of the Montana League of Cities and Towns.

Emily is a product of Carroll College where she was elected Student Body President and spearheaded a number of student- centered campaigns that continue to impact students’ well-being. Upon graduation, Emily moved to Dallas where she taught high school U.S. Government and Economics in the neighborhood of Oak Cliff. Through the experiences with and of her students, Emily’s deep belief in the power of education and building an inclusive community was affirmed. After receiving a Masters Degree in Education from Southern Methodist University, Emily returned to Helena determined to bring opportunity to our community. She has served in a variety of communications and advocacy roles within state government and local organizations.

  • Emily serves as the ex-officio member on behalf of the City of Helena. The Helena Chamber of Commerce is a critical strategic partner in supporting economic development and entrepreneurship in Helena.

  • Emily serves as the City representative to the Behavioral Health Local Advisory Committee (LAC). The purpose of the LAC is to assist in the improvement of LCC County Public Health Behavioral Health (Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders) services and to review and make recommendations about behavioral health services to LCC and Service Area Authorities (SAA). The Council’s five strategic pillars are community engagement, behavioral health continuum of. care, policy and advocacy, data analysis and sharing, prevention and wellness.

  • The Helena area became a designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in 2024, it includes the City of Helena, Lewis and Clark County, and the City of East Helena. The City of Helena manages the MPO and Emily serves as the City elected official on the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC), which manages the executive business of the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process and acts as the official decision-making body for the MPO.

  • Emily serves on the Helena Fire Department Master Planning Committee. As a result of this plan, adopted in 2023, the citizens of Helena passed a bond to build a third fire station. This is one of the greatest needs studied in the master plan.

  • Emily serves on the Growing Up Helena Key Leader Board. Thanks to a Communities that Care grant, Growing Up Helena works to provide young people with opportunities, skills, and recognition to strengthen bonding with family school, and community. Strong bonds motivate young people. to adopt healthy standards for behavior.

BOARDS & COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

STATE & NATIONAL APPOINTMENTS

  • Emily serves on the National League of Cities (NLC) Transportation and Infrastructure Federal Advisory Committee. The Committee is responsible for leading NLC’s policy development and advocacy on transportation for communities of all sizes. The committee advocates for federal funding opportunities for cities and towns, improving safety and connectivity, and leveraging innovation for all types of transportation.

  • Emily serves on the NLC Small Cities Council. The Council is made up of municipal officials from member cities with populations of 50,000 or less. Members share ideas and creative solutions to challenges affecting small cities.  

  • Emily brings her deep knowledge of policy impacting youth and education in her service on the NLC Council on Youth, Education and Families. The Council is composed of not only local elected officials but also youth members and representatives from major national organizations concerned about children and families. The Council aims to guide, support and elevate this important work. The continued amplification of not only the voices of elected officials but also those of youth leaders ensures that children and families are centered in the work of NLC. 

  • Emily serves as Second Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Montana League of Cities. Prior to her service as an executive officer, she served as the Region 7 Director for 2 years. The League is an incorporated, nonpartisan, nonprofit association of 127 Montana municipalities. Organized under a constitution originally adopted in 1931, the League supports the cooperative improvement of municipal government in Montana. It acts as a clearinghouse through which the municipalities cooperate for their mutual benefit.