HELENA, MT ( July 21, 2021 ) — In advance of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ vote on the nomination of Tracy Stone-Manning to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Montanans are calling on Senator Steve Daines to put aside partisan politics and vote to advance Stone-Manning’s nomination to the Senate floor.
After weeks of blatant misinformation regarding Stone-Manning’s past, in recent days over 1500 Montana hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts signed a letter to Sen. Daines, urging him to reverse course on his recent request to President Biden to withdraw her nomination. His opposition completely ignores Stone-Manning’s stellar thirty-year career of being an inclusive, collaborative leader and dedicated public servant.
Montanans support Stone-Manning because they know her as an exceptionally qualified candidate who will bring much-needed balance, leadership and transparency to the agency that has not had a confirmed director for more than four years. They understand that her becoming Director of the BLM would be good for Montana.
“Montana hunters and anglers deserve a BLM Director who understands sporting values and the urgent need to protect public lands for future generations. For over thirty years, Tracy StoneManning has demonstrated her commitment to these principles while working with various stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes. We urge Senator Daines to be on the right side of history by supporting a Montana sportswoman to oversee our public lands and uphold our sporting traditions.” – Frank Szollosi, Executive Director of Montana Wildlife Federation
“Montana families and Montana women roundly support Tracy Stone-Manning’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Land Management and ask Senator Daines to truly represent Montana interests and do the same. Stone-Manning is a proven, thoughtful, courageous leader who has worked tirelessly on behalf of diverse interest groups to maintain the integrity and value of our public lands and waters. Stone-Manning is the best woman for the job, and we urge Senator Daines and Senate Republicans to cast aside partisan politics and vote to confirm Tracy Stone-Manning.” –
Becky Edwards, Executive Director of Mountain Mamas
“Tracy Stone-Manning brings decades of experience and inherent knowledge of how to find common ground solutions that advance the preservation and protection of our valuable public lands and waters. Her love of the outdoors, and her balanced approach to achieving progress with all the necessary voices at the table make her the best choice to lead the Bureau of Land Management. The communities, businesses, and Montana jobs that rely on our healthy and protected outdoors deserve a leader like Tracy Stone-Manning, who will invite collaboration and who will promote the stewardship and the practices that protect the assets that drive our livelihoods in Montana.” – Marne Hayes, Business for Montana’s Outdoors
“Tracy Stone-Manning has had to endure a full-throated campaign meant to smear the sterling reputation she has among Montanans on both sides of the aisle. Our respect and support for her hasn’t budged one bit. She’s a steadfast, honest broker who has mastered the art of working with folks from a broad spectrum of interests, who is equally adept at working with conservationists as she is with timber and oil and gas executives. Sen. Daines knows this as well as anyone, and so we’re disappointed that he can’t see his way to support her, a fellow Montanan.” – Ben Gabriel, Executive Director of Wild Montana
“Stone-Manning represents the best of Montana’s bipartisan, get-it-done ethos and is a prime study in how hunters and anglers step up to protect the resources upon which we depend. I can think of no finer candidate to lead and rebuild our largest public lands management agency.” – Walker Conyngham, President of Hellgate Hunters and Anglers
“Tracy is a proven leader who involves everyone in important decisions and actions that affect our public lands. This collaborative approach is what we need at the helm of BLM.” – Larry Berrin, Executive Director of Montana Audubon
“Tracy Stone-Manning is the best of Montana. Montanans support her and as our Senator, Steve Daines should represent his constituents. Montanans should hold him accountable to the fullest extent every time he chooses politics over public lands.” – Whitney Tawney, Executive Director of Montana Conservation Voters
“For more than three decades, Tracy has brought people together from all walks of life to solve complex problems. That’s why she has so much support from community leaders, timber interests, miners, hunters, and conservationists. As a Westerner, an avid sportswoman, and a brilliant thinker, Tracy has the experience and temperament to be an exceptional Director of the Bureau of Land Management. It has been disheartening to see the partisan campaign that has been launched against her, but Tracy will not let petty politics interfere with a management philosophy that breaks down barriers and ensures that all Americans can benefit from our nation’s public lands.” – Marcia Brownlee, Program Manager for the National Wildlife Federation’s Artemis Sportswomen Initiative.
“Tracy Stone-Manning is a highly experienced collaborative leader who will manage our public lands to benefit both people and wildlife. We urge Senator Daines to lift his opposition and let the president pick his own team to manage our nation’s public lands.” – Scott Brennan, Montana State Director of The Wilderness Society
