Dear friends and supporters,
Over the past two years, many of you joined us in standing up for Montrose’s historic Live Oak trees. What began as a small group of neighbors quickly grew into a powerful community voice. Together, we helped protect hundreds of trees and demonstrated that thoughtful, community-driven advocacy can make a real difference. Since then, we’ve continued to stay engaged as similar projects have emerged across Montrose. Our focus has remained the same: preserving the character of our neighborhoods, protecting our tree canopy, and encouraging balanced, well-considered planning decisions.
With the upcoming special election for the District C City Council seat, many of you have asked whether Save Montrose Live Oaks plans to endorse a candidate.
As a reminder, we are not a formal organization. We are a grassroots group of residents who came together around a shared concern. For that reason, we are not making an official endorsement as a group.
That said, all of the founding members of Save Montrose Live Oaks—representing a mix of perspectives, including both Republicans and Democrats—have each independently come to support one candidate: Nick Hellyar.
We arrived at this decision after speaking with candidates and reflecting on what matters most for Montrose. We believe Nick has demonstrated a willingness to listen, to consider multiple viewpoints, and to approach complex neighborhood issues with balance rather than ideology. Just as important, we do not see him as being driven by any single interest group.
For us, this election matters. The future of Montrose and the rest of District C will be shaped by decisions about infrastructure, mobility, and preservation. Having a council member who understands the value of our historic trees and the character of our neighborhoods will be critical.
We encourage each of you to learn about the candidates, ask questions, and make your own informed decision. Thank you again for being part of this effort and for continuing to care about the future of Montrose.
With appreciation,
The Founding Members of Save Montrose Live Oaks and Supporters
Jonna Hitchcock
Georgia Hitchcock
Michelle Bouchard
Sarah Frazier
Rocky Kneten
Ann Derryberry
Paul Herrara
Marian Wright