Editor’s Note: The following story was written by a student in Professor Nadia White’s

Public Affairs Reporting class at the University of Montana. You are free to share or
publish this story, provided you retain the reporter’s byline. Questions? Email
nadia.white@umontana.edu.

Economics, health care focus of Boylan’s inaugural campaign

By KIMBALL BENNION

When Johns Hopkins graduate Patrick Boylan moved to Montana, he found a job at a

veterinary lab that eventually went out of business. Boylan, who has a bachelor of science

in biomedical engineering, worked temp jobs in construction to help bring in money for

him and his wife.

Boylan feels that his situation wasn’t unique among people living in House District 88,

which includes Hamilton, Grantsdale and parts of Corvallis.

He and his family moved to Montana after his wife, Julie, got a job at the Rocky

Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton. Jobs were what brought the Boylans to Montana, and

he hated seeing his neighbors move away from the Bitterroot because they, like him at

one point, couldn’t find permanent work.

“You shouldn’t be priced out of living in rural Montana,” Boylan said.

Boylan is running against three-time incumbent Republican Rep. Bob Lake. Because he

is new to the community compared to Lake, he said he hopes to attract voters who are

disenchanted with the job Lake has done for them in Helena.
“I have so many disagreements with representatives in Ravalli County,” Boylan said.

He said Lake’s support of eliminating the business equipment tax in Montana puts an

unfair burden on property taxes, which go up to make up the difference for a lower tax on

businesses.

“All you’re doing is saving money for corporations,” Boylan said.

After experiencing for himself tough economic times in Ravalli County Boylan hopes

he’s not the only one looking for different representation in District 88.

“I’m not the kind of person that likes to sit on the sidelines and complain,” he said.

Boylan said the lagging economy in his district was the main reason he decided to run for

office. He also wants to help improve Western Montana’s access to quality health care

and education.

“Solutions are easy,” Boylan said.

Some of Boylan’s proposed solutions include increasing development of alternative

energy resources in Montana, which he believes will bring more jobs to Ravalli County.
“I’d love to see Montana get out in front of (alternative energy development,)” Boylan

said.

Boylan also wants to see a community college or technical school in Hamilton, which he

said would help attract businesses to the area. It would also be a less expensive

alternative for students who can’t afford to drive to Missoula every day for school, he

said. Boylan believes it will take a strong legislative push for the school to be built.

He supports Ballot Initiative 155, which would expand coverage for the State Children’s

Health Insurance Program.

“Health care for people 18 or under shouldn’t ever be in question,” Boylan said.

Boylan was born in Orlando, Fla. He went to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and graduated

in 1999. He moved to Athens, Ga., and worked as a laboratory technician at the

University of Georgia, where he met Julie, who was finishing up her doctorate in

genetics.

He also played drums briefly for the Athens punk band, Guff. Guff experienced some

regional success as they toured the southeastern United States and recorded an album.

They continue to tour and record without Boylan, and released an album called

“Symphony of Voices” last year.

Now, Boylan lives in Corvallis and has worked as a process development engineer at

Glaxo Smith Kline Biologicals in Hamilton since 2002. He has also served on the state

Board of Forensic Science since 2003 and on the Board of Medical Examiners since

2007.

Boylan is a public member on both boards, meaning he is not a professional in either the

medical or criminal justice fields. Instead, public members are expected to keep public

interests in mind when examining issues that the boards review.

People who lead the board said the work is hard and not particularly glamorous, so

Boylan’s commitment to the work stands out. “This is not a job that you pick for its high

prestige,” said Medical Examiners board chairman Dr. Arthur Fink. The volunteer board

mainly oversees the licensing of medical professionals in Montana

Jeannie Worsech, former executive director of the Medical BVoard, said that members are

required to read up to 1,500 pages at times to prepare for meetings, and that Boylan was

one who came prepared.

“He’s an awesome board member,” Worsech said. “The board respects him a lot.”