Draft:Brandon E. Dewey

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Brandon E. Dewey
Mayor of Stevensville, Montana
In office
January 2018 – January 2022
Preceded byJim Crews
Succeeded bySteve Gibson
Personal details
ResidenceWashington
OccupationNonprofit administrator; former municipal official

Brandon E. Dewey is an American local-government administrator and nonprofit staff member. He served as mayor of Stevensville, Montana, from 2018 to 2021 (term ending January 2022). Elected at age 27, he was one of the youngest mayors in the state and raised two children while in office.[1] During his tenure, Dewey advanced infrastructure improvements, expanded the town’s police force, formalized a parks and recreation program, and laid the groundwork for water-system upgrades later funded by federal grants. His administration also launched economic recovery and business-safety programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3]

Dewey faced repeated political opposition, including multiple recall petitions, one of which reached the ballot in 2020 but was defeated by voters; he lost re-election in 2021.[4][5] In 2023, he pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of official misconduct tied to compensation and severance payments; he was sentenced to 14 days in jail, ordered to pay restitution, and agreed to forfeit the right to seek or hold public office.[6][7] After leaving elected office, he transitioned to nonprofit administration roles in Missoula and Spokane, Washington.[8][9]

Early life and career

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Prior to his election as mayor, Dewey worked for the Town of Stevensville in a variety of staff roles across parks and recreation, public safety, planning, community relations, finance, and HR. He also served as an administrative assistant to the Stevensville Fire Department and volunteered as a firefighter. In February 2018, after concerns about conflict of interest, he resigned his volunteer firefighter role while serving as mayor.[8][1][10]

Mayor of Stevensville (2018–2021)

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Political climate and challenges

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Dewey’s tenure was marked by frequent disputes with town council members and detractors who questioned his management approach. Between 2019 and 2021, several council members resigned citing stress or division.[11][12] Political opponents pursued multiple recall attempts. The first, in 2020, accused Dewey of authorizing an IT contract without council approval; a judge allowed the recall to proceed, but voters retained him in office (584–535).[13][4] Two subsequent recall petitions in 2021 were rejected by the county clerk as legally insufficient.[14]

Dewey was also the first mayor in more than a decade to complete a full elected term from start to finish. As of 2025, no mayor of Stevensville has served a full term since his administration.[5]

Initiatives and accomplishments

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Despite persistent political opposition, Dewey’s administration pursued a series of community initiatives:

  • Infrastructure: A 2020–2021 schedule added $350,000 in new street, sidewalk, and sewer projects on top of $150,000 previously budgeted, including pedestrian safety work, downtown streetscape improvements, and a sewer extension toward a planned community center site.[2]
  • Parks and recreation: Stevensville formally established a municipal parks and recreation program, expanding youth offerings and community programming.[15]
  • Public safety: The police department was expanded with new personnel, updated vehicles, and a relocation to a Main Street headquarters.[16][17]
  • COVID-19 response: Creation of an Economic Support & Recovery Task Force, the "Stevi Safe" business certification program, and re-introduction of virtual citizen participation options.[3][18][19]
  • Federal investment: Secured $650,000 in U.S. Department of Transportation funding for airport apron reconstruction.[20]
  • Water system: Initiated engineering work and grant applications for water-system upgrades. The grant was awarded after he left office, funding improvements built on plans begun under his administration.[21]

2021 election

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In the November 2021 election, Dewey was defeated by Steve Gibson (394–267). Gibson assumed office in January 2022.[5]

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In July 2022, Dewey was charged in Ravalli County with three felony counts of theft and three misdemeanor counts of official misconduct. The charges centered on compensation arrangements—including severance packages and reimbursements for legal expenses. Local reporting noted that some of the severance decisions related to staff departures following Dewey’s 2021 election loss, when several employees cited fear of a hostile workplace under the incoming administration.[22][23]

In October 2023, Dewey pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor misconduct counts as part of a plea agreement; the felony theft charges were dropped. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail, ordered to pay $28,196 in restitution to the town, and agreed to permanently forfeit the right to seek or hold public office.[6][7]

Later career

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After leaving office, Dewey joined the Downtown Missoula Partnership in March 2022 as Program Director, overseeing Heritage Missoula programs and placemaking projects. In November 2024 he became Finance & Special Projects Manager at the Downtown Spokane Partnership.[8][9]

Personal life

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Dewey married Tasha Sorenson in 2014. The couple had two children together, a son (born 2017) and a daughter (born 2020). They later divorced. While serving as mayor, Dewey was not publicly out. Today he identifies as gay and lives with his children in Washington state.[8][9]

Electoral history

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2017

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  • Stevensville mayor — Dewey defeated incumbent Jim Crews.[1]

2020 (recall)

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  • Recall of Mayor Brandon E. Dewey — Result: Retained (584–535).[4]

2021

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  • Stevensville mayor — Steve Gibson: 394; Brandon E. Dewey: 267.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Stevensville elects new mayor". NBC Montana. November 8, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Mayor Dewey Announces 2020–2021 Community Infrastructure Plans". Town of Stevensville. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Town of Stevensville creates Economic Recovery Task Force". Bitterroot Star. April 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Stevensville mayor survives recall, two council members resign". Bitterroot Star. November 10, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "Stevensville elects new mayor". Bitterroot Star. November 10, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Former Stevensville mayor sentenced for official misconduct charges". KPAX. October 10, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  7. ^ a b (October 10, 2023), Text.
  8. ^ a b c d "Dewey and Sutherland Newest Staff Additions at the Downtown Missoula Partnership". Downtown Missoula Partnership. March 2, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c "Downtown Spokane Partnership Welcomes New Key Hires". Downtown Spokane Partnership. November 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  10. ^ "Mayor's resignation from fire dept. raises questions about volunteerism". NBC Montana. February 13, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  11. ^ "Another resignation leaves Stevensville Town Council with 3 openings". KTVH. July 24, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  12. ^ "Stevensville rocked by more resignations". KPAX. December 13, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  13. ^ "Judge refuses to stop recall against Stevensville mayor". KPAX. August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  14. ^ "Petitions to recall Stevensville mayor denied". Bitterroot Star. May 19, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  15. ^ "Town Council approves Parks and Recreation Program framework". Town of Stevensville. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  16. ^ "Mayor Dewey Announces New Downtown Police Location". Town of Stevensville. 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  17. ^ "Stevensville mayor files for re-election". Bitterroot Star. May 12, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  18. ^ "Stevensville creates an economic recovery task force". KPAX. April 10, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  19. ^ "Stevensville Re-implements Virtual Meetings, Increases Citizen Participation". Town of Stevensville. 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  20. ^ "USDOT awards airport infrastructure grant to Stevensville". Town of Stevensville. 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  21. ^ "Town of Stevensville receives federal water system grant". Town of Stevensville. March 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  22. ^ "Theft charges filed against former Stevensville mayor". KPAX. July 19, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  23. ^ "Ex-Stevensville mayor faces theft charges tied to severance packages". Ravalli Republic. July 20, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2025.