About me
My name is Justin Ponton and I’m running for a seat on the Missoula City Council representing Ward 2. My family has deep roots throughout Montana and although I was born in Colorado we moved back to Missoula before my 1st birthday. In total I’ve lived in Missoula for close to 3 decades. Reflecting back on my childhood here, I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow up in the Missoula community and some of my childhood school friends from Hellgate Elementary, Big Sky HS and UM are still among my closest to this day. After attending UM, I was eager for a change in scenery and new life experiences. That ultimately took the form of following Michelle, my then newly-met girlfriend but now amazing wife to New York City to start the next chapter of life living and working in Manhattan. While in NYC, I spent 7 years working in the real estate sector. A majority of that time was spent working for a real estate investment trust that specializes in the development and management of residential communities throughout the country with an emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency. I’m proud to have had several opportunities to grow within that organization which included opportunities to manage rent stabilized and affordable housing communities. Living and working in NYC was instrumental in helping me to grow as a person and also allowed me to develop my financial and business acumen. After 7 years though, it was time for Michelle and I to return home to Missoula with our puppy Penny along for the ride and excited to have easier access to grass. Coming home in 2021 I saw firsthand just how much Missoula had grown and changed in the previous years. The first challenge included just finding a place to rent with rates up considerably and inventory close to non-exist. After renting for a while I’m incredibly proud and thankful that Michelle, Penny and I were able to buy our first home in a community that we love.
Today, I’m the CEO of a local company and I’m running to represent my neighbors in Ward 2 on the Missoula City Council. I’m running for City Council as a way to try and give back to the community that has given me so much over the years. I also believe confidently that I’ll bring something to the table with my years of experience working in the real estate sector and a mindset that is focused on critical thinking and problem solving issues. I appreciate your support and look forward to connecting with you soon!
