Hi! I'm David Quattrocchi (kwah-troh-chee), or DQ, and I'm running for the Ward 4 seat in City Council this November 2025. I'm a community organizer by day, working in Missoula's public health and healthcare sector, and have dedicated my life's work to help building my community so that all residents can thrive and have their needs met.
Why run for City Council? Because Missoula is at a crossroads.Our city faces a housing crisis, rising inflation costs, and a redevelopment approach that often prioritizes corporate interests over community needs.As a candidate for Ward 4, I am committed to bringing common-sense solutions that put working families first.
Highlighted below you'll see more details on my current major focuses (also see our Issues page):
• Helping Shape a Missoula that's Truly Affordable for All: We can't just hope affordable housing comes online, or that the market will be incentivized to create the housing we need, we need willpower in government to create it. I'll help put a halt to corporate development being prioritized over housing for overtaxed Missoulians. When we rely on corporate welfare to trickle down to working people and families, it's a losing game.
• Participatory Government and Budgeting:What does that mean? It's past due for residents to not only have their voices heard but validated. Our current leadership signs off on budget packages that often miss what Ward 4 residents and Missoulians at large are asking for: truly affordable housing, infrastructure and accessibility improvements, and childcare and general support for working families. You want your voice heard and validated? I'm here to make sure that happens, which means I'll hold regular townhalls to give Ward 4 residents opportunities to collaborate with their government. It shouldn't be boring or difficult to engage with local politics, let's activate Ward 4.
• Reform the Way our Local Government Works: Aside from the budget votes, we also give up a lot of our agency to City Staff, who are helpful but didn't get voted in to govern. Council members do get voted in, and I will work with anyone who shows up to our local townhalls or weekly City Council meetings to start shaping Missoula together. In my work as a community organizer, I've gained the skills to effectively engage residents into action-based meetings where we decide our future together. Let's make the City work for us, not the other way around.
Though these basic campaign points are a start, I'm here to learn from the rest of Ward 4. I'll be doing my best to reach each and every one of you on my way to Election Day. What I learn, I'll integrate into my campaign, so that you know you've been heard, and that I'm serious about doing this right, and together. Engaging with local government can be difficult on a work schedule, raising a family or just dealing with the stress of day-to-day life. If I'm elected, I'm going to make this as easy for all of us as possible.
Please visit my VOLUNTEER page to make sure our campaign is a winning one, we will need your help!
And please read on below for more specifics into my campaign platform and why I'm fighting to strengthen Ward 4 through people power.
Missoula's Budget Priorities: A Call for Reform
In our 2025 budget, the Missoula Redevelopment Agency (MRA) has allocated substantial funds to projects that don't align with the immediate needs of our community.For instance, $711,083 in public funds were approved for a $23.5 million bank project in Midtown, and $1.8 million in bonds were issued to support a $25 million downtown hotel development.These developments signal a disconnect between community needs and corporate welfare. (Links: MRA approves $700K in public funds for $23.5M bank project, Missoula City Council approves $1.8M reimbursement for downtown hotel developer)
Meanwhile, Missoula continues to face a housing crisis, with rising rents and a shortage of affordable housing options.The MRA's current focus on corporate ventures, such as banks and hotels, diverts resources from addressing the pressing need for affordable housing.
Reforming the MRA for Greater Accountability
The MRA's current structure, with mayor-appointed members, lacks direct accountability to the voters.I propose restructuring the MRA to include elected representatives, ensuring that redevelopment decisions reflect the priorities of the community and are made transparently.
A Commitment to People Over PACs
In the wake of the Citizens United decision, which allows political action committees to make significant contributions to campaigns, I want to make my position clear.I will not accept large donations from corporate interests or the real estate lobby.The housing crisis cannot be solved by allowing big money to influence elections and policy decisions.My campaign is committed to representing the people of Missoula, not corporate donors.
Living the Values I Promote
As a member of the Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE), I stand in solidarity with workers and unions as I've recently seen many of my fellow workers' funding sources stall out at the federal level, then be expected to "step up" or "sprint" to do a job that's already exhausting and thankless in many ways. I won't back any demand on our social sectors without checking in with city partnerships first, understanding the taxing work they do, and working with them towards solutions. I choose and am able to bike and ride the bus, reflecting my commitment to sustainable transportation and reducing our carbon footprint.My career as a community organizer in public health and healthcare institutions demonstrates my dedication to improving the lives of all Missoulians.
A Vision for a Thriving Missoula
Together, we can build a Missoula that works for everyone—not just the wealthy few.By investing in truly affordable housing (not affordability dictated by the "market"), reforming redevelopment practices, and supporting working families, we can create a community that reflects our shared values.
Join Me in Building a Better Missoula
This election is about keeping Missoula a place where all of us can afford to live—whether you’re a renter facing rising costs, a homeowner burdened by escalating property taxes, or someone on the edge of homelessness. I’ve listened carefully to what Ward 4 residents have expressed through community surveys and conversations: there is a deep sense of frustration with local government and a growing lack of faith in the transparency and responsiveness of city processes. I take that to heart.
My intent is not to let these surveys sit on a shelf as a checkbox for community engagement, but to turn them into living documents that guide policy and decision-making. Ward 4 deserves representation that listens and acts—not one that plays it safe within a small circle of influence. I believe in empowering residents to have a real voice in how we budget, prioritize housing, and shape our city’s future. It’s time for a new pace and a new tone—one that brings people back into the process and rebuilds trust from the ground up.
Together, we can restore that connection and make sure Ward 4—and all of Missoula—works for everyone.
