Mike Gage For Butte-Silverbow Sheriff

Congratulations Detective Rhonda Staton
Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Division

I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Detective Rhonda Staton on her reinstatement with the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Division. After five years away, your return is not only a testament to your perseverance and professionalism, but also a tremendous gain for our community.

Your dedication, investigative skill, and commitment to justice have always been deeply respected, and your reinstatement marks a powerful new chapter — one filled with opportunity, purpose, and continued service to the people of Butte-Silver Bow.

Welcome back, Detective Staton. We’re glad to have you back where you belong.

— Mike Gage

Please Share this. Force the local news to cover this!!!
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Former Detective Rhonda Staton:
What You Need to Know
This week, the Montana Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling in favor of former Detective Rhonda Staton, mandating her reinstatement to the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Division. The court also ordered she receive all back pay, benefits, and compensation for lost promotional opportunities. The original binding arbitration had ruled in her favor, but the Law Enforcement Division fought that decision for years, costing taxpayers an astounding amount of money.

How much money are we talking about? Legal fees alone have likely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Add to that Staton’s back pay, benefits, and other compensation, and we’re easily looking at over $1 million—all paid for with your tax dollars.

This case didn’t have to get this far. Binding arbitration is supposed to resolve disputes without dragging them out in court. But the Law Enforcement Division chose to fight a decision that was already binding, racking up unnecessary expenses and wasting resources that could have gone toward improving public safety, training, or equipment.

Why Haven’t You Heard About This?
Now here’s the real kicker: this massive story hasn’t been reported by the Montana Standard or any local news stations. Not a single article or segment. Why? Because the Law Enforcement Division has far too much influence over what the local media reports. If they step out of line, they risk losing access to the department.

This isn’t just speculation—I’ve experienced it firsthand. During the campaign, a local reporter stood over me and screamed during an interview simply because I pointed out this issue. While that reporter later apologized via email (an email I still have), the incident speaks volumes about the climate of fear and control surrounding our local media.

The Public Deserves Transparency
I want you, the taxpayers, to know that I will bring this issue up during an upcoming commissioners' meeting. You have the right to know how much of your money was spent on this case and why it was handled the way it was. This kind of reckless spending and lack of accountability can’t be swept under the rug any longer.

If you want to see the Supreme Court’s decision for yourself, it’s publicly available under case number DA 23-0669 on the Montana Supreme Court website.

A Bigger Problem in the Division
This case is just the tip of the iceberg. During our campaign podcast, we repeatedly warned that the Law Enforcement Division was on the brink of a catastrophic failure. Officer Dan Murphy said it best: this community is just a hair’s breadth away from disaster. At the time, we were called fearmongers for pointing out the truth. Now, the warning signs are becoming undeniable.

More lawsuits are likely coming. Officers, dispatchers, and detention staff are resigning. Morale is at an all-time low. These are systemic issues that the current administration has failed to address.

A Challenge to the Local Media
To the local press, I challenge you: prove that you’re not in the Sheriff’s pocket. Report the facts. Give the taxpayers the full story. It’s your job to inform the community, not protect those in power.

This is about more than one case or one ruling. It’s about trust, transparency, and accountability in Butte-Silver Bow. The people deserve answers—and I won’t stop until they get them.

—Mike Gage

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you. Your unwavering support, your belief in the vision we shared, and the countless hours you’ve poured into this campaign are humbling. From every yard sign you put up, every conversation you had, every door you knocked on – you have been the heartbeat of this campaign, and I am forever grateful.

Though we didn’t get the result we hoped for tonight, I stand here with an immense sense of pride in what we accomplished together. Running for Sheriff of Butte-Silver Bow wasn’t just about a title or position – it was about addressing real issues in our community, about creating a safer Butte for our families and future generations. We may not have won the election, but our efforts have sparked important conversations and inspired action across this county.

We put forth ideas for change, like addressing the inefficiencies in our patrol and detective systems to better serve victims and bring justice to our community. That work, those ideas, don’t end here. We’ve planted seeds for progress that will continue to grow, and I have faith that our community will ultimately benefit from the ideas we pushed forward.

I also want to thank my family for standing by my side and the dedicated team who believed in our mission to bring positive change. Your dedication has been inspiring, and it’s something I’ll carry with me well beyond this campaign.

As we look to the future, I encourage each of you to stay involved, to keep advocating for a safer, stronger Butte-Silver Bow. Change doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t always come from one person or one election. It comes from a community united by a shared vision and committed to making things better.

Let’s keep pushing for that vision together. Thank you, and let’s not lose hope – because there’s still work to be done, and I know this community is ready to rise to the challenge.

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

Make Your Voice Heard – Vote for Mike Gage for Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff!

Your vote is your voice, and this election is about building a safer, more efficient community. I’m Mike Gage, and I’m running for Sheriff to bring proactive change to Butte-Silver Bow.

One of the issues facing our community is jail overcrowding. Our current system is putting a strain on both our resources and our community safety. As Sheriff, I’ll work to address this problem by focusing on smarter policing and rehabilitation programs that reduce repeat offenses, keeping our jail reserved for those who pose a true risk to public safety.

In addition, I’ll tackle inefficiencies in our law enforcement process. Currently, patrol officers are tied up with follow-up investigations, pulling them off the streets and away from proactive policing. On day one, I’ll assign follow-up investigations to our detective division, freeing patrol officers to focus on preventing crime.

If you’re looking for leadership that prioritizes effective operations, community safety, and responsible management of resources, I ask for your support. Let’s make our community safer and stronger. Make sure your voice counts – get out and vote for Mike Gage for Sheriff!

Call now to connect with business.

Like father, Like son!!! If you know you know.

Come see us at the Rocker Fire Station!!

“Happy Sunday, Butte-Silver Bow! Just over a week to go until Election Day! Like many of you, all the candidates are eager for this journey to wrap up. As I shared during last week’s forum at Butte Central, every candidate, in every race, is here because they believe in Butte-Silver Bow and want to make a difference. We may not agree on every issue, but we’re all here working hard for our community.

At this point, many of you have already cast your votes or know where you stand. Every candidate has been giving it their all since March, sacrificing time with family and friends, and it’s taken a toll on us all. I’m grateful for my supporters—you’ve been amazing. And to those who don’t support me, I respect your choice; that’s the nature of democracy.

This week, I’ll be replacing a few campaign signs and then setting aside politics for some Halloween fun with the kids. I’m committed to keeping things positive and letting the final week of the campaign be a peaceful one for everyone. I wish all the candidates the very best of luck on Election Day, and I’ll be out picking up signs and enjoying the end of this chapter, no matter the outcome. Have a wonderful week, Butte-Silver Bow!”

Sorry followers but there will be no podcast this week. I am still trying to get over this persistent cough and talking only makes it that much worse. We will be back next Friday!!