Montana Gaming Group

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    Engen, 45, is a native of Missoula and a graduate of the University of Montana, where he majored in journalism. After many years with the Missoulian, and, later operating his own advertising and public relations business, he spent time on the Missoula City Council, and was elected mayor in 2005, following a campaign that began with five other candidates. He was re-elected, without opposition, in 2009.
    In a phone interview, Engen said, “My life has been a series of happy accidents,” of which his appointment to the GAC is just one.
    He relates that his father was a printer for the Missoulian, and he followed his father there, on the production side of the newspaper, while still in high school, and followed that with landing a regular column with the paper at age 17. He continued working for the Missoulian while attending the University. He continued his journalism career after graduation, working in both the editorial and business sides of the newspaper.
    At the Feb. 2 meeting of the GAC in Helena, Egen said of the end of his newspaper career when asked to give a short biography, that there was a disagreement between he and management: "I thought I should work there and management disagreed."
    Engen's interest in public service began when he served on the board of a local non-profit organization. “This gave me some practical experience in public affairs, and helped me develop an understanding that if we can approach a problem without a personal agenda, we can actually get something done.”
    As for his appointment to the GAC, he said that he had gotten acquainted with Atty. Gen. Bullock several years ago and it became quickly clear from their conversations that they had a lot of things in common, which eventually led to the appointment.
    He said of his first meeting of the GAC, “It was really interesting, though I learned that I have a lot to learn.” Of other council members, he observes, “I gather there's a lot of experience at that table.”
    Engen said he hopes to be able to make some positive contributions to the Council. “I like to think I'm a decent listener, and am a middle-of-the-road person. I like to approach things collaboratively. I hope to be of some service.”
    Engen wrote a humor column in his newspaper days and people who attended the 2009 Montana Tavern Association convention will remember his official welcome to Missoula remarks, a tongue in cheek “politically correct” presentation that had the audience in stitches.
    He confesses that this is his standard welcoming presentation for convention visitors, and he's gotten a lot of mileage with it, getting laughs and appreciation from people “who were expecting some political windbag.”  
    Of his unopposed re-election in 2009, he cracks, “I guess this proves that you can fool most of the people most of the time.”
    As mayor of Missoula, Engen keeps up a hectic schedule of meetings and appearances, issuing proclamations and other official duties.
    And speaking of proclamations, a proclamation that appears on the city website is “Mental Toss Flycoons Day,” celebrating the accomplishments of a local co-ed Frisbee team, bearing a truly distinctive name, that won a national championship in 2008. The name is evidently a take on a Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention tune about a fellow who sings he will be "Moving to Montana soon, gonna be a dental floss tycoon."
    Of the proclamation, Engen says, “It's Missoula. Right?” He adds, proudly, “In my office I have a Frisbee signed by all the members of the team. It's a job with many perks.”

GAC Reappointments
    In addition to Mayor John Engen's appointment to the Gaming Advisory Council, the Attorney General reappointed Tim Carson of Billings, representing the gaming industry, Mark Kennedy, also of Billings, and representing the public at large, and Bob McAnnally of Poplar, representing Native Americans.
    Holdover members of the council include Steve Morris, Helena (industry), Nick Murnion, Jordan (local government), Pat Noonan, Ramsay (House of Representatives), John Tooke, Miles City (industry), and Joe Tropila, Great Falls (Senate).