Dave Fern

Dave B. Fern is a Democratic politician representing Senate District 2 in Montana. Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Fern moved to Montana in 1988, where he and his wife raised their three children. He resides in Whitefish, Montana. Fern is the owner of Whitefish Chimney Solutions and is known as the lone Democrat from the deep-red Flathead County region.

Education and Early Experience

Fern began his public service career in local government, serving as a trustee on the Whitefish School District board for 25 years before advancing to state-level politics.

Political Experience

Fern's legislative career includes:

• 2012: Made an unsuccessful run for state Senate, losing to Republican Dee Brown
• 2016: Won his first race for the Montana House of Representatives for District 5, defeating Republican Chet Billi with 56.74% of the vote and flipping the district from red to blue
• 2018: Won reelection to the House with 69.12% of the vote against Cindy Dyson
• 2020 and 2022: Won reelection to the House, consistently outperforming challengers by over 20 percentage points
• Current: Elected to the Montana Senate representing District 2, advancing after seven years in the House

Notable Achievements and Positions

Fern is recognized for his expertise on complex policy matters, including property appraisals and tax increment financing districts. He was appointed by Republican leadership to serve on the Governor's Property Tax Task Force and the Behavioral Health Systems for Future Generations Commission, which oversees spending of $300 million to improve Montana's behavioral health infrastructure.