Empowering Those Who Serve Us
Empowering Those Who Serve Us
Bitz Family in Wales, England, July 3, 2025
About Me and How to Donate to my campaign
My name is Wade Bitz. I am currently farming our 3rd generation dry land farm, growing grains, pulses and oil seeds with the help of my wife, Holly and daughters, Emma and Ava. I received a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Environmental Science from the University of North Dakota. I worked in the Architecture profession for 10 years before returning to our family farm. Since 2005 I have been farming and doing small design projects under the name of Nourish Design | Farms.
I have been on the Havre City Council for 2 years and have been involved with the Havre, Hill County Preservation Commission (HPC) for almost 20 years. I am currently the Historic Preservation Officer for the HPC.
It would be my honor to serve as the next Havre Mayor. Email me at votebitz@gmail.com.
I appreciate your donations to help me get my message out. Please send donations of any amount to:
Wade Bitz for Mayor
511 11th St
Havre, MT 59501-4555
Photo Info:
My family (Wade; Ava, 15; Emma, 19; Holly) in front of St. Donat's Castle in Wales, Unite Kingdom on a recent trip to Europe. The castle is the home to UWC Atlantic College ~ a STEM academy for 16-19 year old High School students from around the world.
This medieval structure has been occupied and contributing to the community for 800 years. Havre properties do not need to be abandoned or unused because they are too old ~ they just need purpose!
Empowering Havre for a Bright Future
Our Shared Past
Havre is rooted in agriculture, transportation, education and commerce. This image is of my great grandfather Henry Bitz (third from left), my grandfather Daniel (on left), and several of his brothers. They are photographed sitting on the box drills they each purchased, wearing suits purchased at "the Hub" in Havre, and they are in front of the train cars that brought the drills to Havre. Within this picture are many of the reasons why Havre continues to thrive - Agriculture, Commerce, Railroad and Family.
As Your Mayor, I will:
- Support City staff to fulfill their duties to the Havre taxpayers as they strive to provide reliable utilities, safe and engaging public parks and facilities, prompt police, fire and ambulance, and responsive, efficient government.
- Work to foster relationships with Local, State and Federal partners like County Commission, Department of Environmental Quality and MSU-Northern.
- Seek to improve Road and Utility infrastructure by leveraging local tax dollars with State and Federal grants to maximize impact.
- Communicate, Communicate, Communicate ~ regular office hours, monthly updates on city projects and happenings, posted meeting minutes and project updates on kiosks in each ward, and on social media.
- Innovate ways to reduce blight and put abandoned buildings back to work.
- Help businesses and community organizations to expand and enhance their offerings in our community.
- Build climate resiliency with the help of city staff, county emergency coordinators, utility providers and city and local fire and rescue to prepare our community for increasingly unpredictable weather events.
- Celebrate and Promote our Community: past, present and future.
My Qualifications:
My education, work experience, volunteer board appointments and time on the city commission have given me a variety of experiences that will serve me well as mayor.
- My formal education includes a Bachelor of Architecture from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND as well as a Minor in Environmental Science from NDSU.
- Following graduation from college in 1999, I worked as an Architectural Intern at two professional architectural firms in Great Falls: WRS Architecture and CTA Architects and Engineers. As an architectural intern, I worked with clients that included large church organizations, private and multi-family residential, primary and secondary education, small commercial and nonprofits. My experiences included managing projects through all phases including initial client contact, strategic planning and programming, design development, construction documents, project cost estimating, contract bid, construction management and owner occupancy. I also prepared several Preliminary Architectural Engineering reports assisting clients to evaluate their facilities for expanding or changing needs.
- In 2005, I returned to our family farm west of Box Elder taking over the operation from my parents, Alvin and Deanna Bitz. We lived on the farm for six years and moved to Havre in 2011 when our oldest daughter started school. Holly is currently the Assistant Superintendent of the Havre School District, Emma has graduated and will be attending University in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Ava is a Sophomore at Havre High.
- At present, I continue to farm having expanded our crop/fallow small grains operation to include legumes and oilseeds on mostly continuous crop rotation.
- Over the years I have chaired multiple volunteer boards including Hill County FSA County Committee, Flathead Lutheran BIble Camp (FLBC), Messiah Lutheran Church, Havre-Hill County Historic Preservation Commission, and FLBC Masterplanning Committee. I also currently participate in the Havre FFA Alumni and Havre Heart and Soul.
- In 2022 I earned my CDL passenger endorsement to assist the school district as an occasional route substitute as well as an activity coach driver for HPS students.
"...I appreciate your insightful questions, your ability to facilitate discussions and your proactive approach to solving problems... These leadership qualities lead me to endorse you for mayor."
Debbie Vandeberg-Henry
"Wade Bitz knows the Hi-Line like the back of his hand and community service is in his DNA. As a legislator, I rely heavily on partnerships with local leaders to assure our area gets a fair shake from state government. I know Wade will always put Havre first as Mayor."
Paul Tuss
I have had the privilege of working with Wade Bitz, when he served as the President of the Association for Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. Wade was not only a great leader and organizer, but Wade is forward thinking, caring, and generous with his time and talents. I whole heartedly endorse Wade.
Margie Fiedler, FLBC former director
"...MCV Action Fund, has made the decision to endorse you for the 2025 election. An MCV endorsement ultimately signals to Montana voters that you are a demonstrated conservation champion who will fight to protect our clean air, clean water, public lands and democracy."
Kearstyn Cook, Program Director
"Congratulations! Montana Rural Voters Action Fund is proud to endorse your candidacy for Havre Mayor. Your commitment to representing the values and priorities of working Montanans stood out during our endorsement process, and we’re excited to support your campaign."
Josiah Porcel, Program Director
Watch for my signs!
Radio Ads Starting October 27
Listen for my radio ads on 92.5 and 101.3 FM starting Monday 10/27. Paul Harvey's radio commentary was a favorite of mine as a kid ~ let me know if I managed to capture some of that feel in my morning, noon and evening ads.