Public service is part of Art’s family legacy. Growing up, Art lived all across the country, following his career Army Officer dad, until graduating from High School in Colorado.
After serving 4 years active military duty himself in the 1970's, Art chose to move to Montana in 1982 to attend law school in Missoula.
He successfully practiced business and natural resource law and litigation across the State and West, and founded a private law firm in Bozeman, which grew to support 11 families in the Gallatin Valley.
Art and his wife raised their 2 daughters in the Gallatin Valley, and they enjoy the people and natural wonders the local area provides. Before serving in the Legislature, Art was an active volunteer in various community, business and religious organizations in the Valley.
In 2010, Art was elected by a wide margin to Senate District 35, which is the western portion of Gallatin County, stretching from West Yellowstone to Three Forks.
In the 2011 session, his leadership in the Taxation Committee and Local Government Committee was recognized early on. He sponsored and passed into law a number of bills, including opposing Obamacare mandates, expediting septic permitting, reducing taxes, and studying medicaid reform.
In the 2013 session, he was elected by his Republican Senate colleagues as their Majority Leader, and he worked tirelessly to oppose Obamacare, reduce spending, enhance the rights of grandparents to prevent child abuse, and reduce taxes.
In 2014, Art successfully ran for House District 68, the central portion of Gallatin County.
In the 2015 Session, Art was appointed Chair of the House Human Services Committee, managing a committee of 20, which heard and acted on all health and welfare bills, and where he drafted and sponsored a medicaid reform package that did not utilize Obamacare. He also served on the Rules Committee, and State Administration and Veteran Affairs Committee. He successfully sponsored and passed bills advancing gun rights, patient protections, and multi state nursing licensure.
From 2010 to 2016, Art was proud to represent the people of Gallatin Valley.