October Speakers

Sean Logan

Helena City Commissioner

Sean Logan has lived in Helena since he was two years old. Sean attended Montana State University where he attained a degree in Mathematics. He has worked as a ranch hand, horse trainer and farrier, but ultimately settled on a career as a firefighter with the City of Helena Fire Department. Working his way through the ranks, Sean spent the last three years of his career as the chief of the department, retiring in late 2015 after twenty years of service.

Commissioner Logan has always had a keen interest in local affairs. Understanding that commission decisions affect not only the day-to-day operations of city government, but greatly impact the lives of Helenans, Sean ran twice for the position of City Commissioner with a 2017 unsuccessful run, and then winning the position in 2019. He and his wife have two daughters. He also has a  son from a previous marriage. He enjoys fishing, trap shooting and uilleann piping.

Candace Payne

Lewis & Clark County Commissioner

Candace Payne has been a Montanan for over 70years. She graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1970. After several years of life experience living in northeastern Montana, she went back to college and  graduated from Eastern Montana College in 1989 – all the while as a single parent of two children. After completing her law degree at the University of Montana School of Law in 1992, Candace and her teenage son moved to Helena. In 1998, she married Lewistown native, Dave Payne.

Candace began working as a private entity lobbyist during the 1993 Montana Legislative Session and started her career as a private practice attorney the same year. She continued to practice law and work as a lobbyist until her "retirement" in 2018. When the voters of Lewis and Clark County determined the office of County Commissioner was non-partisan, she decided to run for office, recognizing that her years of creative problem solving would be beneficial to the citizens of this county.