House District 99: Betsy Hands

DEMOCRAT
AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: Executive Director of homeWORD, a non-profit community housing organization

HOMETOWN: She was born in Australia and has lived in seven or eight places throughout her life, but says she considers Missoula, Mont., home.
FAMILY: Single

EDUCATION: B.A. in social science with a focus on sustainable development, University of Michigan; MA in environmental studies, University of Montana
POLITICAL OR PUBLIC SERVICE: Peace Corps Volunteer 1996-1998, Montana House of Representatives 2007-present

Hands: Environment, energy are priorities

By ALLISON MAIER

When Democrat Betsy Hands and her former Republican challenger for House District 99, Jedediah Cox, met at a television interview, he dressed up in a suit. She wore a Hawaiian shirt and hand-shaped earrings, unintentionally alluding to her last name. -MORE-