An experienced leader and candidate for Montrose City Council is dedicated to community-focused city government.
An experienced leader and candidate for Montrose City Council is dedicated to community-focused city government.
• Prioritize People Over Politics: As someone who grew up in Montrose, I understand the intricacies of Montrose well. An experienced leader, that will listen to the Citizens of Montrose by hosting open town halls, workshops, and genuine public engagement, ensuring that our City Council serves "We the People".
• Restore Fiscal Responsibility: In our campaign for a better Montrose, we will work to implement common sense solutions, zero-based budgeting, forensic audits, and fee rollbacks to tackle Montrose's skyrocketing debt, while curbing soaring taxes and fees that burden retirees, veterans, and hardworking families. Our focus will be on investments in essential and meaningful infrastructure instead of wasteful pet projects.
• Revitalize Our Economy and Community: As an Air Force Veteran and Entrepreneur, our focus will look to help Montrose attract high-paying industries, breathe new life into our incredible Downtown, and work tirelessly to uphold traditional Colorado values. Together, we will build a thriving Montrose where families can afford to stay and prosper, all while maintaining a community-focused approach.
Montrose Strong: Community, Family, Freedom with “MJB”
Photo Courtesy of Cyllia Gardner Photography - Montrose, CO
I am Michael J. Badagliacco, known to many as MJB, and I am running for Montrose City Council. As someone who grew up in Montrose, a USAF veteran, international recording artist, and entrepreneur, my story is one of deep ties to our community, ventures that took me far, and a deliberate return to contribute where it matters most. Montrose shaped me, and now I am here to give back.
Growing up in Montrose, Colorado, I attended Northside Elementary, Centennial Junior High, and graduated from Montrose High School in 1983. Those years built my foundation. I worked in my parents' local business, learning the value of hard work and community connections early on. Montrose was more than a place; it was the backdrop for my values of family, service, and independence. With a family legacy of military service, including my grandfather as Provost Marshal at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day, December 7, 1941, later retiring as a full bird colonel after WWII. My uncle in the Korean War as a combat Marine, and my father with the USAF during the Vietnam era, duty called me too. In 1984, I enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving through 1991 as the lead vocalist for the USAF Academy Band's Top 40/Rock group, Blue Steel.
Following my military service, a professional music career propelled me through for 16 years, as I fronted the international recording artist, ARRIVAL, scoring a Top 40 hit and earning various awards and notoriety for my vocals. From 1994 to 1999, feeling the draw to service, I lent my talents to lead music at the Littleton Colorado Salvation Army New Heights Center. Music opened doors worldwide. Retiring from music in 2008, I launched TheNetStar.com, an online platform for emerging talent, blending creativity with innovation.
Entrepreneurship soon dominated. Starting in wireless sales in 1994, from sales, to operations, to CEO-level roles at global giants like Huawei, LG, and Samsung. In 2004, I founded Wireless Advocates, establishing what would become a Billion Dollar Enterprise. These pursuits demanded travel and focus, drawing me further from home. Yet through it all, family remained my anchor. I am a father to five children, two daughters and three sons, and grandfather to three, one granddaughter and two grandsons. My three sons served honorably in the US Army, and my son-in-law is a Chief Warrant Officer in the US Navy. Their service echoes our family's tradition.
By 2023, the pull to return grew undeniable. I moved back to Montrose full-time, into my childhood home, to support my 84-year-old mother daily. It was a practical need, but also a heartfelt one. Montrose values resonated more than ever after years in high-stakes business. Recently, I worked with my son to transition a log home company in Bailey, Colorado, handing it over in December 2024. Now settled, I channel my experience into public service.
As Editor-in-Chief of CoDOGEreport.com and USALibertyReport.com, and a contributor to the Rocky Mountain Voice and the Montrose Mirror, I advocate for transparency in local government. Montrose deserves leaders who prioritize constitutional principles and community strength. My background equips me to foster opportunity while preserving what makes Montrose special.
Running for council is about applying real-world success to local challenges. From military discipline to business innovation, I bring tools to ensure accountability and freedom for all.
VOTE Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB” April 7th And let's build a stronger Montrose together.
Photo Courtesy of Cyllia Gardner Photography - Montrose, CO