Jesse Mullen

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Jesse James Mullen is an American businessman, politician, and columnist based in Montana. He owns newspapers, book stores, and commercial real estate. He is the founder of Mullen Newspaper Company, a media company headquartered in Deer Lodge, Montana. Mullen Newspaper Company owns community newspapers in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, and Washington.[1] He is a candidate for Montana Secretary of State.[2] He is a member of the Montana Democratic Party Executive Board.[3]

Early life and education[edit]

Mullen attended Newcastle High School, in Newcastle, Wyoming,[4] then studied journalism at the University of Wyoming.[5]

Journalism career[edit]

Mullen worked at various newspapers including The Boomerang, in Laramie, Wyoming and Rawlins Daily Times, in Rawlins, Wyoming.[6]

In 2013, Mullen worked with Civitas Media as an efficiency management expert to manage the editorial consolidation at the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Times Leader; Alton, Illinois Telegraph; Sedalia (Missouri) Democrat; Lima (Ohio) News; Mt. Airy (North Carolina) News; and Lumberton, North Carolina Robesonian.[7][8]

In 2014, at age 29, he was named one of Editor & Publisher’s 25 most influential executives in the newspaper industry.[9]

In 2015, the Mullen family was featured in the Smithsonian National Postal Museum exhibit[10] “America’s Mailing Industry.”

Mullen is the founder of Mullen Newspaper Company.[11] Mullen was a contributing author to editor Shannon Shelton Miller's "The Dayton Anthology" which reflected on the "traumas and longer-term ills of disinvestment and decay that have plagued [Rust Belt cities]," published by Belt Publishing.[12][13]

Mullen Newspaper Company[edit]

In 2020, Mullen purchased the Bitterroot Star.[14] In 2021, he purchased the St. Maries (Idaho) Gazette-Record.[15] In late 2021, Jesse and his brother, Lloyd Mullen, purchased the Johnson Newspaper Group in Nebraska and Colorado,[16] Kavanagh Newspaper Group in Montana,[17] and Nor’West Publications in Kansas, including the daily newspaper Colby Free Press.[18] Lloyd is part-owner of the Port Townsend (Washington) Leader.[19]

As of 2023, Mullen Newspaper Company manages 20 publications in six Western states.[20]

Politics[edit]

Mullen is a candidate for Montana's Secretary of State office running against incumbent Christi Jacobsen.[21][22][23][24][25]

Mullen is a member of the Montana Democratic Party Executive Board as an at-large member representing the western district. He was elected on July 22, 2023.[26]

In early 2022, Senate District 39 Democratic Senator Mark Sweeney died of a heart attack.[27] Mullen was nominated during a special convention to be the Democratic Party nominee to fill the remainder of Sweeney’s term, defeating Jessica Wicks, and former state Rep. Gordon Pierson.[28] Mullen lost the special election to Republican nominee and Deer Lodge County Commissioner Terry Vermeire.[29]

Jessica Wicks was appointed by the Deer Lodge County Commissioners to briefly fill the vacant senate seat until the election could take place in November.[28]

Personal life[edit]

Mullen has five children. Mullen is married to Sasha Mullen.[30] He is a Rotarian and was president of the Philipsburg (Mont.) Rotary Club.[31]

Mullen owns the Montana bookstore chain, Browsing Bison Books.[32][33]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mullen Newspaper Company acquires 6 Kansas newspapers". www.nna.org. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Larson, Seaborn (October 5, 2023). "Dem candidate for SOS says he would be vocal supporter of local elections". The Missoulian. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "Party Officers". Montana Democratic Party. Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "News Letter Journal". NLJ archive. October 18, 2001. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  5. ^ Pathfinder, Seeley Swan. "New owners to continue Pathfinder legacy". Seeley Swan Pathfinder. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "Former AIM Media Midwest director Jesse Mullen becomes publisher of Washington paper". www.ohionews.org. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "Mullen named Director of Pagination | Civitas Media - civitasmedia.com". May 27, 2014. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  8. ^ "Former AIM Media Midwest director Jesse Mullen becomes publisher of Washington paper". www.ohionews.org. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  9. ^ Yang, Nu (April 4, 2014). "25 Under 35". Editor and Publisher. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "Mullen Family". postalmuseum.si.edu. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  11. ^ None (August 1, 2023). "Misguided tax policy burdens homeowners, retired". Daily Inter Lake. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "The Dayton Anthology". Belt Publishing. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  13. ^ The Dayton Anthology. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  14. ^ "Bitterroot Star changes hands". Bitterroot Star. December 2, 2020. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  15. ^ "New owners take reins at Gazette Record". St. Maries Gazette Recored. May 5, 2021. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  16. ^ "JOHNSON PUBLICATIONS SELLS NEWSPAPERS IN GRANT, IMPERIAL AND HOLYOKE". Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  17. ^ Kavanagh, LeAnne (March 2, 2022). "Kavanaghs sell newspapers to Ponderosa Publications". Golden Triangle News. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  18. ^ "Northwest Kansas newspapers sold to Mullen Newspapers". AP NEWS. December 7, 2022. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  19. ^ "Rising star Lloyd Mullen reflects on newspaper ownership". www.nna.org. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  20. ^ Dietrich, Eric (October 24, 2022). "Adams Publishing purchases Yellowstone Newspapers chain". Montana Free Press. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  21. ^ Heidner, Brendan (November 10, 2023). "Founder of Mullen Newspaper Company hits the Montana Secretary of State campaign trail". Terry Tribune. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  22. ^ james.falcon@willistonherald.com, James C. Falcon (November 2, 2023). "From publishing to public office". Sidney Herald. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  23. ^ Sakariassen, Alex (November 13, 2023). "Jacobsen announces re-election bid for top election office". Montana Free Press. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  24. ^ Heidner, Brendan (November 7, 2023). "Founder of Mullen Newspaper Company hits the Montana Secretary of State campaign trail". Glendive Ranger-Review. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  25. ^ Larson, Seaborn (October 5, 2023). "Dem candidate for SOS says he would be vocal supporter of local elections". The Missoulian. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  26. ^ "Montana Democratic Party Announces New Slate of Party Officers". Montana Democratic Party. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  27. ^ "Montana congressional candidate Mark Sweeney has died". KRTV NEWS Great Falls. May 7, 2022. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  28. ^ a b mike.smith@mtstandard.com, MIKE SMITH (June 21, 2022). "Wicks tapped to fill vacant Sweeney Senate seat; Mullen to be Democrat nominee in fall". Montana Standard. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  29. ^ "Montana State Senate - District 39 - Unexpired Term Election Results | Journal Sentinel". www.jsonline.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  30. ^ "Bitterroot Star changes hands". Bitterroot Star. December 2, 2020. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  31. ^ kasey.faur@mtstandard.com, KASEY FAUR (November 6, 2022). "Mullen and Vermeire face off on ballot". Montana Standard. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  32. ^ Lambelet, Anne. "Shelf Awareness for Wednesday, May 8, 2019". www.shelf-awareness.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  33. ^ Standard, PAT HANSEN For The Montana (May 5, 2019). "New owners take the reins of Browsing Bison Books in Deer Lodge". Montana Standard. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.

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