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

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

Journalism career

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

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

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

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

  1. ↑ "Mullen Newspaper Company acquires 6 Kansas newspapers". www.nna.org. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  2. ↑ Larson, Seaborn (2023-10-05). "Dem candidate for SOS says he would be vocal supporter of local elections". The Missoulian. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  3. ↑ "Party Officers". Montana Democratic Party. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  4. ↑ "News Letter Journal". NLJ archive. 2001-10-18.
  5. ↑ Pathfinder, Seeley Swan. "New owners to continue Pathfinder legacy". Seeley Swan Pathfinder. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  6. ↑ "Former AIM Media Midwest director Jesse Mullen becomes publisher of Washington paper". www.ohionews.org. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  7. ↑ "Mullen named Director of Pagination | Civitas Media - civitasmedia.com". 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  8. ↑ "Former AIM Media Midwest director Jesse Mullen becomes publisher of Washington paper". www.ohionews.org. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  9. ↑ Yang, Nu (2014-04-04). "25 Under 35". Editor and Publisher. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  10. ↑ "Mullen Family". postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  11. ↑ None (2023-08-01). "Misguided tax policy burdens homeowners, retired". Daily Inter Lake. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  12. ↑ "The Dayton Anthology". Belt Publishing. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  13. ↑ The Dayton Anthology.
  14. ↑ "Bitterroot Star changes hands". Bitterroot Star. 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  15. ↑ "New owners take reins at Gazette Record". St. Maries Gazette Recored. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  16. ↑ "JOHNSON PUBLICATIONS SELLS NEWSPAPERS IN GRANT, IMPERIAL AND HOLYOKE".
  17. ↑ Kavanagh, LeAnne (2022-03-02). "Kavanaghs sell newspapers to Ponderosa Publications". Golden Triangle News. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  18. ↑ "Northwest Kansas newspapers sold to Mullen Newspapers". AP NEWS. 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  19. ↑ "Rising star Lloyd Mullen reflects on newspaper ownership". www.nna.org. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  20. ↑ Dietrich, Eric (2022-10-24). "Adams Publishing purchases Yellowstone Newspapers chain". Montana Free Press. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  21. ↑ Heidner, Brendan (2023-11-10). "Founder of Mullen Newspaper Company hits the Montana Secretary of State campaign trail". Terry Tribune. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  22. ↑ james.falcon@willistonherald.com, James C. Falcon (2023-11-02). "From publishing to public office". Sidney Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  23. ↑ Sakariassen, Alex (2023-11-13). "Jacobsen announces re-election bid for top election office". Montana Free Press. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  24. ↑ Heidner, Brendan (2023-11-07). "Founder of Mullen Newspaper Company hits the Montana Secretary of State campaign trail". Glendive Ranger-Review. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  25. ↑ Larson, Seaborn (2023-10-05). "Dem candidate for SOS says he would be vocal supporter of local elections". The Missoulian. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  26. ↑ "Montana Democratic Party Announces New Slate of Party Officers". Montana Democratic Party. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  27. ↑ "Montana congressional candidate Mark Sweeney has died". KRTV NEWS Great Falls. 2022-05-07. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  28. 1 2 mike.smith@mtstandard.com, MIKE SMITH (2022-06-21). "Wicks tapped to fill vacant Sweeney Senate seat; Mullen to be Democrat nominee in fall". Montana Standard. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  29. ↑ "Montana State Senate - District 39 - Unexpired Term Election Results | Journal Sentinel". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  30. ↑ "Bitterroot Star changes hands". Bitterroot Star. 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  31. ↑ kasey.faur@mtstandard.com, KASEY FAUR (2022-11-06). "Mullen and Vermeire face off on ballot". Montana Standard. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  32. ↑ Lambelet, Anne. "Shelf Awareness for Wednesday, May 8, 2019". www.shelf-awareness.com. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  33. ↑ Standard, PAT HANSEN For The Montana (2019-05-05). "New owners take the reins of Browsing Bison Books in Deer Lodge". Montana Standard. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
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