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Bullock Announces Cabinet Departures, Appointments

FWP, agriculture, commerce directors leaving their posts

By Beacon Staff
Gov. Steve Bullock speaks before signing the Flathead Water Compact during the 64th Montana Legislative Session in Helena on April 24, 2015. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Updated: Dec. 9, 2:15 p.m.

HELENA — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has announced his appointments for several agency director positions as well as those who will leave the administration.

The Democrat, who was re-elected to a second term in November, made the announcement at a news conference Friday afternoon in the Montana Capitol.

The reappointments include:

— Mike Tooley as director of the Montana Department of Transportation

— Major General Matt Quinn as director of the Department of Military Affairs and the adjutant general for the Montana National Guard

— Angela Wong as Montana Lottery Director

— Pam Bucy as the commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry

— John Tubbs as the director of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

— Tom Livers as the director of the Department of Environmental Quality

— Mike Kadas as the director of the Department of Revenue

Bullock had been in conversations with all of his appointed directors since last month about whether they want to serve another four years. High-level staffing changes are not unusual when officials are re-elected.

Bullock said some cabinet directors will also be leaving their posts. Those include:

— Department of Corrections Director Mike Batista

— Department of Commerce Director Meg O’Leary

— Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Richard Opper

— Department of Agriculture Director Ron de Yong

— Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Jeff Hagener

— Economic Development Director John Rogers

Sheila Hogan was named the new director of the Department of Public Health and Human Services. Hogan has served as the director of administration for the last four years. Hogan was appointed in 2013. Previously, she served as the executive director of the Career Training Institute in Helena for 20 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in business and public policy from Montana Tech-University of Montana.

John Lewis was appointed to be director of the Department of Administration. Lewis served for 12 years as a top advisor and Montana Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Max Baucus. Lewis ran unsuccessfully for Montana’s U.S. Representative seat in 2014.

Loraine Wodnik was appointed as interim director of the Department of Corrections while a national search is conducted. Wodnik has served in several state administrative roles over the last 24 years. For the past three and a half years, she has served as the deputy director for the Montana Department of Corrections.

Bullock spokesman Tim Crowe says the governor hopes to name the new heads of the four remaining agencies by the end of the month.

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.