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Ravalli County Names GOP Head as Planning Director

By Beacon Staff

HAMILTON – Ravalli County commissioners have hired the county’s Republican chairman as planning director.

The Ravalli Republic reports the commission voted 3-1 Tuesday to hire Terry Nelson.

Suzy Foss, one of the commissioners who voted for Nelson, says he is a good fit for a job that is mostly community relations.

Foss says some may perceive the appointment as politically motivated. But, she says, you can’t always avoid such situations in a small valley.

The dissenting vote came from commission chairman J.R. Iman, who says Nelson has no education or training as a county planner.

County officials declined to release Nelson’s resume.

Nelson will replace John Lavey, who resigned in January.

Seventeen people applied for the job, including interim director Tristan Riddell and former director Karen Hughes.