HELENA — Montana’s new Republican Party chairman is making a show of party unity by appointing the incumbent he ousted and another candidate for the top spot to leadership positions.
Rep. Jeff Essmann of Billings was elected chairman at the party’s annual convention last week, defeating incumbent Will Deschamps of Missoula and former Madison County Commissioner Dan Happel.
Essmann announced Wednesday that Happel will be the party’s finance chairman and Deschamps will be the new Republican Speakers Committee chairman.
Essmann says their appointments will mean a stronger and more unified party as the focus turns toward the 2016 elections.
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