Montana News

Governor-elect Bullock announces first appointments

Posted: Dec 1, 2012 8:59 AM by Marnee Banks (marnee@kxlh.com)

Montana Governor-elect Steve Bullock announced several appointment to his administration during a press conference in Helena on Friday.

Mike Batista, a native of Great Falls, will serve as the Director of the Department of Corrections. He currently serves as the administrator of the Division of Criminal Investigations at the Montana Department of Justice.

Pam Bucy, a Townsend native, will serve as the Director of the Department of Labor, where she most recently worked as the Chief Legal Counsel. Bucy ran an unsuccessful bid to become the Montana Attorney General, losing to Republican Tim Fox in the November election.

Meg O'Leary, from Big Sky, will serve as Director of the Department of Commerce. O'Leary is currently the director of sales and marketing at Big Sky Resort.

During the press conference, Bullock said, "This is a group of Montanans that I think truly does reflect our values. They believe in working hard, playing by the rules, and as life-long Montanans they know how bright and great this state can truly be."

Batista noted, "I'm excited and eager to get to work to oversee a Corrections department that does right by victims' families and taxpayers and makes sure communities are safe.

Bucy said, "We are excited to continue the tremendous work that has been started creating safer work environments and lower work comp rates. I am also thrilled to assist Montana's dynamic unemployment insurance program to rebound from what has been a very tough last few years."

O'Leary stated, "We have a really great story to tell and we get to go tell that story to the world. To bring job-creating investment to this state all we have to do is get out there and keep telling that story. And we are going to tell the whole country how great it is, and how viable it is to do business in Montana."

All of Bullock's appointments are subject to approval by the Montana Senate.

Bullock says he will be announcing the next round of appointees in the next few weeks as well as drafting a budget.