HELENA — Attorney General-elect Tim Fox has named a new Montana Highway Patrol chief.
Fox assumes office next month and replaces Steve Bullock, who is moving over to the governor’s office.
Fox said Tuesday that Major Kenton Hickethier will lead the Highway Patrol. He will replace Col. Mike Tooley, who has agreed to run the Department of Transportation for Bullock.
Fox’s list of appointments includes some holdovers from the Bullock administration. Fox says Rick Ask will remain administrator of the Gambling Control Division, Brenda Nordlund will be retained as administrator of the Motor Vehicle Division and Joe Chapman will stay on as administrator of the Information Technology Services Division.
Some new faces will include the agency’s communications director. Fox says John Barnes of the Washington Policy Center will be taking that post.
Gov.-elect Steve Bullock is bringing over a staffer from the attorney general’s office to serve as his new chief legal counsel.
Bullock said Tuesday his current assistant Andrew Huff will follow him over to the governor’s office. Huff worked with Bullock on campaign finance cases in the attorney general’s office.
Bullock also announced Tuesday that Stacey Otterstrom will be the boards and appointments adviser. Otterstrom, of Havre, has worked for U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and most recently was political director at the Montana Democratic Party.
Bullock is assembling his cabinet and staff as he prepares to take office next month. The Democrat is replacing outgoing Gov. Brian Schweitzer after defeating Republican Rick Hill in last month’s election.