HELENA – Bill Gallagher is back as Public Service Commission chairman.
The Helena Republican was unanimously elected PSC chairman Monday by the five-member, all-GOP commission. Bob Lake of Hamilton was elected vice chairman.
Gallagher was chairman in 2011 until Republican Travis Kavulla joined the commission’s two Democrats to oust Gallagher and install Kavulla as chairman.
That term was marked by turmoil and infighting and ultimately led to Republicans taking the seats of Democratic commissioners Gail Gutsche and John Vincent in November’s election.
Kavulla remains on the commission and he nominated Gallagher to be the new chairman.
Gallagher, Lake and Kavulla are joined by Roger Koopman and Kirk Bushman to form the first-ever all-Republican PSC.