Members Appointed to Legislative Districting Commission

Legislative leaders today appointed four citizens to a commission responsible for redrawing legislative and congressional district boundaries.

By state law, a bipartisan commission is responsible for redistricting every 10 years using population data from the most recent U.S. Census. Members of the commission may not be public officials.

Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate each selects a commissioner.

The appointees are:

• Jon Bennion, a Clancy attorney, appointed by House Minority Leader Scott Sales
• Joe Lamson, deputy director of the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and a member of the previous redistricting commission, appointed by House Majority Leader Margarett Campbell
• Pat Smith, a Missoula attorney, appointed by Senate Minority Leader Carol Williams
• Linda Vaughey, commissioner of the Helena Housing Authority and former commissioner of political practices, appointed by Senate Majority Leader Jim Peterson

The four appointees have 20 days to meet and select a fifth person to serve as their presiding officer. If they can’t agree on a choice, a majority of the Montana Supreme Court makes the selection.

For more information, contact Susan Byorth Fox, executive director of the Legislative Services Division, at 406-444-3066.