News Release

Governor-Elect Judy Martz
State Capitol, Helena, Montana 59620 Phone 406-444-3111

For immediate release: December 27, 2000
For more information: Shane Hedges, 444-3111

Martz Names Eight New Members to her Team

Today, Governor-Elect Judy Martz named eight new members to her team. They include:

• Mike Foster, Commissioner of the Department of Labor
• Mark Simonich, Director of the Department of Commerce
• Gerry LaChere, Director of the Lottery
• Gail Gray, Director of the Department of Public Health & Human Services
• Jeff Hagener, Director of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
• Stan Grace, Northwest Power Planning Council
• Marci Lynn, Governor's Office, Office Manager
• Jean Branscum, Governor's Office, Assistant to the Chief of Staff

"Today we're announcing five more of our 12 department directors plus two members of our personal staff," Martz said. "We feel confident that all of these individuals will serve the State of Montana extremely well. I appreciate their being willing to join our team in making Montana a better place."

A long time member of the Montana Senate and House of Representatives, Mike Foster is a native of Townsend and has worked for the past three years as Executive Director of the Montana Contractors Association. Before that he worked in the health care area, serving as assistant director of the Montana Hospital Rate Review System for five years.

Mark Simonich has worked for the past seven years as the director of the Department of Environmental Quality. Before that, Mark served for three years as a legislative assistant for U. S. Senator Conrad Burns in his Washington, D. C. office. Before working with the federal and state government, Mark had fourteen years of experience working in private businesses across the state of Montana.

Gerry LaChere has worked at the Montana Lottery for the past four years. Martz said, "I am reappointing him to that position because his private industry background in the computer field helped him to bring a common sense, business approach to running this department."

Jeff Hagener, who was unable to attend today due to prior commitments, is currently the Division Administrator for the Trust Land Management Division in the DNRC. He has held that position for five years. Besides being an avid sportsman, Jeff has a firm understanding of landowner and law enforcement concerns.

Gail Gray currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Services at the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Although Gail has worked for OPI for nearly 20 years, before that she served as Director of the Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services for two years under the Schwinden Administration. At OPI, she has worked with developmentally disabled and vocational rehabilitative services. "She thoroughly understands the many issues faced by this department," Martz said.

Stan Grace has worked for the past eleven years as a member of the Northwest Power Planning Council. Martz said, "His varied service on that board, from everything to committee member to board chairman, has greatly benefited the State of Montana through the years. Stan has several projects that are still in the planning stages, so I'm reappointing him to finish that process."

Jean Branscum has been serving as an agriculture and transportation policy aid to Governor Racicot. Before that, she worked as senior marketing officer for the Montana Department of Agriculture, and earlier as the Public Information Officer at the Montana Department of Labor. She will work as the Assistant to the Chief of Staff.

Marci Lynn has worked as the Program Coordinator for the Montana Supreme Court Citizen Review Board for the past five years. Before that, she served as the Office Manager for the Director of the Montana Department of Administration for five years. Marci will be the new Office Manager for the Governor's Office.