by Evelyn Pyburn-Originally published in the 8/19/16 print edition of Yellowstone County News.
BILLINGS — The process to select a new county commissioner unfolded rather quickly and without much fanfare, last Thursday, as the two Republican County Commissioners agreed on the selection of Democrat Robyn Driscoll to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Bill Kennedy.
Driscoll wil be sworn into office on Aug. 30, after giving notice with School District 2, where she is employed as a secretary.
Driscoll was named from a slate of three candidates submitted to the commissioners by the Democratic Central Committee. The other two candidates were former Billings Mayor and former state legislator David Wanzenried. Commissioners interviewed all three candidates during a public meeting the previous week.
Commissioner John Ostlund thanked all the candidates for applying, then he asked Commissioner Jim Reno for his selection.
Reno said, that while they could make no wrong choice, Driscoll’s focus on local and current issues confronting the county put her in the forefront for him. He said he was impressed that she is giving up a job, as well as a position as state legislator, to become county commissioner, and the fact that the board would now have a woman serving on it “is not lost on me.”
Ostlund then said that his choice, too, would be Driscoll. He said that she was focused on building the new jail for Yellowstone County and meeting the needs of adding two District Court judges in the county. She also indicated an appreciation of the importance of coal to the local economy, which will likely become an increasing concern for the county.
It was noted, too, that during the Central Committee’s selection process, Driscoll received the most votes of the three candidates.
