Governor Steve Bullock's longtime Chief of Staff is leaving and is being replaced by Tracy Stone-Manning, the current Director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
Bullock's outgoing chief of staff, Tim Burton, is leaving to lead the Montana League of Cities and Towns; a nonprofit association of 129 Montana municipalities. Burton says Stone-Manning is an excellent choice.
"Tracy Stone-Manning is a very talented and gifted person," said Burton. "I'll be working with Tracey for the next several weeks until I transition into the League of Cities and Towns and she's going to do a wonderful job for the Governor and the state of Montana."
Prior to Stone-Manning's appointment to lead the DEQ last year, she was Senator Jon Tester's Missoula region director. She also worked as his acting statewide staff director. She is the former executive director of the Clark Fork Coalition and the Missoula-based Five Valleys Land Trust.
Tim Burton started as Attorney General Bullock's Chief of Staff in 2009. Burton's advice to Stone-Manning?
"Do your homework, treat people with respect and make decisions with an honest purpose which I know Tracy will do."
Stone-Manning was not available for comment today. DEQ Deputy Director, Tom Livers, will take over for Stone-Manning. Liver's been with the agency since it was created and has served as its Deputy Director for the past 12 years
