Governor seeks public comment on Public Service Commission applicants

Five candidates, including a former Montana Public Service Commissioner, filed applications to serve in place of Commissioner Brad Molnar, temporarily suspended from office by Gov. Greg Gianforte.

Thursday, Gianforte’s office announced it is seeking comment through Aug. 20 on the applicants. The candidates are the following:

• Kirk Bushman of House District 48 (Billings area), who served on the Public Service Commission as a Republican from 2013 to 2016 and lists Kestrel Engineering and Sibanye Stillwater as recent employers; 
• Nick Fitzmaurice of HD 61 (Bozeman area), energy transition engineer for conservation watchdog Montana Environmental Information Agency;
• Nicholas Loos of HD 50 (Billings area), nonprofit Service to Summit president and CEO, and former constituent and veterans liaison for Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke from 2024 to 2025;
• John Prinkki of HD 55 (Red Lodge area), former Republican Carbon County Commissioner from 1989 to 2017, and retired small horse ranch operator; and
• David Wanzenried of HD 53 (Billings area), former state legislator, most recently a Missoula Democrat in the Senate from 2007 to 2015; consultant from 2012 to present for clients including Mountain Pacific Quality Health, Montana State University — Billings and others.

The Public Service Commission regulates monopoly utilities in Montana. The appointed commissioner will serve for one year alongside four other commissioners elected by district for four-year terms.

All commissioners, including Molnar, are currently Republican, as is Gianforte.

Full applications are available at governor.mt.gov/PSCappointment.

Members of the public may submit comments to [email protected] or to Attn: Caitlin Wagoner, Governor’s Office, PO Box 200801, Helena, Montana 59620.  

Letters or other comments submitted will be publicly available and posted at governor.mt.gov/PSCappointment.

The position is open because Gianforte temporarily suspended Molnar following an investigation into allegations of professional misconduct and a recommendation from a majority of the PSC.

Molnar is fighting the suspension in district court in Montana.

Both the governor and Molnar have described the suspension as unprecedented in state history, but Gianforte has said Molnar’s actions also were unprecedented.

A report that discussed misconduct allegations against Molnar found he referred to “topless Tuesdays” in the office and retaliated against those who filed complaints.

The report into misconduct included numerous recommendations, including that Molnar complete training on sexual harassment and civility during his suspension.

Public Service Commission spokesperson Michael Turner said agency leadership declined to endorse applicants and will not comment on them.

However, Turner said the governor sought recommendations from the commission, and PSC leadership provided characteristics, skills and experience that “would make for an ideal candidate.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comment from the PSC.