Montana’s Public Service Commission (PSC) voted on Tuesday to demote Brad Molnar, formerly the commission’s president, in a 3-2 decision. The vote followed weeks of internal conflict and extensive debate about protocols for addressing disputes within the PSC. Some colleagues have even urged Governor Greg Gianforte to remove Molnar from office.
Vice President Jennifer Fielder and Executive Director Alana Lake accused Molnar of discriminatory and retaliatory behavior, though details remain sparse. Molnar, who refutes the claims as vague and politically driven, has hired a polygraph tester to support his stance, sharing the results with Montana news outlets.
An ongoing investigation by the PSC’s “rapid response team” has led to a lawsuit over the process of removing an elected commissioner. This month, a judge in Helena made it easier for Gianforte, a Republican, to consider suspending Molnar if there’s “good cause” to believe he’s not fulfilling his duties. The entire commission consists of Republican members.
Commissioner Anne “Annie” Bukacek initiated the motion to demote Molnar, citing failures in effective leadership and promoting the PSC’s mission, which balances utilities’ needs and consumer interests. Molnar argues that the commission should prioritize regulation over interpersonal relationships and titles.
Molnar dismissed the motion as a “sham,” suggesting the president’s duties are not significantly different from a regular commissioner’s. The president reviews expenses like other commissioners’ travel budgets and chairs meetings, earning a higher salary ($134,163 annually) than other commissioners.
Commissioner Jeff Welborn, who voted for the demotion, emphasized the need for a “reset” to eliminate distractions from the commission’s mission. He acknowledged recent “cordial” discussions with Molnar but believes a leadership change is crucial for progress.
Following Molnar’s demotion, Fielder assumes interim presidential duties. The commission plans to vote on a new president on October 28. Bukacek and Welborn, aligned with Fielder, earlier revised agency policies to reduce the vote threshold for demoting officers from four votes to three. This change also affects the process of referring a member to the governor for review.
Fielder noted that the rule change facilitates holding elected officials accountable without costly, prolonged procedures. Meanwhile, Molnar is under scrutiny for allegedly obstructing the investigation, according to a judge. Molnar expressed concerns about the legal expenses involving four attorneys representing the agency.
Bukacek and Fielder frequently interrupted the meeting with “point of order” objections, accusing Molnar of interjecting personal bias into procedural discussions. Molnar warned that today’s rule changes could impact future governance of the utility board.
“I’m maybe using a current example, but I’m talking about the future,” Molnar said. “I’m talking about if somebody brings it on you [or] a commissioner two years from now, or five years from now.”
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