About the Commission

2020 COMMISSIONERS

Maylinn Smith
Maylinn SmithPresiding Officer
Appointed by the Montana Supreme Court.
Jeff Essmann
Jeff EssmannCommissioner
Appointed by Senate Majority Leader Fred Thomas.
Denise Juneau
Denise JuneauCommissioner
Appointed by Senate Minority Leader Jill Cohenour.
Dan Stusek
Dan StusekCommissioner
Appointed by House Majority Leader Brad Tschida.
Kendra Miller
Kendra MillerCommissioner
Appointed by House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner.

PRIOR 2020 COMMISSIONERS

Sheila Stearns
Sheila StearnsFormer Presiding Officer
Appointed by the Montana Supreme Court.
Joe Lamson
Joe LamsonCommissioner
Appointed by Senate Minority Leader Jon Sesso.

The five-member Districting and Apportionment Commission draws the boundaries of congressional and legislative districts every 10 years. All districts must have approximately the same number of people living within those boundaries. While the Commission seeks recommendations from the Legislature, the final plans are those approved by a majority of the Commission. Montana has used a commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts since 1973.

Commissioners are not public officials (such as holding elected office). Four commissioners are appointed by legislative leadership from both parties. The Commission could not reach agreement on a fifth member, who is the presiding officer, so the presiding officer was selected by the Montana Supreme Court.

Article V, Section 14(2) of the Montana Constitution sets out the selection process for and qualifications of the commissioners.

  • Commissioners are selected in the session immediately before a federal census.
  • Commissioners may not be public officials.
  • The majority and minority leaders of each house of the Legislature each select one commissioner.
  • The first four commissioners have 20 days to select the fifth member, who will also be the commission’s presiding officer.
  • The Supreme Court selects the fifth commissioner if the first four are unable to select a commissioner within the 20 days.

After results from the federal census are available, the commission must complete a congressional redistricting plan within 90 days.

The commission must present a state legislative plan to the Montana Legislature by the 10th legislative day of the first regular session after the federal census results are available. The Legislature then has 30 days to make recommendations to the commission. Within 30 days of receiving the Legislature’s recommendations, the commission must file the redistricting plan with the Secretary of State, and it becomes law. Although the commission may modify the plan to accommodate the Legislature’s recommendations, it is not required to do so.

Staff

Rachel Weiss, Research Analyst
Joe Kolman, Research Analyst
Julianne Burkhardt, Staff Attorney
Laura Sherley, Research Assistant