HELENA — Gov. Greg Gianforte has selected a former member of the Montana Public Service Commission to serve on the commission temporarily, while Commissioner Brad Molnar is suspended from office.
Gianforte’s office announced Wednesday that he had selected former Commissioner Kirk Bushman, a mechanical engineer from Billings, to fill Molnar’s position representing Commission District 2 in south-central Montana.
“Kirk brings decades of engineering experience and a strong understanding of the important work of the Public Service Commission,” Gianforte said in a statement. “Having previously served on the commission, Kirk understands the responsibility of ensuring Montanans have access to reliable, affordable utility services. I look forward to his service on behalf of Montana ratepayers.”
Gianforte cited Bushman’s experience handling the regulatory matters the PSC deals with and working with PSC staff.
Last month, the governor suspended Molnar from the PSC for one year. He pointed to an investigation report into Molnar’s workplace conduct, which claimed that he made “repeated and unwelcome sex-based remarks,” acted unprofessionally towards staff and retaliated against people who complained against him or investigated those complaints.
Bushman was one of five candidates who applied to fill the vacancy after Molnar’s suspension. A Republican, he served on the PSC from 2013 to 2016. He was defeated in the GOP primary in 2016, then ran for the position again in 2020 and 2024 – the last time, being defeated by Molnar in the primary.
Molnar has filed a lawsuit, seeking to block his suspension before Gianforte could name a replacement. State District Judge Mike Menahan has not yet issued a ruling in that case.
Molnar told reporters after a hearing in his lawsuit earlier this month that appointing Bushman would essentially be undoing the results of an election.
