Plains mayor picked as commissioner

Sanders County Commissioners Glen Magera and Tony Cox selected a temporary replacement for outgoing Commissioner Carol Brooker last week after interviewing candidates the previous week.

Plains Mayor Dan Rowan will be taking over as the interim commissioner in January after he resigns his post with the town. Five people, including Rowan, applied for the commissioner position: Daphne Boles and Mike Hashisaki, both of Plains, and Greg Hinkle and Daniel Moore, both of Thompson Falls. More than 300 people signed a petition in favor of Hinkle, a Republican Montana senator for eight years. The petition insisted that Hinkle be selected and they wanted to know why if he wasn’t picked. Cox said they selected the person they considered the best candidate to represent the citizens of Sanders County.

Magera and Cox spent between 45 minutes to an hour interviewing each candidate on Nov. 19. Each was asked the same questions, said Cox, who’s been a commissioner for 13 years and a Montana Highway Patrolman for 20 years before that. Magera is in his 11th year, but plans to retire at the end of next year.

Cox said they were looking for someone with experience, knowledge and an ability to interact with the public. Questions included handling a budget as well as strong-willed people. Cox said he and Magera wanted to know what parts of the county budget would a person increase or cut. “All brought different skill sets and all had something positive to offer,” said Cox, who added it was a tough decision because all of them were willing to step up and all had something to offer. However, they specifically felt Rowan’s experience and demeanor was a plus. “We felt he will represent the citizens well and work hard,” added Cox. 

Rowan will be sworn in on December 31, but he will have to resign his position as the Plains mayor. His appointment becomes effective the following day and runs to December 31, 2022. The commissioner term is six years, but because he was appointed, he will have to seek reelection in November of 2022 if he wants to remain in that position, according to Sanders County Election Deputy Bobbi Christensen. District 1 covers parts of Plains and Thompson Falls, but that person represents all county citizens. The commissioner salary is $54,099.23 annually, plus an additional $2,000 compensation each year.

Rowan has been the town mayor for four years and easily won an election against Michael Brinson, a former mayor, in November. The 55-year-old Rowan was a council member for Ward 3 for five years immediately prior to becoming mayor. Rowan was born in Georgia, his father’s home, but his family moved to Plains when he was a child. He’s been back and forth between Georgia and Plains, but moved back permanently in 2005. 

“I wanted this because the same things I’ve been able to improve and accomplish in Plains I think I could take to the county level,” said Rowan, who said he was “shocked” when he got word that he was picked. He said that he had never given serious thought to political office beyond mayor, but after several people said he should go for it, he sent in his applicant just prior to the deadline. 

Rowan said he did have reservations about leaving the mayor position because he didn’t want any of the big projects he’s been working on, such as the move of the sewer lagoon and the upcoming road tax election, to fall through the cracks. He said being the mayor is a learning curve and he’s afraid that a replacement might not have the same level of interest in those projects. “It gave me mixed emotions leaving this job. I care about Plains and this position and the improvements I’ve made over the last four years,” said Rowan, who plans to seek the commissioner position at election time.

The plan is for the Plains Town Council to choose a new council president at the January 3 meeting. Prior to that, however, the present council president, Chris Allen, will take over as interim-mayor. The council will take applications for the appointment of a new mayor, hold interviews, and make a selection. Allen said he has no desire to be the full-time mayor. “I have an interest in serving the town, but I don’t have the heart for filling the shoes of what the mayor’s duties are,” said Allen, who’s been a council member for 12 years and the council president for three years.

Rowan believes Brooker did a very good job as commissioner and agreed with her on most issues. “I just hope to be able to fill her shoes.”