History of Elected Officials in Gallatin County

Elected Office 

Changes to Elected Office 

Assessor 

Combined with Treasurer July 27, 1993 (See Treasurer/Assessor) 

Attorney 

 
 

Auditor 

 
 

Clerk & Recorder 

Combined with Surveyor November 14, 1986 (See Clerk & Recorder/Surveyor) 

Clerk & Recorder/Surveyor 

 
 

Clerk of Court/Public Administrator 

Combined Clerk of Court and Public Administrator November 1986 

Coroner 

Combined with Sheriff June 2008 (See Sheriff/Coroner) 

County Commission 

 
 

Justice of the Peace 

 
 

Sheriff/Coroner 

 
 

Superintendent of Schools 

 
 

Surveyor 

Combined with Clerk & Recorder November 14, 1986 (See Clerk & Recorder/Surveyor) 

Treasurer 

Combined with Assessor July 27, 1993 (See Treasurer/Assessor) 

Treasurer/Assessor 

 
 

Attorney

4-year term

Name

Years of Service

Term Expires

Audrey Cromwell2023 to present12/31/2026 

Marty Lambert

1997 to 2022

 

Mike Salvagni 

1983-1997 

 
 

Donald E. White 

1977-1982 (special general election held 4/5/77) 

 
 

Tom Olson 

1975-1977 

 
 

4-year term

Name 

Years of Service 

Term Expires 

Erin Cox 

2019 to current 

12/31/2026 

Jennifer Blossom 

2003-2018 

 
 

Joyce Schmidt 

1995-2002 

 
 

Sherry Hoekema 

1993-1994 / 1991-1992 (appointed) 

 

Carolyn Hartsog 

1987-1991 (resigned) 

 
 

Douglas C. Kosty 

1983-1986 

 
 

Kenneth G. Mosby 

1979-1982 

 
 

William H. Johnson 

1973-1978 

 

Auditor's Office


Clerk & Recorder/Surveyor

4-year term

Name 

Years of Service 

Term Expires 

Eric Semerad 

2019 to current 

12/31/2026 

Charlotte Mills 

2007-2018 

 
 

Shelley (Cheney) Vance 

1989-2006 

 

Clerk & Recorder

Name 

Years of Service 

Jerry Wine 

11/1986-1988 (appointed) 

Nancy Brown 

10/14/1986-11/10/1986 (appointed) 

Gary W. Pringle 

1983-1986 (resigned) 

Lucille A. Bridges 

1979-1982 

Carl L. Stucky 

1967-1978 

Earl O. Walton 

1951-1966 

Surveyor

Name 

Years of Service 

Donald I. Brelsford 

05/1985-11/1986 (appointed) 

Dick McClue 

11/1984-05/1985 

Rober H. Babb 

1979-1982 

Earl R. Best 

1965-1977; 1983-1984 

Clerk and Recorders Office


Clerk of Court/Public Administrator

4-year term

Name 

Years of Service 

Term Expires 

Sanday Erhardt2021-present12/31/2024

Jennifer Brandon 

2005 to 2020 / 12/2003-12/2004 (appointed)  

 

Lorraine VanAusdol 

1987-11/2003 (resigned) 

 

Clerk of Court

Name 

Years of Service 

Lorraine VanAusdol 

1981 - 1986 

Public Administrator

Name 

Years of Service 

John Mandeville 

1983 - 1986 

George W. McKean 

1963-1982 

Clerk of District Court


County Commission

6-year term
District 1

Name 

Years of Service 

Term Expires 

Zach Brown2021-present12/31/2026

Don Seifert 

2015 to 2020

 

Pierre Martineau 

2013-2014 

 
 

Bill Murdock 

1997-2013 (resigned) 

 
 

Kris Dunn 

1995-1996 / 1993-1994 (appointed) 

 
 

Deb Berglund 

1991-1993 (resigned) 

 
 

Ramon S. White 

1985-1990 

 
 

Joy I. Nash      

1979-1984 

 
 

George R. Gillett        

1973-1978 

 

District 2

Name 

Years of Service 

Term Expires 

Jennifer Boyer2023 to present12/31/2028 

Joe P. Skinner 

2005-2022

 

Jennifer Smith Mitchell 

1999-2004 

 
 

Jarvis Brown 

06/1998-12/1998 (appointed) 

 

Jane Jelinski 

1984-1998 (resigned) 

 
 

Ruthmary Tonn 

1981-1984 

 
 

George W. Sager 

1975 -1980 

 

District 3

Name 

Years of Service 

Term Expires 

Scott MacFarlane 

2019 to current 

12/31/2024 

Steve White 

2007-2018 

 
 

John Vincent 

2001-2006 

 
 

Phil Olson 

1995-2000 

 
 

David Pruitt 

1989-1994 

 
 

Wilbur D. Visser 

1983-1988 

 
 

John H. Buttelman (Special election held April 5, 1997) 

1977-1982 

 
 


Justice of the Peace

4-year term
Department 1
Name
Years of Service
Term Expires
Rick West
2011 to current
12/31/2026
Wanda Drusch 
2009 - 2010 (appointed)
 
Scott Wyckman
1991 - 2008
 
H.P. "Butch" Goan
1983 - 1990
 
Norma Schmall
1979 - 1982
 
Alfred O. Walton
1973 - 1978
Department 2
Name
Years of Service
Term Expires
Bryan Adams
2011 to current
12/31/2026
Gordon L. Smith
1991 - 2010
 
B.J. Hultz
1983 - 1990
 
James J. Screnar
1973 - 1982
Township 1
Name
Years of Service
Alfred O. Walton
1968 - 1972
Calvin E. Barrick
1964 - 1967
Alexander M. Schmall
1960 - 1963
Roy W. Border
1956 - 1959
Warner E. Johnson
1954 - 1955
Roy W. Border
1948 - 1953
Jas. N. Pratt
1947
Township 2
Name
Years of Service
Titus Kurtichanor
1966 - 1970
Alvin Ellison
1964 - 1965
Harry Todd
1958 - 1963
A.A. Pergande
1942 - 1943
Township 3
Name
Years of Service
Betty L. Grace
1970 - 1972
W.M. Smith
1968 - 1970
Betty L. Grace
1966 - 1967
Gerald P. Yetter
1964 - 1965
Virgil A. House
1962 - 1963
Elton Maxwell
1958 - 1961
Roy W. Border
1956 - 1957
Elton Maxwell
1952 - 1955
Max Spohr
1950 - 1951
Elton Maxwell
1948 - 1949
Dean Hauseman
1946 - 1947
Tie - unknown winner
1944 - 1945
Tie - unknown winner
1942 - 1943
Henry Caspers
1940 - 1941
Township 4
Name
Years of Service
Lyle K. Williams
1962 - 1968
Thomas A. Fairhurst Sr.
1960 - 1961
A.E. Workman
1958 - 1959
Roy W. Border
1952 - 1957
Tie unknown winner
1944 - 1945
W.H. Richardson
1940 - 1943
Township 5
Name
Years of Service
Roy W. Border
1952 - ?     
Art Reierson
1950 - 1951
A. C. Stocking
1948 - 1949
Len Verwolf
1940 - 1945
Township 6
Name
Years of Service
Roy W. Border
1956 - ?     
Chester H. Markel
1952 - 1955
Hughie Byrd
1948 - 1951
Len Verwolf
1946 - 1947
J.A. Sieffert
1940 - 1945

Justice Court


Sheriff/Coroner

4-year term
Name
Years of Service
Term Expires
Dan Springer2021 (appointed) to present12/31/2026
Brian Gootkin
2012 (appointed) - 2020 (retired)
 
James R. Cashell        
3/6/2001 (appointed); 2003 - 2010
Coroner
Name
Years of Service
Duncan MacNab
1999 - 12/2007 (resigned)
Rob Myers
1975 - 1978; 1989 - 1998
Doris Fisher (Heckerman)
1979 - 1988
Sheriff
NameYears of Service
Bill Slaughter
1991 - 1/31/2001 (resigned)
C. Ron Cutting
1985 (appointed); 1987 - 1990
L. John Onstad
1975 - 1985 (resigned)

Sheriff's Office


Superintendent of Schools

4-year term
Name
Years of Service
Term Expires
John Nielson2023 to present12/31/2026
Matt Henry 
2017 - 2022
Laura Axtman
2015 - 2017
 
Mary Ellen Fitzgerald
2003 - 2014
 
Elmer R. Baldridge
08/2002 - 12/2002 (appointed)
Jill Richards
1995 - 08/2002 (resigned)
Mary Ann Brown
1987 - 1994
 
Margaret Brown
1975 - 1986

Superintendent of Schools


Treasurer/Assessor

4-year term
Name
Years of Service
Term Expires
Maureen Horton2023 to present12/31/2026
Jennifer Blossom 
2019 - 2022
 
Kimberly Buchanan
2007 - 2018
03/2005 - 12/2006 (appointed)
 
Anna Rosenberry
01/2003 - 2/2005 (resigned)
02/2002 - 12/2002 (appointed)
 
Jeff Krauss
1999 - 12/2001 (resigned)
08/1997 - 1998 (appointed)
 
Stan Hughes
07/1993 - 08/1997 (resigned)
Assessor
Name
Years of Service
Arletta Derleth
1984 - 1986 (appointed); 1987/1993
Ramon S. White
1973 - 1984
Treasurer
Name
Years of Service
Stan Hughes
01/1988 - 1990 (appointed); 1991 - 07/1993
Arletta Derleth
11/1987 - 12/1987 (appointed)
Loy B. Carroll
1983 - 10/1987

Treasurer's Office