Gallagher seeking 2nd term as B-SB chief executive

J.P. Gallagher announced his re-election bid for chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow County on Wednesday, saying he is “passionate about our community” and would continue his role “with proven leadership and unmatched drive.”

“As chief executive, I am dedicated to serving our community around the clock, 365 days a year,” Gallagher told about 100 supporters in the courthouse rotunda shortly after noon. “I never take this responsibility for granted and am grateful for the chance to make a difference in the lives of those I serve.”

Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher formally announces his bid for re-election on Wednesday in the courthouse rotunda in Butte.
JOSEPH SCHELLER, The Montana Standard

Gallagher, 57, said he helped Butte overcome the economic and social effects of COVID during his first term, brought in $35 million in grants for infrastructure projects and worked to reduce tax burdens, among other things.

If elected to another four-year term in 2024, he pledged to promote economic diversification, pursue new industries and “advocate for our natural resources, ensuring a healthy environment for future generations.”

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“Whether it’s improving infrastructure, enhancing public safety or promoting economic growth, I am committed to making Butte-Silver Bow a thriving and prosperous place for all,” he said.

Gallagher will face at least one challenger since longtime Butte sportswriter and columnist Bill Foley announced a run last month. The official filing period runs from mid-January to mid-March so there is plenty of time for others to get in.

Six people ran for chief executive in 2016, with Dave Palmer ultimately defeating incumbent Matt Vincent in the general election. Five ran in 2020, with Gallagher and Palmer advancing to November that year.

That contest wasn’t close. Gallagher, who was parks director at the time, got 10,634 votes, or 60%, to Palmer’s 7,230 votes, or 40%.

The chief executive oversees an annual budget that exceeds $170 million as well as all city-county operations, including public works, economic development, combating urban decay and local Superfund matters.

He or she also manages more than 450 employees, takes part in negotiations with 18 separate bargaining units represented by unions, and must get council approval for ordinance changes and many key projects or initiatives.

Gallagher’s wife, Erna, and other family members joined him for his announcement. He chose Wednesday because the 2024 general election is during this same week next year.

Gallagher told The Montana Standard in March that he intended to seek re-election in 2024, but in August, he said he was reconsidering.

He cited a health matter, the “weight of the job,” time demands and stress, but pointed specifically to hateful comments and indirect threats he received after he canceled a planned library lecture in June by a transgender woman.

He said he believed the event might violate a new state law. He was sued and attacked through social media and in phone calls, letters and emails — some from as far away as Europe. Photos of his house have been posted online, too, he said.

Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher (right)shakes hands with part-time Butte resident Joe Jackson after formally announcing his bid for re-election.
JOSEPH SCHELLER, The Montana Standard

“I can take care of myself personally but when some of the attacks go toward my family or identify things around my personal life, that’s the struggle,” he said then.

Gallagher said Wednesday he and his family had talked about the future together.

“There was a time where I was just kind of re-evaluating but it was about a two-week period of my life, and I sat down and we talked about it as a family, and we decided this is the role I was meant to be in,” he said.

Gallagher said his path to public service was strongly influenced by his parents. His mother was a teacher in Butte for 30 years, and his father was a Butte policeman for 20 years and served two terms as a City Court judge.

“It is no coincidence that I have found public service to be my true calling,” he told supporters.

He said he was proud and humbled to have served in the U.S. Navy and he has a diverse resume that includes time as a teacher, coach, school administrator, school board trustee, parks and recreation director, and now, three years as the county’s chief executive.

“My administrative experience and proven leadership with an unmatched drive are what I bring every day to this highly responsible position,” he said.

Gallagher said the $35 million in infrastructure grants were funding projects “that would otherwise fall on the shoulders of local taxpayers.” They included upgrades to water and wastewater plants, dams and fire mitigation efforts in the Basin Creek watershed, among other initiatives, he said.

He said the county will levy $3.5 million less in property tax revenue this fiscal year than it did last year as a way to reduce burdens on local residents.

Property taxes were going up because of a state reappraisal of all homes, he said, and he has accused Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Republican-controlled Legislature of not taking certain steps to mitigate the hikes.

Like all chief executives, Gallagher has clashed with commissioners on several issues, including demolitions, historic preservation, open meetings and efforts to combat blight.

In recent weeks, he has sparred with some commissioners over Superfund matters and he touched on that briefly and broadly Wednesday.

“We continue to face the challenges that historic mining has caused our community and I am committed to ensuring the community receives the cleanup we were promised,” he said.

Gallagher was asked Wednesday to assess his relations with the Council of Commissioners, who wield separate powers as the legislative branch of local government.

He first said they are “12 dedicated people,” each with a little different vision of how the community should work, and there are times he has agreed and disagreed with some.

“But you know, I think we always come to a point when we come to a consensus to be able to move forward,” he said. “I respect every single commissioner that we have up there.”

The primary election next year is June 4, and the general election is Nov. 5.

Mike Smith is a reporter at the Montana Standard with an emphasis on government and politics.

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