McLean named lieutenant gov

Staff and wire reports

HELENA— Gov. Steve Bullock has named Board of Regents chairwoman Angela McLean as lieutenant governor.

McLean will replace John Walsh, whom the Democratic governor appointed last week as interim U.S. senator.

The appointment will also mean that Havreite Paul Tuss, presently Regents vice chair, will be elevated to the chairmanship of the board that oversees colleges and universities in the Montana University System.

Tuss is executive director of Bear Paw Development Corp.

Bullock's office announced McLean's appointment Monday. She is a native of Twin Bridges and a schoolteacher in Anaconda.

Bullock says McLean will help ensure the state's schools and colleges are giving students the tools they need to build a bright future for the state.

McLean was appointed to the Montana Board of Public Education in 2006 and to the Board of Regents in 2010 by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. She has been chairwoman since 2012, serving two years as vice chair before that.

Tuss said he was pleased with McLean's appointment and predicted she would do great things for Montana.

"She has a basketful of qualifications," he said.

"She understands not only the value of education, but its importance to vibrant communities and economic development," Tuss said.

"I will be sad to see her leave as Regents chair," he said. "But from the larger picture, this is great for Montana."

Walsh is expected to be sworn in as Montana's senator Tuesday. He is replacing Max Baucus, who was confirmed last week as the next ambassador to China.

McLean is a graduate of Western Montana College in Dillon and received her master’s degree from the University of Montana. She is a facilitator for teachers seeking national board certification.

She was first a teacher at Arlee before landing a job in Anaconda in 1997. She has also taught courses at Montana Tech in Butte.