Trethewey resigns Havre council post

Havre City Councilwoman Janet Trethewey has resigned her position effective the end of April.

Trethewey, who represents Ward 2, the Highland Park

area, said because of her job with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, she cannot adequately serve her constituents.

In her job, Trethewey visits communities around Montana, helping

them become more cardiac-care ready.

She said she knew when she started the job she would be on the road a lot, but thought that as time went on, she would be in Havre more. But that has not happened, she said.

"My constituents and the entire city deserve to be represented by someone who is present and engaged," she said her letter of resignation. "I currently am not that person."

In recent months she has taken part in many council meetings via the telephone.

Council member Andrew Brekke, the council's senior member, praised Trethewey for her work, noting that she is second in seniority on the council.

"Thanks for everything you have done for the city of Havre," he said at Monday night's City Council meeting.

Mayor Tim Solomon praised Trethewey and wished her luck, complimenting her for the good work she is doing in her new job.

After the meeting, Solomon said he will have to do some research before deciding exactly how her replacement will be chosen.

This is the first time, he said, that a council member has resigned after the council proposed and voters approved a plan to elect council members on a nonpartisan basis.

The change was made in part because replacing council members often resulted in partisan donnybrooks.

Trethewey was elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2013 as a Democrat, though council members are now nonpartisan. She is active in party affairs and was the unsuccessful Democratic standard bearer for the Montana House in 2014.