Economic officer willing to stay on – Schweitzer says he hasn’t made up his mind about Gibson

As Democratic Gov.-elect Brian Schweitzer puts together his cabinet, at least one appointee of Republican Gov. Judy Martz is waiting to hear whether he might still have a job.

David Gibson, Montana’s top economic development officer, has won high marks from local economic-development officials, who say he’s done a good job of laying the groundwork for helping create better-paying jobs in the state.

By MIKE DENNISON
Tribune Capitol Bureau

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041130/NEWS01/411300308/1002

"His office has given economic development more credibility in the state," says Dick King, president of the Montana Economic Developers Association. "It gave us a visible leader."

Yet Schweitzer has given no indication yet whether he’ll retain Gibson, 42.

"No decisions have been made at this time about that position," Sarah Elliott, spokeswoman for Schweitzer’s transition team, said Monday.

Schweitzer, who won election Nov. 2 as Montana’s first Democratic governor in 16 years, is expected to announce more cabinet-level appointees this week.

Gibson, known officially as the state’s "chief business officer," serves at the pleasure of the governor.

His office is attached administratively to the governor’s office, and was created by a 2001 law proposed by the Martz administration. His annual salary is $95,000, which is slightly higher than the governor’s pay.

Martz appointed Gibson in the summer of 2001, choosing him from more than 200 applicants. The Kalispell native and Ivy League-educated business executive had been head of a Weyerhaeuser Corp. subsidiary in Alabama.

During his three-year tenure, Gibson has worked on an economic-development plan for the state and promoted legislation he hopes will help create more higher-paying jobs in Montana.

"I think we’ve raised the awareness of how jobs are created," he said Monday. "It’s about a skilled workforce, and you have to have higher education at the table.

"It’s about a diversified economy," he added. "You aren’t going to move forward by promoting one or two industries."

Gibson said he spoke with Schweitzer a week after the election, about the possibility of staying on. Gibson hasn’t heard anything since then.

"I told him that I’d like to stay," Gibson said. "It’s because there is unfinished work to do over here. … I think I can contribute. But there are other things I can do to contribute to the state. It’s really his call."

King, who’s also president of the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp., said the statewide organization of local economic development is not pushing for any particular candidate in Gibson’s job.

But the group does feel it’s important to continue the work that Gibson has begun, King said.

That work includes promoting "clusters" of types of fledgling businesses in Montana, such as timber, biotech, creative arts, and economic-development partnerships with the university system, he said.

"One of our concerns is, just because we change governors, we shouldn’t drop these things," King said.

John Kramer, president of the Great Falls Development Authority, also said it’s important to have someone in the job who knows the business of economic development.

"Dave Gibson has been excellent," Kramer said. "You always knew you could count on Dave to help you as much as he could. …

"If he would have had the resources to have an aggressive marketing program, I think we would have seen a little bit different Montana by now."

Gibson’s office started with a $1.2 million annual budget in 2001. It has since been cut back to $700,000 this year. Only three people work in the office now, although it has funding for six employees.

Kramer said he hopes the new governor and Legislature will consider beefing up the budget of Gibson’s office — no matter who’s in charge.

Dennison can be reached by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at (406) 442-9493.