The Flathead County commissioners voted Thursday to appoint Commissioner Pam Holmquist chairperson of the commission for the coming year.

“I am excited for the position. It’s always great to hold that spot, but it’s important to remember that in reality it does take at least two of us to do anything,” Holmquist said.

Holmquist replaces Commissioner Phil Mitchell as the chairperson. Of the current commission, she is the longest-serving commissioner. Homquist began her first six-year term in 2011 and was then re-elected in 2016 for another term that began in 2017.

The commission is the executive, as well as the legislative branch for Flathead County, and consists of three elected commissioners who each serve six-year terms and can run for re-election. In January of each year, the commissioners elect the chair of the commission, which is responsible for county policies, setting appropriations, setting levies for county funds, rural improvement districts, and more.

This year’s decision, according to Holmquist and Mitchell, was determined by a coin toss by third commissioner, Randy Brodehl. Both Mitchell and Holmquist were vying for the role and said they believe the position should have been decided in a different manner, but both also acknowledged Brodehl most likely felt “backed into a corner.”

Commissioners will typically serve as chairperson during their third year and again during their sixth year. However, this will be Holmquist’s sixth time serving as chairperson during her entire tenure.

Mitchell was elected in 2014 and said he wished to serve as chairperson for the second year in a row, and for the last year of his term in 2020.

“I’m very disappointed,” Mitchell said. “She has been chairman for the last five of her seven years and it’s generally a shared position. It’s too bad that she doesn’t want to let others have that.”

However, Holmquist offered insight into her time in the top spot, pointing most notably to the start of her first term when the two other commissioners elected after her started their terms in the same year — an unusual circumstance she says pushed her into the spot early, and for several additional years.

She added that the commissioners had decided Mitchell would hold the role in 2019, Holmquist would in 2020, and Brodehl would then follow in 2021. But Mitchell said after adding up her years as chairperson, he felt the opportunity should have been extended elsewhere.

The commissioners also voted to make Brodehl vice chairman. Holmquist first made a motion on Thursday to elect Mitchell to that position instead, and although Brodehl seconded her motion, Mitchell said it didn’t interest him.

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4407 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com