Helena – Governor Steve Bullock has appointed two longtime Democratic legislators and political operatives, Hal Harper and Dave McAlpin, to prestigious state board positions.

On Monday, Governor Bullock’s office announced the appointment of Hal Harper to the Judicial Nominations Commission and Dave McAlpin to the Tax Appeal Board.

Mr. Harper is a longtime Democrat state legislator from Helena that served as Speaker of the House and worked as a political operative for former Democrat Governor Brian Schweitzer. In 2000, Mr. Harper ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State.

Records from the National Institute on Money in Politics show that Mr. Harper has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates and organizations over the years, including more than $1,000 to Gov. Bullock’s campaigns.

Mr. McAlpin served as a Democrat in the state legislature from 2005-2009. In 2009, then-Attorney General Steve Bullock appointed him to serve as the director of the Montana State Crime Laboratory. He previously served as a congressional aide to Democrats Pat Williams and Max Baucus.

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