Integrity, respect, and community first.
Honored to serve
Gallatin County
Re-elect Scott MacFarlane to the Gallatin County Commission on November 5, 2024.
Scott MacFarlane has proven to be an outstanding Gallatin County Commissioner, with numerous accomplishments during his first term. His dedicated leadership has played a pivotal role in advancing our community's prosperity and well-being.
Accomplishments
Scott MacFarlane's service as Gallatin County Commissioner has been marked by tangible accomplishments, driven by a commitment to the principles of honesty, collaboration, and a genuine concern for the prosperity of the community.
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Scott MacFarlane has been a careful and thoughtful steward of public funds, advocating for responsible budgeting and financial management. His focus on fiscal responsibility has resulted in a balanced budget while still addressing the county's essential needs.
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With Scott’s leadership, Gallatin County has been able to make historic investments in several sectors of our local economy. For example, Federal American Rescue Plan funds were directed to diverse partners throughout the community including increased programming at Gallatin College, HRDC’s Community Commons and Food Resource Center, and infrastructure for many of our valley’s Agricultural Irrigation Co-operatives.
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Recognizing the importance of robust infrastructure, MacFarlane spearheaded key projects to improve roads, bridges, and public facilities. With his leadership as Commissioner, the County has invested in public safety infrastructure and utilized state and federal resources to improve water and sewer infrastructure across the County. Additionally, transportation planning efforts have resulted in new bridges in Manhattan, Three Forks, and Willow Creek.
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Scott is committed to preserving Gallatin County's natural beauty and unique environmental resources. He champions environmentally friendly initiatives to protect the Gallatin River, promotes sustainable land use practices to safeguard our ground water, and partners closely with State and Federal Lands to steward and improve shared access to our outstanding natural resources.
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Commissioner MacFarlane prioritizes open communication and collaboration with our community. Through public meetings, outreach programs, and active engagement with residents, he ensures that the concerns, needs, and aspirations of Gallatin County citizens are at the forefront of his decision-making.
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In the face of rapid community growth, Scott has approved historic investments in the Sheriff’s and County Attorney’s offices through new staff, updated facilities and equipment, and close collaboration with public safety agencies and other elected officials.
About Scott and his family:
Scott MacFarlane was born in Havre, Montana to his single mother, Lilyann MacFarlane. He attended Davey School, a one-room, rural K-8 elementary where his mother was the only teacher until he was in third grade. Following the passing of his mother he was adopted by her twin brother, Bill MacFarlane, and raised in Colstrip until graduating from high school. As a teen, Scott frequently visited his father, Jerry Ritter, in Four Corners and fell in love with Gallatin County.
Scott and his wife, Jen, became friends in middle school and both went to college on athletic scholarships, Jen as a Grizzly, Scott as a Bobcat. They married at age 23 and immediately began their family with identical twins, Lilyann and Penelope. Two years later, their son Kiedis was born.
As young adults, trying to make ends meet, Scott and Jen lived in several Montana communities and chose to return to Gallatin County when Lily, Penny, and Kiedis were old enough to attend Monforton Elementary School in Four Corners. Soon after, Scott began serving the community as a Monforton School Board Trustee and volunteering as a track coach. As proud 5th generation Montanans, Lily now attends MSU, Penny attends U of M, and Kiedis will soon graduate from Gallatin High School in 2025.
Overcoming adversity and with the support of family, friends, and community, Commissioner MacFarlane has built his career from the ground up. Scott understands the challenges and rewards of work within all levels of an organization. Some of his previous experience includes working as a ‘liftie’ at Bridger Bowl, a ‘grounder’ at Valley View Golf Course, a hod carrier in the local masonry industry, a commercial helicopter pilot and flight instructor in Butte and Helena, a custodian, mechanic, and facilities program manager at Montana State University, and the facilities director for Belgrade Schools. In 2018, Scott was elected as a Gallatin County Commissioner and has since served the community with integrity and respect. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to the well-being of the community, fostering collaboration and ensuring a thriving and sustainable future for residents.
