Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Butte-Silver Bow names Jason Parrish interim coroner after council interviews and ballot
Summary
After interviewing 13 candidates and two rounds of ballots, the council appointed Jason Parrish as interim coroner to serve until the conclusion of the November 2026 general election; the appointment passed on a formal motion and recorded vote.
The Butte‑Silver Bow Council of Commissioners on Nov. 5 appointed Jason Parrish as the county’s interim coroner after conducting interviews and a ranked‑ballot process.
John Morgan, council chairman, described the procedure at the start of the meeting: the commission asked each candidate the same five questions, then used a first‑round ballot to pick two finalists and a final ballot to select the interim coroner. The process included public interviews of multiple candidates; the council read the individual ballots aloud during the tally.
After two rounds of voting the council selected Jason Parrish. Commissioners recorded the final appointment by formal motion; the clerk recorded the vote in favor. Parrish will hold the interim post until the completion of the November 2026 general election, when the office will be filled by the election winner.
Why it matters: The coroner’s office carries statutory duties to investigate unattended, suspicious and in‑custody deaths and to arrange for authorizations such as autopsies and disposition of remains. During his interview, Parrish cited prior training in medical‑legal death investigation and mortuary affairs and said he had taken the 40‑hour Montana coroner’s basic course and other continuing education modules. Several commissioners asked about confidentiality, chain of custody and how continuing education would be tracked.
What the council did: Chairman Morgan moved that the council appoint Parrish as interim coroner and place communication 2025‑541 on file. The council then passed the motion by recorded vote. Commissioners publicly thanked previous interim coroner Dan Hollis for his service.
Details from the interviews: Candidates were asked to summarize the coroner’s duties, describe relevant experience, state how they would protect confidential and sensitive information, explain how they would meet Montana’s statutory training requirements, and confirm they could respond 24/7. Candidates’ backgrounds included emergency medical, corrections, nursing, and years of deputy coroner experience.
Next steps: Parrish will assume interim duties immediately and must maintain required coroner training and continuing education under Montana law. The council asked staff to place the appointment on file as communication 2025‑541.
