08/20/2026
Thursday Meeting Recap: Conversation with County Administrator Matt Williams
At today’s meeting, County Administrator Matt Williams joined us to introduce himself, answer a few questions, to open the door for continued dialogue with our community.
Some of the key points he shared:
- Matt is originally from Ohio. He has lived in Lincoln County since May and says he wants to be here, not simply to take a job for the money. He cited our trout as one of the things he loves about our area.
- He is a lifelong Republican and clarified that he is not a Democrat. He said that his role requires him to remain neutral and that he is willing to speak with or debate anyone, regardless of political affiliation.
- He previously worked in elections in Ohio, primarily in IT-related functions.
- He emphasized that he has no interest in running Lincoln County elections and said serving as acting election administrator was not something he sought out. He said the commissioners selected him for the job.
- He clarified that he is not interim and is not replacing Melanie Howell. He is serving in her stead (she still remains on paid leave) and says his role as acting election administrator is legal under the circumstances.
- Regarding the ongoing investigation involving Melanie, Matt said he is not involved in the investigation, has no control over it, and cannot provide details. He acknowledged that the situation began before he arrived and said he understands why people have questions and frustrations.
- He said he is not always permitted to share certain information, but wants to be as transparent as he can.
- Matt said he is not registered to vote in Lincoln County yet, but plans to register shortly.
- He addressed questions about his brother, who is a developer in the area. Matt said he does not believe this creates a conflict of interest.
- He said he would speak up if he believed the commissioners were doing something wrong, and that his priority is making sure county money is spent wisely. He expressed concern about the county’s financial situation and said he would like to see more revenue come from sources other than increased taxes. He said the county is in the red and the budget is a problem.
- He encouraged residents to keep an open mind about data centers, while emphasizing that consent from the people of Lincoln County is not optional.
- Matt is a disabled veteran and said he wants Lincoln County to become the most transparent county in Montana.
We appreciate him coming to our meeting and being willing to have a conversation and we hope to have him back with us again soon.
Matt said he is openly seeking opportunities to meet with people, answer questions, and listen.
Questions, concerns, and respectful dialogue are welcome in the comments if you have some input!
