Senator Conrad Burns October 1, 2005

321 First Ave North

Great Falls, MT 59401

Senator Conrad Burns,

I am writing to voice concern regarding (2) possible candidates for the new Montana BLM State Director, as Marty Ott is retiring.

Both Tom Lonnie and Tim Murphy have been rumored as possibles for the position. Both carry the legacy of bad management - a bad mgmt/employee relationship - as was evidenced under the tenure of their mentor Larry Hamilton and his deputy Janet Singer.

To quote a former Montana BLM manager, "either of these people as top management would be many Montana BLM employees' version of Hell!"

Tom Lonnie also has an improper relationship of a personal nature with the Montana BLM Personnel chief, Human Resource Officer Diane Friez. Private meetings between the two are common knowledge. And Tom Lonnie was the deciding official in the twarted attempt to promote Diane Friez by non-competitive appointment to the Support Services lead position formerly held by Janet Singer when she retired.

Tim Murphy is associated with events currently before Federal courts and only produced turmoil in the BLM Miles City Field Office before leaving to join Larry Hamilton at NIFC.

I and other former and current BLM employees would appreciate your investigation into this matter and we emphasize our rejection of either Tom Lonnie or Tim Murphy. Either as top Montana BLM management would be a big step backwards for the Montana BLM and detrimental to BLM employees and the BLM's mission.

Sincerely,

Glenn Ferren

Superior MT

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Glenn Ferren

PO Box 472

Superior, MT 59872

406-678-0795

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