This Friday, the United States Marshal’s Service will lose a valuable employee. U.S. Marshal Dwight MacKay announced his retirement last week.

The Billings Gazette Editorial Board bid a “fond farewell” to Marshal MacKay today saying that although his appointment by President George W. Bush “was a partisan political appointment, MacKay took a decidedly nonpartisan approach. The well-wishers who gathered for his retirement announcement last week spanned the political spectrum.”

The Gazette Editorial Board went on to add, “Many Montanans, including some Democrats, had hoped that MacKay would be reappointed by President Barack Obama. MacKay had expressed interest in reappointment.”

U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester (both Democrats) missed a great opportunity to be nonpartisan and recommend MacKay to President Obama. Baucus’ previous recommendation for U.S. Marshal during the Clinton years was characterized by the Gazette this way: Continue reading →