The Hart of the community

Montana Senator Steve Daines’ Deputy Press Secretary Rachel Dumke paid a visit to the Virginia City Courthouse on Nov. 2, presenting recently retired Madison County Commissioner Jim Hart with a surprise honor: a tribute from Daines which was entered into the Congressional Record.

Hart was also presented with a framed photo of the historical courthouse, gifted from his fellow commissioners and their staff.

In his tribute to Hart, Sen. Daines shared a common quip commissioners Dan Allhands and Ron Nye often heard Hart utter following the completion of a project: “You done good.” Daines seconded that sentiment regarding Hart’s service, commending the former commissioner for his calm demeanor which “allowed him to rise in stature across our great state.”

Daines’ tribute concluded, “I’m grateful for Jim’s dedication and passion for serving Montana. He has surely left Madison County with large shoes to fill.”

In a message to his community Hart recently offered his gratitude as well, writing; “Thank you residents of Madison County for taking in a flatlander from Eastern Montana in 1977. It’s been a Wonderful Life! We worked well together, initially to teach our kids. We played hard, as coaches, teammates, and officials. We sometimes even disagreed a bit, but I’ll always remember shaking hands in the end.”