City judge resigns, recommends city clerk as replacement

Havre City Judge Virginia Seigel handed in her official letter of resignation Monday to the Havre City Council.

"It is with great care and deliberation that I resign my position," Seigel said.

Seigel announced her resignation during the non-agenda public comment section at the end of the City Council meeting.

Seigel, who has been the city judge for the past five years, said her last day will be Jan. 21 of this year.

The council could not formally accept her resignation because it had not been placed on the meeting agenda.

Seigel served in the U.S. Army for 14 years, 10 years as a helicopter pilot and four in the military special forces. While serving in the military Seigel flew in the United States, Germany, Iraq and Korea.  

"I am leaving service to our city to serve our nation," she said in her resignation letter. "I have been honored with an opportunity to serve in the interest of our national security again; this time as a member of the Customs and Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security."

"I love Havre," she told the council. "It's hard to leave this job. I actually feel a bit emotionally about it because I've really tried to do this job with my whole heart and so only a call to another service ... can really tempt me away."

Seigel, in her resignation, also recommended City Court Clerk Tyson Bliwernitz to serve as the Havre City judge starting Jan. 22, although the Havre mayor said the council could not immediately take action.  

"Mr. Bliwernitz is fully qualified as a judge," Seigel said in her letter.

She added that written confirmation that the council selected Bliwernitz as the city judge will allow him to be accepted by the Montana Supreme Court for judicial training and certification classes that take place Dec. 1.

Seigel said that the certification class and judicial training takes place every four years and if the council does not provide its selection in writing Bliwernitz will not be able to attend.

She added that if he doesn't attend she will have to attend this training next month regardless of her resignation.

Mayor Tim Solomon said the council could not take immediate action because items have to be published in the meeting agenda before the council can vote on them.

He added that the next council meeting is not until after the training and classes have concluded. Solomon said the council will have to look into the matter further, due to the circumstances, in order to find the proper actions to take.  

Solomon added that there has to be a period in which the position is advertised in addition to a hiring process and giving adequate notice to the public.

Bliwernitz introduced himself to the council after Seigel announced her resignation and gave the council his resume. He said he feels very passionately about becoming a judge and believes the position is important and he could do the office justice.

He said he is originally from Tucson, Arizona, moving to Montana in 1999. He added that he has "street smarts" in addition to an associate degree in computer programing in Helena and a bachelor degree in liberal studies which he received from Montana State University-Northern in 2005. He said he has experience as a compliance officer which was a job that he needed to remain impartial.

With those skills and his education he said he has a deep understanding of being impartial and an understanding of the U.S. Constitution.