Commissioner Bill Kennedy
Yellowstone County Commissioner

Bill Kennedy was born and raised in Billings , Montana . He and his wife Mary have two daughters, Annie and Erin.

Bill graduated from Billings West High School . He completed his undergraduate degree in Secondary Education at MSU - Bozeman , and received his Masters Degree in Personnel & Guidance from Eastern Montana College .

He has served as Yellowstone County Commissioner since 1993. He was elected in 1992 for a 2-year term, re-elected in 1994, 2000 and 2006 for 6-year terms each. Prior to being elected County Commissioner , Bill taught 7 th & 8 th grades in Colstrip for three years, and returned to Billings to teach K-8 grades at Billings Catholic Schools for four years. He was Parish Administrator for St. Thomas Church for 1-½ years before becoming the Director of the Even Start Family Literacy Program for School District 2.

Bill serves on many local, state and national Boards and Committees. Some of them are:

Member of Montana Job Training Partnership Board
Chairman of the South Central Mental Health Board
Member of the Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council
Member of the Billings-Yellowstone City-County Board of Health
Chair of the South Central Regional Juvenile Detention Board
Member of the Youth Services Center Board
Past President of the Montana Association of Counties
Chair of the Montana Association of Counties Health, Human Services & Labor Committee
Chair of the Montana Transportation Commission
Chair of the National Association of Counties Rural Action Caucus
Member of the National Association of Counties Board of Directors
Member of the National Association of Counties Health Steering Committee

While a Commissioner, Bill has worked closely with the Mental Health System and Welfare Reform. He serves on the national committee to study and address rural health issues.

Bill is also involved with transportation and infrastructure needs in Yellowstone County . Bill was instrumental in the State assumption of Pryor Road into the secondary road system, and also in obtaining the $4 million dollars in funds for the reconstruction of Pryor Road .

Bill has worked closely with the Yellowstone County Lobbyist through the past 5 Legislative Sessions; stressing legislation should reflect local control and has worked to provide tax incentives for new and expanding businesses in Yellowstone County .

Bill is actively involved in job training and development statewide. He serves with County Commissioners across the state to provide funding for job training and development.