HELENA - Four people have applied so far for the vacant job of Montana's commissioner of political practices.

The job is vacant because of the resignation last week of Commissioner Dave Gallik amid allegations by his four-member staff that he was spending state time on his private law practice. Gallik said he decided after the staff called the police when he left the office to speak to a reporter.

Friday is the deadline to apply for the job, which pays $57,689 a year. Applications may be emailed to the Candidate Selection Committee in care of Susan Fox, executive director of the Montana Legislative Council at sfox@mt.gov or faxed to her at (406) 444-3036.

A bipartisan, four-member committee of top legislative leaders will recommend two to five people for the job to Gov. Brian Schweitzer. He is not obliged to choose anyone from the list and can pick anyone he wants.

Those who have applied for the job so far are:

• Judy Edwards of Salt Lake City. She works as a senior policy analyst for public lands policy coordination in the Utah governor's office. Edwards served as executive director of the Montana Consensus Council from 2005 to 2008 and owns a home in Sheridan. Edwards previously was the tribal health policy liaison for the executive director of the Utah Department of Health.
• Dave Skinner of Whitefish. He is a freelance writer and researcher from Whitefish and a columnist for the Flathead Beacon. When not writing, Skinner said he builds things and does finish carpentry. He said his writing has exposed him to the political practices commissioner's important work over the past decade.
• Johnny Walker of Great Falls. He works as a contract investigator for a private company that does investigations for the federal departments of Homeland Security and Defense. He is a retired investigator and administrator for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
• Susan Witte of Helena. She is an attorney who has worked Allegiance Benefit Plan Management. She previously worked as an attorney and director of government and public relations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana. Witte formerly worked as a lawyer for the Montana State Fund and was chief legal counsel for the Montana State Auditor's Office.

Missoulian State Bureau reporter Charles S. Johnson can be reached at (406) 447-4066 or at chuck.johnson@lee.net.