Dan Carney Moves On

As the New Year takes shape, a new mayor for Glasgow will take her seat. Becky Erickson will be taking the place of Dan Carney. Carney might be stepping down from city council and from the mayor seat, but he still intends to keep some irons in the fire.

Carney started in the city council in 1984. Nearly 30 years of experience started out after interest in the water situation in Glasgow grew. He applied for a vacant seat and didn't get it. So he ran for city council and found his way in on the council to help with the waterline from Fort Peck that ran to the air base. It was one of the biggest issues Carney remembers from years of service.

Over the years he's been president of the council and mayor and has ran a few campaigns. Some things he will miss and others he won't. Carney stated that had he won the election this past year, it would have been his last term as he was nearing a time where he knew it was time to step down.

"I've seen lots of change in Glasgow, lots of local government change," Carney said. "My loss was a disappointment but I'm ready to go on."

The change is something Carney said was going on in the state. He said that 34 mayoral seats in Montana switched, including Scobey, one of the longest running mayors in the state. He said that there may be some loss in experience, but maybe it was just time for a change.

Not only did Carney spend nearly 30 years on the city council side, he spent 20 years as a volunteer firefighter for Glasgow. He joined the fire department in 1968 and it was something he enjoyed doing. Carney said that he enjoyed doing things for the local community and he'll continue on some boards and committees.

"The community has been good to me," Carney said. "If I can continue to help on it, I will."

He'll continue on the safety Levee committee, the refuge board and a few others until his time on them is done.

The Levee is a big issue for Glasgow, one that concerns Carney. Over the years he remembers the bigger issues the city faced. The update to the wastewater treatment plant, the changes at the airbase, now St. Marie, and changes in the population are all part of Glasgow's history and Carney's service.

"This is a boom and bust town," Carney said. "I've seen a lot of change, the work on the dam, the airbase growing and closing. All those things impacted Glasgow."

Glasgow has been a permanent home for Carney. His grandfather came to Glasgow in 1914 and homesteaded where the airport is now. He said that house was moved and still exists in town on 6th Street North. His mother ran a beauty shop and his father barbered here for several years. His father didn't retire until he was 90 years old.

Carney originally had plans to be a teacher. He left town for college and got his teaching degree from Northern Montana College. After getting his degree, he realized the profession wasn't for him and decided to work with his hands. He worked at Markle's for a short time, he worked on the airbase, he worked construction, he worked in the farm implement business and he worked for Fossum's for around 30 years.

He married his wife, Earlene Carney, 52 years ago. He had to convince her father to let him marry her, and after three years he was finally given permission. His wife went to high school with him, but they didn't start dating until later. They raised four kids in Glasgow. One son now resides in Malta, a daughter remains in Glasgow, another son lives in Havre and the oldest daughter teaches in Arlene.