Montana Title 7. Local Government § 7-3-4319. Designation of mayor

(1) The mayor is the member of the commission who, at the general municipal election at which the commissioners were elected, received the highest number of votes. In case two candidates receive the same number of votes, one of them must be chosen mayor by the remaining members of the commission.

(2) If a vacancy in the office of the mayor is caused by the expiration of the term of office, the holdover commissioner who received the highest number of votes is the mayor. If there is a vacancy in the office of the mayor for any other cause, the remaining members of the commission shall choose the mayor's successor for the unexpired term from their own number by lot.

(3) If the commissioner who is acting as mayor is recalled, the remaining members of the commission shall select one of their number to serve as mayor for the unexpired term. If all of the commissioners are recalled, the person receiving the highest number of votes at the election held to determine their successors is the mayor.