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Mayor & Council
Council
President
Jim
Martin | Councilman
Jeff Connolly | Councilman
Doug Wagner| Councilman
Bill Rise
Mayor ... William Mullaley
WILLIAM MULLALEY
Priest River Mayor William "Billy" Mullaley was born on January 11, 1961 in the Newport Hospital to Rip and Jo Mullaley. He was the New Year's baby for that year. He grew up in Priest River and worked various jobs, from selling fruit on the side of the highway to working in the woods. Billy graduated from Priest River High in 1979. Soon after, he started working in the woods, then began a career in the local sawmill, Diamond International. He ran equipment then finally became a millwright. He watched the mill change names from Diamond International to DAW, then to Crown Pacific.
Billy married and had two children, Josie and Steven Mullaley. They are the pride of his life. They grew up in Priest River but recently Josie has moved to Spokane, and Steven is with his mother in California.
He has donated much time to community groups, including coaching baseball and softball and working with the Boy Scouts. He has also been a volunteer fireman in Priest River for over 14 years. He was the president for the (PRYAA) Priest River Youth Athletic Association. He has been involved in many community events, including helping to get a new roof on the elementary school. He has also been known to have the kids throw pies at his face, and dunked in the dunk tank at the Timber Days Festival.
He’s also faced some adversity. When the company he worked for 15 years closed down Billy, not knowing much other than timber, had to make a decision. He went to college, and got an associates degree in architecture. Billy graduated with a 3.8 grade point average; before graduating, he was offered a job with Northwest Architectural Co., where he is now a Cad Tech, and enjoys his work. In 1994 Billy was elected to the city council, and became Commissioner of the Fire Department and City Parks. He took four years off, came back, ran for mayor, and was elected.
Billy loves hunting, hiking, camping and playing on the water, and enjoying time with his family and friends. Bill wants to help get Priest River “back on the map,” starting with the downtown area. Billy and his partner Patty are planning to open a pizza parlor in the historical district. He is hoping others will follow his lead, and with help from everyone, we can make this town as great as it can be.
Council President ... Jim Martin
JAMES L. MARTIN
James, also known as Jimmy Lee, was born and raised in the Priest River area. He graduated from Priest River Lamanna High School sixth in his class. He attended college at Arizona State University and graduated from the University of Montana where he earned his Masters Degree in Sociology and Criminology.
Jim is a full time Juvenile Probation Officer for Bonner County as well as the Water & Sewer Commission for Priest River. He was elected to the City Council in 1997. When he does have a little free time, he enjoys playing golf and his family. His parents, brother and sister and their families all live in the Priest River area. Jimmy has been married for 5 years to Kerri and has two stepsons. He enjoys working with the people in the community and is looking forward to growth and making Priest River the place to live, work and visit.
Councilman Jeff Connolly
JEFF CONNOLLY
Jeff was born Priest River in 1958 and raised, attending school and graduating. He has been married for 23 years to his beautiful wife Kris, and they have had two wonderful children.
Jeff has worked in the timber industry throughout his career, and enjoys every minute of it. He has been active in the Priest River Youth Association, the Priest River Chamber of Commerce and the Stewardship Committee.
Jeff was elected as a Council member in 2001and took office in 2002. He is serving as the Parks and Fire Commissioner, and is currently heading up a skateboard park for the youth of the area.
He enjoys snowmobiling and hunting. He also loves to fish, but never seems to get the chance, as he is very busy.
Councilman
Doug Wagner
Councilman ... Bill Rise
BILL RISE
Bill Rise was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1947. He completed his education at Sebring High School, in Sebring, Florida, in 1966, and went on to attend and graduate from Florida State University (home of the Seminoles) in 1973, with a degree in Criminology.
He began his career with Pitney Bowes in 1976, in Spokane, Washington, transferring to Albany, Georgia shortly thereafter. However, when the opportunity was made available to relocate again to the Spokane area in 1977, he gladly made the move back to the Northwest. Bill came to Priest River from Spokane in 1993, and is now employed with Pitney Bowes Office Systems locally.
In addition, he served six years in an Army Reserve Artillery Unit as a Forward Observer.
He has three grown children, twin girls and a son, all who live in the surrounding area.
In 1994 he joined the Planning & Zoning Commission, and in August of1997 accepted an appointment to the City Council. He ran for office in November of that year, completing a two-year term, and again in November 1999, winning a four-year term. He has also been appointed Council President and Police Commissioner for the City of Priest River.
Bill settled here because of his love for all aspects of the outdoors, and the abundance of forests, rivers, and wildlife this area has to offer. He foresees the City achieving diversified growth as retirement populations increase and recreational opportunities become more available, allowing us to recognize our heritage as a timber community while pursuing positive avenues of change for our future generations.
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