A former National Park Service superintendent who opposed a land swap benefiting a tribe has been chosen as Montana Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat Davison's running mate.

David Mihalic, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, quit his job in 2002 in protest of the proposed land transfer. He opposed giving about 168 acres of national park land to the Eastern Cherokee Band.

At the time, Mihalic said he quit because Bush administration officials were pressuring him to approve the swap. Congress eventually passed a rider favoring the tribe.

Mihalic says he's been a life-long Republican.

Get the Story:
Davison running mate retired from Park Service amid political pressure (The Bozeman Daily Chronicle 3/31)

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Indian man resigning from Park Service (12/10)
NPS manager to quit over Cherokee swap (10/04)