HELENA -- The Democratic majority in the Montana Senate picked a longtime political insider, Sen. Mike Cooney of Helena, to be their leader Monday for the 2007 Legislature, while House Republicans picked a slate of aggressive conservatives as the Democrats' chief foil.

Republicans and Democrats alike met in Helena to choose their leaders for the 2007 session, which begins Jan. 3 in Helena.

Yet in the House, the final positions won't be set in stone until today, after a recount settles a tie in Laurel's House District 58 and gives either Republicans or Democrats a one-vote majority.

There is no such uncertainty in the Senate, which is controlled 26-24 by Democrats after Republican Sen. Sam Kitzenberg of Glasgow switched party affiliation 10 days ago.

Democrats chose Cooney as Senate president over Sen. Vicki Cocchiarella of Missoula.

Both Cooney and Cocchiarella have longtime Democratic credentials, but she was seen as the more conservative candidate.

Cooney was Montana's secretary of state from 1989 to 2000 and former staffer to Democratic U.S. Sen. Max Baucus.

Cooney's election raised hackles among Senate Republicans, who pointed out that Cooney this year took an unadvertised management position in the state Department of Labor and Industry. They questioned whether as Senate president he would serve the Legislature or be beholden to his new employer, the executive branch, headed by Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer. (See related story.)

Cooney said in an interview he's already brought up that subject with the governor. He said he never talked to Schweitzer before taking his state job, and that the two have agreed to be faithful to their perspective jobs: Schweitzer as governor and Cooney as head of the Senate.

"I've told the governor that I represent the state Senate," Cooney said. "I will carry forth my responsibility."

Senate Democrats also made a bit of history Monday, electing Sen. Carol Williams of Missoula as the first female majority leader in Montana history.

Senate Republicans chose Billings financial services manager Corey Stapleton as their minority leader. Stapleton was the second-ranking Senate Republican in the 2005 Legislature.

In the House, party members chose their leaders despite not knowing which party will control the chamber. Right now, there are 49 elected Republicans, one right-leaning Constitution Party member and 49 elected Democrats.

HD58 in Laurel ended in a tie between Rep. Emelie Eaton, D-Laurel, and Republican Krayton Kerns. A recount today will decide the outcome.

If Kerns wins, Republicans will take control over the House by 50-49; if incumbent Democrat Rep. Emelie Eaton wins or the race is still tied after the recount, the Democrats will have control by the same margin. In the case of a tie, Schweitzer appoints the winner and has said he'll select fellow Democrat Eaton.

Nonetheless, both parties went ahead as though they could control the chamber.

Rep. Scott Sales, of Bozeman, one of the House's most ardent conservatives, defeated Rep. Alan Olson, of Roundup, for the top House Republican leadership spot in what members said was a close vote. Leadership votes are not revealed publicly.

Before the vote, Olson and his supporters pitched him as someone who could work well with Democrats in the closely divided House and help the party appeal to independent voters.

Republicans also chose Rep. Michael Lange of Billings as House floor leader DASH a position he held in the 2005 Legislature as well.

Sales and Lange promised aggressive promotion of Republican principles of smaller government and less public spending. Lange also said he didn't mind being labeled by Democrats as a "partisan bully."

"My job is to show no quarter to the Democrats as they try to push their liberal agenda," he said.

Sales said later he hopes to work with Democrats and Gov. Brian Schweitzer on promoting more energy development in the state and passing some tax rebates, but that Republicans will push for greater tax cuts.

"I think we should have some serious, permanent property tax relief in this state," Sales said.

House Democrats selected Rep. John Parker, a moderate Democrat from Great Falls, as their leader, with Rep. Art Noonan of Butte as majority leader.

Depending on which party takes control of the house, either Parker or Sales could end up as House Speaker, the most powerful position in the chamber.

If their respective party is in the minority, they will be the party leader for their party.

Lawmakers weren't the only ones in the Capitol halls Monday. U.S. Sen.-elect Jon Tester, the outgoing state Senate president, also was there, addressing Senate Democrats. U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, the top-ranking Republican in the state, also showed up, giving talks to Republicans.

Finally, Schweitzer, who is hoping lawmakers adopt his ideas of a state savings account and property tax rebates, also addressed Democrats, telling Senate Democrats that he "won't meddle in your caucus."

List of leaders chosen today

IR State Bureau

HELENA -- Here is a list of legislative party leaders chosen Monday for the 2007 Legislature:

SENATE

President: Sen. Mike Cooney, D-Helena.

Majority leader: Sen. Carol Williams, D-Missoula.

Majority whips: Sens. Lane Larson, D-Lockwood, and Lynda Moss, D-Billings.

Minority leader: Sen. Corey Stapleton, R-Billings.

Minority whips: Sens. Greg Barkus, R-Kalispell, and Dan McGee, R-Laurel.

HOUSE

Speaker of the House: Rep. John Parker, D-Great Falls, or Rep. Scott Sales, R-Bozeman.

Party floor leaders: Rep. Art Noonan, D-Butte, and Rep. Michael Lange, R-Billings.

Republican whips: Reps. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, and Gary Maclaren, R-Victor.

Democratic whips: Reps. Margarett Campbell, D-Poplar, and Dave McAlpin, D-Missoula.

Editor's note: The majority party will be decided after a recount today in House District 58 in Laurel. The speaker candidate whose party has control will assume the speakership; the other candidate will be that party's top officer in the House.