Voters opted to reelect two incumbents, Allen Olsen and Peggy Williams, to the Libby City Council on Nov. 3. Joining them is political newcomer Brian Zimmerman, who works at Timberline Auto and has lived in Libby nearly his entire life.
Zimmerman, Olsen and Williams emerged from a tight nine-person race, with two candidates separated by just one vote. Olsen DC Orr 186 to 185. Orr has until Nov. 17 to request a recount, but he told the Beacon he was unsure if he would request for one. Orr is a longtime friend and supporter of Olsen.
A tenth candidate, Dejon Raines, ran unopposed to complete the four-year term she was appointed to earlier this year when Robin Benson stepped down.
For more than a year, Libby’s city council has been mired in dysfunction. Mayor Doug Roll is under investigation by the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices for allegedly violating state election laws during the 2013 mayoral race when the city filed a lawsuit against Olsen, claiming he was not a resident and could not run for mayor. Roll beat Olsen by just 13 votes. Since the commissioner’s report was first released earlier this year, city council meetings have been canceled on numerous occasions and the ones that have been held have included heated arguments.
The disagreements have mostly erupted between Olsen and Roll, the latter of whom ran for city council this year to act as a “spoiler.” The mayor received 53 votes. Roll still maintains his post as mayor.
In the hours after the election, neither man softened the rhetoric aimed at each other, but both said they were hopeful the council would be more productive in the future.
“It all depends on what the council wants to do and where they want to take things,” Roll said.
For his part, Zimmerman said he wants to focus on getting more grants to rebuild the town’s infrastructure.
“I’m very happy to start working to bring positive solutions to the council,” he said. “I want to get the city of Libby going in the right direction and get rid of some of the negativity that has engulfed the council.”