Libby City Councilor Dejon Raines has resigned from her post after learning she will become a mother next year. Meanwhile, the effort to recall Mayor Doug Roll has stalled after a restraining order was filed against the petition in Lincoln County District Court.
Raines was appointed to the Libby City Council in 2015 to replace Robin Benson, who had been elected Lincoln County’s Clerk and Recorder. Raines’ resignation went into effect immediately and now has the council looking to appoint a sixth member who will serve until the next municipal election in November 2017.
The search for a new city councilor comes as Libby’s mayor is the target of a contentious recall effort. Mayor Roll recently filed a restraining order against the recall petition that was filed by Libby resident Tammy Brown, effectively putting the effort on hold until a district court judge can determine if the petition will be thrown out. A hearing has been set for Aug. 23 at 9 a.m. to determine the validity of the restraining order. Former Troy Mayor Donald Banning filed a similar suit when he was targeted by a recall effort in 2012. That restraining order was later overruled and the recalled was allowed to move forward. He was removed from office in May 2012.