Page 12 - Flathead Beacon // 6.11.14

12 | JUNE 11, 2014 NEWS FLATHEADBEACON.COM

Election, Resignation Shake Up Lincoln County Commission

Tony Berget ousted in recently, Berget led the nouncement that he With Berget and Downey stepping
county government “I REGRET HAVING TO would be stepping back aside, the county commission will have
primary election; Ron through a series of deep from his position on two new faces on its board in the coming
budget cuts, which only DO THIS, BUT DUE TO Aug. 1. Downey began months.
Downey announces got deeper with the dis- working for the county “We’re basically going to be a brand
PERSONAL REASONS
resignation
covery that the county in 1988 and became Troy new commission starting in January,”
had overtaxed its citi- THAT ARE REQUIRING Road Foremen in 2002. Cole said. “I’m sure we’ll look at some
zens by $2.2 million over In 2010, he was elected things diferently.”
By JUSTIN FRANZ of the Beacon
the last three years.
MORE OF MY TIME,
to the commission to Voters also had their voices heard
“I did what I thought represent the Troy area.
on a gamut of other issues facing Lin-
An election and a resignation have
was right for Lincoln I DO NOT FEEL I CAN “I regret having to do coln County. The residents of Troy over-
shaken up Lincoln County’s three- County,” he said. “We this, but due to personal whelmingly supported keeping the Troy
CONTINUE TO FUL-
member commission.
had to cut a lot of money FILL THE NUMEROUS reasons that are requir- Area Dispatch open, 616 for it and 364
On June 3, incumbent commissioner and even entire depart- ing more of my time, I do votes against it. The dispatch center was
and former Libby Mayor Tony Berget lost ments and some people DUTIES REQUIRED OF not feel I can continue at the center of the county’s over taxa-
in the primary to Mark Peck and Russell didn’t like those deci- to fulill the numerous tion mistake earlier this year and county
Bache, who will compete in November’s sions . In this position THIS POSITION.”
duties required of this oicials said it should be shut down and
general election to represent the Libby you sometimes have to position,” Downey said emergency services dispatched from the
area. The day after the election, Com- make some unpopular in a press release. “It sherif’s oice in Libby.
missioner Ron Downey announced he choices, but I have no re- has been a great honor In the sherif’s race, incumbent Roby Ron Downey

would be stepping down from his post grets.”
to serve the citizens of Bowe won 43 percent of the vote and will
on Aug. 1 for personal reasons.
Lincoln County the past face local newcomer William Clark, who On June 3, Berget
The departure of the county’s two three and a half years.
received 35 percent of the vote. Incum- received just 21 per-
longest-serving commissioners means bents Jay Sheield and Stormy Langs- cent of the vote – 915 – coming in third But right now, Lincoln County needs a
Mike Cole, who was elected in 2012 to ton both made it through the justice of in the non-partisan primary. Peck, who commissioner who can commit an extra
represent the Eureka area, will become the peace primary to battle for one open is currently unit manager in Libby for efort for the diicult times the county is
chairman in January. The chairman- bench seat in November – the Eureka the Montana Department of Natural facing.”

ship rotates every two years.
oice was merged into the Libby oice Resources and Conservation, received Berget said the commission would
Berget has served on the commission earlier this year. Voters also supported 55 percent of the vote with 2,397 bal- look at appointing someone to inish the
for six years and before that was mayor a county government review, 52 percent lots cast in his name. Bache, who retired rest of Downey’s six-year term.
of Libby for 11 years. He said he knew for and 48 percent against, forcing the from the Navy in 1998, earned 24 per- “Downey stood up to the pressures of
this year’s primary would be a struggle, commission to appoint a board to review cent of the vote with 1,039 ballots.
the job,” Berget said. “He brought a real
especially after some unpopular deci- the structure of its government.
The morning after the primary common sense approach to his county
sions he has made in recent years. Most
[email protected]
election, Downey made a surprise an-
commissioner position.”

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