City of Libby Candidates
Bill Bischoff, 60
• Incumbent: Current City Council President; served on the Council since March 2006; was originally appointed to the position and was re-elected in 2007.
• Family: Two grown children
• Affiliations: City Planning Board; currently the Chairman of the Personnel, Insurance and Budget and Finance committees; also serve on the Resolution/Ordinance, Water/Sewer and Judicial committees; Lincoln County Credit Union Board of Directors for over 20 years.
• Residence: 28 years
• Occupation: Executive Assistant for the Board of Lincoln County Commissioners and Human Resource Director for Lincoln County; has worked for the County for 27 years; directly manages three staffers.
• Business knowledge: Having worked for the County for 27 years and being a volunteer Board member for the Lincoln County Credit Union for over 20 years, I have unique experience in both the public and private sectors of business management. It’s important to understand the effects taxes and fees have on businesses and residents.
• How will your vocation aid in serving constituents: The biggest asset that I bring to the City Council is my work in public sector management. I have a comprehensive knowledge of developing and maintaining budgets, public sector employee management, and other government management.
• What are your avocations and how may they serve your constituents: I enjoy hunting, fishing, and hiking. These activities help me remember why we all live here … great outdoor recreation and beauty. It also reminds me of the natural resource jobs we’ve lost over many years and the need to continue to fight to bring those back. That is why I strongly support the Montanore Mine project.
• What do you perceive as the biggest challenge to the city: I think there are two major challenges for the City. The first is jobs for our community. High unemployment leads to migration of our residents, the closure of businesses, and struggling families. The other major challenge the City faces is infrastructure improvements. Replacement of the Flower Creek Dam and improvements in water pressure in many areas of town have to be top priorities.
• How would you go about offering a solution to this challenge: These challenges are not easy to solve. The national economy and financial limitations make solutions difficult. City taxpayers cannot afford to do all of this on their own. That’s why it’s so important to develop associations with other public agencies and economic development groups. A good example of that is Stinger Welding. The City and County both sponsored individual CDBG grants. The State made low interest loans and grants available. Senator Baucus got federal legislation through that helped Stinger obtain their remaining financing. The Port Authority helped coordinate these efforts and made the land available. Without these partnerships, Stinger wouldn’t be here today with the many jobs they’ve created. We are also fortunate to have some funding available for infrastructure improvements from the International Paper settlement plan negotiated by the City which will help with future water system projects.
• What other, less-demanding challenges do you perceive in the city: Although not less demanding, there are many challenges facing the City and our residents with the EPA clean-up. These include the negative publicity attached to visiting our area, the false economy created by the clean-up, the restoration of the Riverfront Park and other properties, and most importantly: Will our residents be safe after the clean-up is completed?
• What else: Libby is again traveling some uphill roads for our future. That’s nothing new for us. We’ve been there before. Mill shutdowns, the loss of other family-supporting jobs, and continued high unemployment rates are all challenges we’ve struggled through before. My children and many of yours want to move back to Libby someday. This is their home. That’s why we all need to continue to fight the struggles we face to bring back the economy we need to support our families. With your support, I’ll continue to work hard to make Libby a great place to live and work.
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Allen Olsen, 53
• Candidate Hopeful: Served on the Cemetery Committee
• Family: Single
• Affiliations: Chamber of Commerce member
• Residence: 53 years
• Occupation: Self-employed – Antler Tree Nursery for 15 years; directly supervises four staffers.
• Business knowledge: High school; 30 years of self-employment.
• How will your vocation aid in serving constituents: Honestly, I will not forget who votes for me. The Council now has too much personal problems and votes against people no matter how right they are.
• What are your avocations and how may they serve your constituents: Each and every vote should be the best decision for the city and people. I am not afraid to stand alone.
• What do you perceive as the biggest challenge to the city: There are too many locals out of work, while hundreds and hundreds of out of town and state people are being brought in for our local work. Most of the elected officials will look everywhere but Libby to spend our money.
• How would you go about offering a solution to this challenge: Locals first. Enforce local business license laws to the out of town and state people brought in for our jobs, make these people hire some locals. I believe our local government has that power, not all but some.
• What other, less-demanding challenges do you perceive in the city: Water. Ninety percent of our town is dead in the summer because we pay some of the highest water bills in the country, yet city says we lose money on water every month.
• What else: Transparent government, more communication. I will honestly be out for the people of Libby as well as the town. Let’s make our town a community. Keep our local donatons, grants and tax dollars here. No one should ever stand alone on voting for safety and health for the local people. It is wrong that we live in a town that cannot donate a $45 tree to an eight-year-old kid, but can waive a $60,000 water bill for the Port Authority. I don’t know whether it is sad or sick.
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D.C. Orr, 52
• Incumbent: Current City Council member for three years; 10 years before that was spent sitting in the audience learning how municipal government works, or doesn’t.
• Family: Marianne, wife of 32 years. Grown children Adam and Stacy Orr with grandaughter Maizy and Doug and Ashley DeShazer with grandsons Luke, Jace, and Tristan, all living in Libby.
• Affiliations: Serves on City Committees of Fire, Building, Riverfront Park, Lights, Streets, Sidewalks, Judicial;
• Residence: Third-generation born and raised with family homesteading over 100 years ago.
• Occupation: Self-employed, ditch digger “since I was old enough to sit on a tractor.”
• Business knowledge: Been a business owner for over 20 years in a small, rural town during times of economic decline and prosperity.
• Do you manage others: Not well. I prefer to let employees take initiative on their own.
• How will your vocation aid in serving constituents: I know the challenges our street and construction crews face. I have worked on Superfund sites and know the EPA lingo and the structure of their procedures and contracting policies. I have had to tighten my belt to keep the business going several times over the years like so many businesses that drive the economic engine of our town. I have raised a family here and understand that we need jobs to raise families. While I believe we live in Gods’ back yard, tourism will never provide those jobs the way resource extraction has for so many years. The resources are still there to provide those jobs.
• What are your avocations and how may they serve your constituents: I have studied Christianity, Constitutional government and history for many years and am very familiar with the proper function of government.
• What do you perceive as the biggest challenge to the city: Funding the municipal water works dam, Riverfront Park, and infrastructure needs, while maintaining high levels of service.
• How would you go about offering a solution to this challenge: We wasted a huge opportunity with the $8 million dropped into our laps for asbestos mitigation, we need to collect the loans that remain outstanding. We are also dropping the ball in our negotiations with EPA, they should pay more money to restore the Park which they destroyed.
• What other, less-demanding challenges do you perceive in the city: County influence is harming our community. We need a stronger Council who will fight County control which seems intent on draining our coffers to the benefit of the County.
• What else: (Open comments): The biggest criticism you will hear about me is that I am “controversial.” Look at that from my point of view. Why do I have to fight for your rights? Why do I have to fight to keep our employees from abusing the citizenry? Why do I have to fight to share my views without being shouted down by the Mayor? Why do I have to fight for fiscal responsibility? If you like the status quo of bigger government pulling more money out of your pockets and constant “emergencies” requiring quick, costly fixes, I’m not your man. I will fight those tactics which are used for redistribution of your wealth.
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Dejon Raines, 28
• Candidate Hopeful: N/A
• Family: Nick Raines (husband), John and Susan Ague (parents)
• Affiliations: Currently the Vice President for Lincoln County Board of Realtors; Current member of David Thompson Search and Rescue (DTSAR)
• Residence: 28 years
• Occupation: real estate broker at Irene Loveless Realty; has served six years
• Business knowledge: Working as a real estate broker has provided me with the opportunity to oversee a wide-variety of financial transactions. The current market conditions require diligence to ensure negotiations transpire smoothly and that the needs of both parties are met.
• How will your vocation aid in serving constituents: In my daily interactions as a Real Estate Broker, my number one priority is to serve people. I have worked for/with all types of people. This has allowed me to learn the art of assessing and meeting people’s needs. During negotiations, I constantly strive to achieve a resolution that benefits both sides.
• What are your avocations and how may they serve your constituents: During the past six years I have become an avid supporter of many local events. I have provided support in organizing events that benefit the community, such as Nordicfest, Riverfront Blues Festival, and the Festival of Trees. I am an active member of DTSAR. This year, I organized the first Le Tour De Koocanusa, which brought in more than 100 riders to raise funds for DTSAR. All of these activities keep close contact with the public and continue to hone my skills in communications and marketing.
• What do you perceive as the biggest challenge to the city: The obvious, and easiest answer would be to say budget. Limited funds always plague small/rural communities. However, I feel a larger issue in this community is the relationship between the public and elected officials. Without a healthy/dynamic relationship with the public, the City Council is not able to completely serve its constituents.
• How would you go about offering a solution to this challenge: The City Council must find unique ways to engage the Libby public. Some examples would be to utilize current technologies to communicate up-to-date information (City website, Facebook, blogs, etc.). City council events, discussions, and decisions should be readily available and easily accessible to the entire public. I hope that with enthusiasm and determination, I can inspire the community and city council to band-together as I have seen in the past.
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Hugh R. Taylor II, 40
• Candidate Hopeful:
• Family: Three children
• Affiliations: 12 years with LVFD, three years with Libby Police Commission; Treasurer Libby Volunteer Fire Department.
• Residence: 34 years
• Occupation: Mechanic for 18 years.
• Business knowledge: Management expenses, managed budget and expenses. Currently, does not manage others, previously managed 15 people.
• How will your vocation aid in serving constituents: Working with the public to resolve concerns.
• What are your avocations and how may they serve your constituents: Serving on the LVFD. Serving the citizens of Libby through volunteer services and working with the public.
• What do you perceive as the biggest challenge to the city: The condition of the streets and declining tax base.
• How would you go about offering a solution to this challenge: Come up with a plan to utilize the resources and funds available to repair our streets, more responsible spending and accountability to the taxpayers.
• What other, less-demanding challenges do you perceive in the city: The beautification of Libby and making Libby more appealing to future residents and businesses.
• What else: I believe Libby to be the best place to raise a family and live. Libby has its share of challenges now and will in the future and I will do my best to work hard for the people of Libby.
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Peggy Williams, 63
• Incumbent: I am seeking re-election as a City of Libby councilperson, a position I have held since January 2008.
• Family: Married, two adult daughters, two grandchildren.
• Affiliations: Chair of the City of Libby Planning Board; Chair of Cemetery and Parks; Ordinances; Police committees. Member of Building; Budget and Finance; and Judicial committees; Kootenai Heritage Council, the all-volunteer board that oversees the operation of the Libby Memorial Events Center.
• Residence:Lived in Libby since February 1977.
• Occupation: Business owner, CFO Lincoln County Broadcasters, Inc., parent of KLCB and KTNY.
• Business knowledge: 30-plus years involvement with the financial operations of KLCB and KTNY brings a lot of knowledge, as does four years experience on the City Council.
• How will your vocation aid in serving constituents: Financial experience has enabled me to obtain a greater understanding of the bigger organizational picture, to include how to execute long-term and short-term planning processes; overall budget management; capital improvement project planning; financial investing; forecasting of revenues; and payment-cycle management. This expertise is directly relatable and applicable to the duties and responsibilities required of a City Council member when working with the city’s finance and business decisions.
• What are your avocations and how may they serve your constituents: Gardening and quilting.
• What do you perceive as the biggest challenge to the city: The biggest challenge for the city is always money. There is always more to be done than there is money with which to do it. We have an aging infrastructure; our streets are a good example, as is the dam on Flower Creek. We recently identified several large leaks in our water distribution system. All of these problems can only be resolved with a large financial investment.
• How would you go about offering a solution to this challenge: Preventative maintenance and wise use of the currently available financial resources.
• What other, less-demanding challenges do you perceive in the city: Resolving a negative image because of the asbestos issues.
• What else: My interest is continuing to work in the best interest of the City of Libby and its residents. I attended City Council meetings long before running for an elected seat. The current Council is working hard to address issues that were ignored for far too long. Riverfront Park is currently being addressed by EPA cleanup, and hopefully, will become a signature park. We now have a splash pad and additional playground equipment in Firemen’s Park for the enjoyment of our youth. Funding is being pursued for replacement of the aging Flower Creek Dam; we are addressing the streets with a less expensive way to do street repair; and upgrades have been made at the Wastewater Treatment facility. These are all major projects that, while very expensive, move Libby in a positive direction.