Libby resident takes exception to mayor's response to City Councilman
Letter to the Editor,
It was first with disbelief, then dismay, then disgust that we read the May 16 Western News article in which Libby Mayor Doug Roll in print demeaned councilman Allen Olsen and former councilman D.C. Orr.
Mr. Roll openly stated he is withholding council assignments from Mr. Olsen because he is holding a grudge. Since when does the mayor have the sole power to decide what a council person, elected by the populous, can or cannot do in his/her role to serve in the capacity to which elected?
In this instance, is it because Mr. Olsen may represent some people Mr. Roll chooses to not recognize or because Mr. Olsen chooses to evaluate situations differently than the mayor. Mr. Roll is mayor not dictator of Libby. Allen Olsen was elected to do a job, let him!
We hold a copy of email communication between Allen Olsen and Doug Roll on May 15. Since Mr. Olsen sent his copy to six people and Mr. Roll sent his response to 10 people (including two newspapers) we assume this is public knowledge.
Mr. Olsen asked why Mr. Roll delayed in expressing concerns about his residency in a personal manner rather than public. He also challenged Roll on decisions he made that Olsen felt were to be made by council not the mayor alone. Sounds reasonable to us.
Mr. Roll responded to Olsen with “…this will be the one and only time I will respond to you. I will block or delete any that you send. You are a fool. Your sham residence has fooled no one. Take your case to the folks.”
Mr. Roll, such ranting is childish, demeaning and openly show you are incapable of being reasonable or rational. To call a fellow council member “a fool” is disgraceful.
By the way we “folks” were well aware of Allen’s place of residence when he ran for council, so were you and everyone else on the council!
Fact is, Allen rented his house on Louisiana Avenue in June, 2011, for the purpose of (1) being able to eventually be involved in city affairs and (2) because he wanted a home away from his business of 24/7.
He attended council meetings for many months before deciding to run for council and made absolutely certain he met all qualifications of residency. Many political people hold a residence one place but need to be elsewhere during the week. This is no sham, Allen pays rent, water, maintains the property, not us.
Mr. Roll further goes on to chastise Allen about not learning his job and says “I would have thought your mentor, daddy, boss, D.C., had educated his boy, but apparently that’s not the case.” Shame on you, Mr. Roll, for your mean-spirited and venomous accusations that are so very beneath the office you hold.
What to do — our suggestions:
(1) Mr. Roll, you need to publicly apologize to Allen Olsen for the demeaning way you have treated him. You also need to apologize to the people of Libby for the dark cloud you have brought over them. And, if because of pride and stubbornness you cannot do so, then you need to resign. The position of mayor deserves honor and integrity, and the people of Libby need a peacemaker at the helm, not a hot head. We further suggest you, Mr. Roll enroll in anger management.
(2) Council members, surely you are all very intuitive and astute individuals and could not escape knowing how Mr. Roll felt. Did any one of you attempt to diffuse the situation, or did you just go along and not exhibit active participation but certainly passive?
Only you know the answer. Our council member made the campaign promise she would prayerfully consider each issue before her. We ask you all to put differences, past and present, aside and begin to work together. Do not let Mr. Roll’s obvious dislike of D.C. Orr, which he has transferred to Allen Olsen and taint your reasonable thinking and open decision-making.
Should we have gone to the council first with these concerns? We think not. We did not want you to listen patiently for the few minutes we would be allotted, then go on to the next agenda item and simply dismiss us as “troublemakers.” If we are going to be branded that way, then all of Libby will know why.
Respectfully submitted,
— Michael
and Anita Shock
Libby