Eight vie for commissioner role

A varied list of applicants to replace Lincoln County Commissioner Ron Downey next month includes State Rep. Jerry Bennett.

Bennett, who owned JMF Services for 14 years, has been a state representative since 2009 and is running as a Republican against Democrat Donald Coats for the House District 1 seat in the November general election.

Bennett is a 1974 graduate of Libby High School and has a background as a logger, miner and service manager before starting his own business.

Bennett said he was looking into whether it was a conflict to retain his seat in the Legislature while also serving as a county commissioner. He intends to hold both positions if the rules allow.

Other applicants include Matt Bowser, a Troy resident since 2009.

Bowser has been on the Lincoln County planning board for three years and was a U.S. Forest Service trail crew leader for the Three Rivers District from April to October 2010. Most recently Bowser has been a community forest watch coordinator for the Yaak Valley Forest Council from October 2010 until this past June.

Bowser has a bachelor of arts in communications from the University of Pittsburgh.

Tony Brown, a former mayor of Troy, also has filed a letter of intent to become commissioner.

Brown wrote that he had experienced all aspects of government, budgeting, personnel management and employment policies.

Brown also has been employed within the Libby superfund site since 2003 and is currently employed by Techlaw Inc. as supervisor of the soils prep lab facility.

Rhoda Cargill, a resident of Troy for 11 years, stated in her letter of intent that as a wife, mother and volunteer chairwoman of the Lincoln County Natural Resource Council, she is qualified to fill the vacancy after Downey steps down on Aug. 1.

Cargill, a certified scuba instructor, was awarded a meritorious unit commendation in the U.S. Navy, as well as several letters of commendation as a commanding officer.

Lifelong Troy resident Robert Cody, a mobile home park owner, wrote in his application that his qualifications were knowledge of the area and an ability to get along well with people.

Larry Dolezal, who recently has been attending County Commission meetings, was elected twice as county commissioner for Troy.

Dolezal’s work history includes 12 years as county commissioner, 15 years managing civil engineering/land surveying firms in the county and 10 years working in non-profit management and administrative positions.

In his application, Dolezal referenced a failed re-election bid in 1998 because of “a highly publicized, malicious campaign…based on false allegations.”

Felony theft charges filed against Dolezal – relating to mileage and meal reimbursement he submitted to the county between 1997 and 1998 - were dismissed mid-trial in Lake County District Court in 1999.

Gregory Larson, a former coordinator for a federal program called Resource Conservation and Development, has also been a board member on the Kootenai River Development Council and was a grant writer for the biomass pellet burner project at Troy Elementary School.

Craig Martin, a Libby native who has lived in Troy for 20 years, was a police officer with the City of Libby from 1976 to 1981 and later retired from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office as a detective in 2002.

Martin also worked with the United Nations in Kosovo in from 2002 to 2004 and trained Iraqi police officers in Baghdad from 2005 to 2006.

At a County Commission meeting on Wednesday, Commissioner Tony Berget, Commissioner Mike Cole and Downey agreed they were pleased with the pool of applicants.

Interviews are planned with the applicants on July 21. A second round of interviews may take place on July 22. The interviews will be open to the public.