Raines appointed to replace Benson

At a special meeting of the Libby City Council on Wednesday evening, Dejon Raines was selected by the council to replace Robin Benson, who resigned following her election to the office of Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder.

In addition to Raines, three other Libby residents filed letters of interest to fill the vacancy. Those candidates were William Cunnane, Brian Zimmerman and Arlen Magill.

Mayor Doug Roll called the meeting to order and outlined the process for the selection of a new council member. Each candidate was invited to give a statement to the council and assembled observers and would then each be asked questions by the council members present. The candidates were escorted to a separate room and not allowed to listen to the questions and answers from the other candidates.

Arlen Magill was the first candidate to be called. He told the council about his life in Libby and his love for the community. He expressed his desire to be a part of the council and to help the city and the community prosper.

William Cunnane referenced his extensive experience in procurement and project management, citing more than 35 years of experience. He said his business background provided him with the skills needed to help the city move forward on vital projects such as the Flower Creek Dam and other infrastrucure-related needs.

Brian Zimmerman also highlighted his experience in contracting and infrastructure work, noting his 10-year employment with Noble Excavating and the number of infrastructure projects on which he worked in that time. He also expressed his concern with the pending departure of the Environmental Protection Agency and his desire to make sure there “are no loose ends” when the Superfund project ends and the agency leaves Libby.

Dejon Raines was the final candidate called. She told the council about her decision to return to Libby after graduating from Montana Tech. “Libby,” she said, “has always been home.” She expressed her commitment to the city and the community and her desire to work to make the city a better place.

The council members asked each of the candidates, for the most part, the same questions. Councilman Allen Olsen asked the candidates if they felt they had the ability to think for themselves or if they were “followers.” Each of the candidates expressed their independence and commitment to think for themselves.

Councilwoman Peggy Williams told the candidates a role on the council is more than “just one meeting a month,” and asked if they understood the time commitment involved and had the availability to give that time to the job.

Magill explained his situation as a disabled citizen who works part-time at his church. Given his schedule of 20 to 25 hours per week, Magill said, he would be available for whatever was required of him.

Cunnane joked that even though finding himself much busier since he retired, he understood what was involved and was both willing and able to do what was required.

Zimmerman, who is employed full-time with a local auto dealer, said that even with his full-time work he would be able to make the necessary time. He also stated that his job allows him flexibility to answer calls or talk to people face-to-face if they wanted to drop in to his workplace.

Raines, a real estate broker, said her job allows her the freedom to set her own schedule. That freedom, she said, would allow her to commit whatever time is required for the position.

Councilwoman Barb Desch asked Magill if he had enough available time to devote to both serving at regular council meetings and also being present for committee meetings and doing research related to issues of the city and the council. Magill reiterated his previous answer to Williams’ question about the time requirements of the position.

Desch asked Zimmerman and Raines to elaborate upon any community service activities with which they’ve been involved, a question previously asked to Cunnane by Councilman Bill Bischoff.

Cunnane, in response to Bischoff, said he was involved with the local amateur radio group and served as their liaison to county emergency management services. He also mentioned volunteering with his church at various events and activities.

Zimmerman told the council members about his 15-year stint as a volunteer with the Libby Volunteer Fire Department, from which he had recently retired. He also spoke about his involvement in church programs and with various fundraisers and ad hoc events that have come up over the years.

Raines talked about her involvement with a number of local organizations, including Nordicfest, STOKR and David Thompson Search and Rescue. She also mentioned serving on the Lincoln County Board of Realtors and on the board of Lincoln County Community Health Center.

Bischoff declined to question Magill, saying “his views and personal attacks are well known from his blog activities.” He asked the other three candidates what they thought was the number one priority facing Libby moving forward. Cunnane said the Flower Creek Dam replacement was the city’s top issue, and tied that to ongoing infrastructure projects and improvements necessary to attract new business to the city.

Zimmerman also referenced infrastructure as the city’s primary area of concern. He spoke of the need to maintain and update the city’s water system as well as making improvements to streets and sidewalks.

Raines said the most important issue facing the city is the budget. Small towns, she said, need to consistently look for new ways to stretch limited dollars to cover the needs of the city and its residents.

Following the question-and-answer period, Mayor Roll thanked the candidates for their interest and commitment to the city and asked for a nomination from the council. Councilman Olsen nominated Arlen Magill, but the motion failed as no second was received.

Councilman Bischoff then thanked the “three great candidates” for their interest and nominated Raines for the open seat. During his nomination, he made repeated references to the “three” candidates.

Following the second, Councilman Olsen raised the issue of a potential conflict of interest between Raines and the city, as she has an active real estate listing contract to sell a city-owned house at 520 Utah Ave. Mayor Roll said the city could “take care of this later,” to which Olsen replied, “there you go, putting the cart in front of the horse again.”

Montana law, in Section 7-5-4109, stipulates “(1) The mayor, any member of the council, any city or town officer, or any relative or employee of an enumerated officer may not be directly or indirectly interested in the profits of any contract entered into by the council while the officer is or was in office.”

Raines said the city approached her brokerage in September 2014 and asked for a proposal to list and sell the property. She prepared a standard proposal, which included a market analysis, comparative value assessment, a proposal for marketing and the costs. The city accepted the proposal and entered into a listing contract in November.

In an interview with The Western News following her appointment, Raines said in order to avoid any impropriety she is willing to waive her share of the commission for the property once is sells, or, if necessary to relinquish the listing to another agent.

The city’s website states “Dejon Raines was appointed to the City Council in 2015 to replace Robin Benson, newly elected clerk and recorder, and will finish out her remaining term.” That term ends on Dec. 31, 2017.

Montana law, however, states “(1) When a vacancy occurs in any elective office, this position is considered open and subject to nomination and election at the next general municipal election in the same manner as the election of any other person holding the same office, except the term of office is limited to the unexpired term of the person who originally created the vacancy.”

The next general municipal election will be held in November 2015. The winner of that election will serve out the remaining two years of Benson’s term.