No council candidates file in first week
With one full week of the filing period in the past, there are no official candidates for the four open seats on Libby’s City Council. The filing period opened May 4 and will close at 5 p.m. July 2.
At stake this year is the balance of the City Council, with four of the six seats being up for grabs. In addition to the three regular terms up for election, there will also be one two-year term on the ballot. The two-year seat is currently held by councilwoman Dejon Raines, who was appointed to complete the term of former councilwoman Robin Benson, who resigned at the end of 2014 after her election to the office of Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder.
Raines has indicated that she intends to seek election for the remaining two years in the term.
The other seats are those of council president Bill Bischoff, councilwoman Peggy Williams and councilman Allen Olsen.
Bischoff said he has yet to decide if he’s going to file. Williams indicated previously that she had not yet made up her mind, and a message left prior to press time to confirm was not immediately returned.
Olsen, who has long been the odd man out on the Council, said he is still debating his decision.
“I’ve got a business I’m running and a three-year-old son to raise,” Olsen said. “It makes it difficult to commit the necessary time.”
Still, Olsen said he is strongly considering running for re-election because he is committed to working toward better government in the city.
Procedurally, there will be two separate ballots for City Council. On one ballot, voters will be asked to vote for three candidates to fill the four-year terms. The top vote recipients will be elected. On the second, voters will be asked to select one of the candidates for the two-year term.
If there are nine or fewer registered candidates for the four-year terms, and three or fewer for the two-year, at the end of the filing period the primary election will be canceled and all of the candidates will be on the general election ballot.
Candidates may also choose to file for write-in status for the primary election, but the declaration must be made formally before 5 p.m. Aug. 17.
If necessary, the primary election will be held Sept. 15. If a write-in candidate is one of the top three in the primary election, they have 10 days from the close of the official canvass to file a written acceptance.
The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.
In the event that fewer than three candidates have filed for either ballot or write-in candidacy, the top recipient of write-in votes will be given the opportunity to file an acceptance and assume the elected position. Write-in candidates who have not previously filed a declaration of candidacy can be elected only if there are not enough declared candidates and filed write-in candidates before the deadline. Write-in ballots cast for anyone other than properly filed candidates and write-ins will not be considered unless there are not enough declared candidates to fill the open spaces on the Council.