Council to fill two open seats Wednesday

City Council will have six candidates to consider to fill two open seats when it meets during a special session at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The open seats were created by the resignations of Mayor Doug Roll and Councilwoman Barb Desch.

City Administrator Jim Hammons said the six who submitted letters for consideration for appointment to council include: Gary Neff, Tammy Brown, Dennis Souther, Kristin Smith, Karla Ralls-Wooden and Christopher Johnson. No one submitted a letter for appointment to the mayor’s seat. Council will consider that appointment at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

• Gary Neff, 61, was previously considered for the open seat created when Dejon Raines resigned. Gary Beach was recently appointed to fill that seat.

Neff is a retired water quality technician who sees “great things” coming to Libby.

“We’re in a very unique position right now. Some things still need correcting,” he said, citing infrastructure and equipment.

• Tammy Brown, 44, is a small business owner who was involved in the attempted recall of Roll, who resigned after winning a legal victory.

Brown said she is deeply concerned about the management of the city. She would like to help solve some of the “personality conflicts” that have existed on council.

“It’s time for us all to come together and work to solve our city’s issues. I want to help move Libby forward.”

• Dennis Souther, 69, is a retired residential contractor.

He cited his 20 years of business experience and said he has the time for the job. “I would like to see better government,” he said. “I’m not trying to ruffle feathers.”

He and his wife, Valerie, own River Mist, a business at 614 California Ave.

• Kristin Smith, 43, co-owns Cabinet Brewing Co. with Sarah Sorensen.

Smith has previously worked in government and the private sector as a land use planner for an engineering design firm in Missoula and as planning director for Lincoln County.

“I would bring a unique skill set to help them work through some things they’re facing,” she said.

Smith has experience working with deadlines and in grant writing.

• Karla Ralls-Wooden has been a Libby resident for 12 years. She has been active in outdoor recreation and with Backcountry Horsemen.

She also has experience in weed control, fertilization, property management, real estate sales and has worked as a radiation control technician and is HAZMAT trained.

“I’ve seen Libby flourishing in the early ‘80s and seen it deteriorate,” the Hamilton High grad said. “I’ve got fresh new ideas about what to do as far as activities.”

• Christopher Johnson, 30, moved to Libby from San Diego several months ago with his wife, Katelin, and three children.

Johnson served in the U.S. Marines for eight years as a radio operator. He’s currently an online student with the Los Angeles Film School and learning to be a movie producer.

“I’m tired of watching the world plummet and crumbling away. It kills me inside,” he said. “This is where I’m going to try to make a difference. It’s not about me. It’s about the city and what it needs.”

Johnson said he likes the new angled parking setup downtown by the Cabinet Brewing Co., but would like to see trash and cigarette butts picked up.