Three incumbents elected to remain on Libby City Council

Sitting Libby City Council members Gary Beach, Gary Armstrong and Kristin Smith on Tuesday were elected to retain their seats.

They received 417, 399 and 362 votes, respectively, in a four-person race in which the top three vote getters would win.

Challenger Arlen Magill, who sits on the Libby Police Commission, received 220 votes.

“I am overwhelmed by the voters of Libby, and want to thank you for the show of trust in me,” Armstrong said via email. “I will do everything I can to justify that trust, and to help the City of Libby to realize its true potential. I also want to thank all the other employees of the City, in City Hall and in the field, for being so open and helpful in guiding me through the intricacies of city operations. I look forward to working with all of you over the next four years.”

Smith thanked voters for their support.

“I think we’re all pleased to see that the efforts we’ve made over the past year have been appreciated by the residents of Libby and that addressing city governance in an open and civil manner, regardless of any differences of opinions, is the best way to move our community in a positive direction,” she wrote.

Beach also thanked voters for supporting him “and making your voices heard.”

I appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve Libby for the next four years, and would also like to thank all those that stepped forward and enter the race,” he wrote. “I hope to collaborate with you on future items.”

Magill, a fixture at City Council meetings, congratulated the three top vote-getters and promised that his “work for Libby isn’t done.”

“I will absolutely continue to attend city council meetings and I would encourage anyone to also attend if possible as well,” he said via email. “Truthfully in order to change Libby’s future for the better it will take everyone of us working together as neighbors to exact a positive change in Libby’s future.”

Two other candidates for city office — Brent Teske for Mayor and Angel Ford for City Council — were elected by acclamation Sept. 5 after no one ran in opposition. Teske had run for reelection, while Ford, appointed to the City Council May 30 to replace Allen Olsen, who retired April 27, had run for her first full term.