Libby City Government An ongoing path toward justice

Justice is coming after four years of public disruption. Commissioner of Political Practices Jeffery Mangan has made a settlement offer to the new, improved Libby City Council to settle the “Reintsma-v-Magill” case against the city.

Mangan’s offer is simple and elegant, avoid costly litigation by acknowledging that the co-defendants are guilty of stealing an American election by fraudulent means and establish education efforts aimed at transparency in government.

The legal principle at work is found under the concept of “aiding and abetting” under Title 13 MCA. Former Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl found the seven guilty of allowing the City Attorney to take action while they refused to protest an obvious frivolous lawsuit filed in the name of the City of Libby.

They thought they could hide behind the attorney, but the authority of their positions held them accountable for actions taken under authority of their agency, the City.

Doug Roll, Bill Bischoff, Vicky Lawrence, Robin Benson, Peggy Williams and Barb Desch have had their day in court and will face punishment for their actions by acknowledging their crime.

The new, improved city council will initiate transparency efforts.

Libby is on course to begin a new chapter.

Now on to the next disruption these scoundrels caused in local government.

The EPA withdrew grant funding to the City/County Board of Health a year ago to investigate the possibility that the funding may have inappropriately been used by another attorney under the authority of the City and County. This may have caused manipulation of the Superfund Record of Decision which allowed EPA to rescind the promises of Governor Judy Martz and reach into your pockets to pay for future cleanups.

The potential accomplices in this scandal include the City Council and the County Commissioners along with the Health Board, unless they protest transparently and hold the attorney accountable.

—DC Orr

Libby