Peggy Williams appointed mayor of Libby

Mayor Pro Tempore Peggy Williams dropped “pro tempore” from her title Aug. 23 after Libby City Council voted to appoint her to the position through the remainder of the year.

As former city council president, Williams took on the role in a temporary capacity in late July after former Mayor Brent Teske earned an appointment to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. On Monday, city councilors were set to name a permanent replacement for Teske after opening the application process just a few weeks ago.

City Councilor Hugh Taylor and resident Kenny Rayome Jr., both in the running for the position along with Williams on the November ballot, also put in for the appointment. Rayome withdrew his application prior to Monday’s public hearing. A city employee, Rayome said his immediate loss would put a strain on municipal services.

“In the best interest of the public, I can’t do that to them right now,” Rayome said, indicating that he would give up his position at the city water treatment plant if elected as mayor in the fall.

That left Williams and Taylor. Both recused themselves from voting, putting the final decision in the hands of city councilors Gary Beach, Rob Dufficy, Kristin Smith and Brian Zimmerman.

During a short interview process, Taylor pledged to focus on Libby’s infrastructure needs, economic development and bringing the ongoing International Paper legal wrangling to an end.

“I’m interested in the position of mayor to help better the future of Libby,” he said. “It’s really easy to sit on the couch and let everybody else do the work. It’s time to man up and get it done.”

Williams said she planned to continue ongoing work in the community as well as build on efforts to expand Internet connectivity in town. She outlined an effort to make all city documents available online as a pet project. Williams also indicated she wanted to bring new playground equipment to Fireman Park.

“I think [my] interest in being mayor is carrying forward a lot of the work that’s already been done and to improve upon that work,” she said.

Residents had a chance to weigh in following the quick question-and-answer sessions. Most speakers, including several candidates for city council on the November ballot, took the opportunity to back Taylor for the position.

“I hear a lot [about] recreation and infrastructure, but what about business,” asked resident Larry King, who supported Taylor’s candidacy. “We just need to bring business back.”

Taylor also enjoyed support from residents outside of the city limits, including Bob McLaury.

“I think Hugh Taylor is the right guy for the job,” McLaury told city councilors. “He’s here to fix Libby. He’s not here to put walk paths in, play stations in, that kind of stuff.”

Williams enjoyed the support of one resident of the handful that spoke, Jennifer Nelson. Nelson cited Williams’ experience in crafting the municipal budget as her chief selling point.

“I think, for this position, that I agree with Mr. Taylor about infrastructure but I feel that Peggy Williams has the experience that is really necessary at this point in the game,” Nelson said. “We will not have improvements to infrastructure or trails or anything else unless we have somebody that thoroughly understands the budget.”

As for candidates for Libby City Council, both Darrel “DC” Orr and Melissa Berke offered Taylor their support. Berke described him as having the community’s best interest at heart.

Orr, who previously served on Libby City Council, described Williams as indecisive — at best. He pointed to a 2015 judgment by the state Commissioner of Political Practices against the city, which included Williams and other members of that council. The city, and those named in the amended complaint, later challenged the ruling. City Hall reached a settlement with the state in 2017.

“She made a real bad decision, which the Commissioner of Political Practices issued a judgment against. That should have ended her political career at the time,” said Orr, who spent the morning in Lincoln County District Court for a hearing related to the felony assault with a weapon charge hanging over him.

Orr allegedly tried to run down a Montana Sky employee in his truck after the company had his trailer towed from its property in May. He has pleaded not guilty.

“Mr. Taylor has some really great ideas on how to bring Libby ahead,” Orr said.

Taylor enjoyed the support of one of his colleagues, Rob Dufficy, when the appointment went before city councilors for a vote. Dufficy had lauded Taylor as committed and knowledgeable during the interview session.

Ultimately, Beach, Smith and Zimmerman voted to keep Williams in the mayor’s chair through the end of year. The decision drew jeers from those in attendance.

By the following morning, Orr had accused Williams of planning to win the coming election via fraud, making the allegation on social media. Orr has a history of accusing officials of misdeeds, including fabricating allegations of a secret meeting between city councilors in Libby and the chair of the county health board earlier this year. He has not publicly apologized for his false accusation.

With Williams’ new role becoming permanent — at least until the end of the calendar year — her seat on city council is now up for appointment.