Few applicants for Libby health board rep position

With the deadline for applications fast approaching, Libby officials on Feb. 1 said they had received paperwork for just one candidate to join the county health board as the city’s representative.

The municipality’s previous delegate to the panel, Laura Crismore, tendered her resignation last month. She cited a perceived interest in non-medical professionals on the health board as the reason for her departure.

Crismore, who works for Cabinet Peaks Medical Center, also pointed to an increased workload owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials in Libby opened the position up to applicants shortly thereafter. Heading into the Feb. 5 deadline, they had received paperwork — the advertisement calls for a resume and letter of interest — from a single individual.

That's a marked difference from the interest in a single at-large seat opened up for a north Lincoln County resident last month. Health board members vetted six candidates for that spot on the suddenly prominent panel before endorsing Jeffery Peterson of Eureka.

The health board is comprised of three members appointed by county commissioners, one commissioner and representatives from each of the region’s three municipalities. For the at-large seat, commissioners rejected the health board’s nominee in favor of Eureka Town Councilor Scott Bernhard.

Bernhard, who was promoted by residents opposed to pandemic restrictions and local anti-vaxxers, has questioned the severity of COVID-19 and promoted misinformation related to the coronavirus.

Those interested in applying to become Libby’s representative to the health board must drop off their candidacy paperwork at City Hall, 952 East Spruce St., by 4:30 p.m., Feb. 5.