Teske doubtful about reelection run

Libby Mayor Brent Teske said last week that he does not plan to seek reelection, but left the door open for a future run.

Teske, who took the reins as mayor in 2016 during a turbulent period for Libby City Council, said there was no one reason for his tentative decision to depart the post.

“There’s no particular reason why,” he said after a May 3 meeting. “I’m done.”

But his stance is predicated on the candidates that emerge for the seat. Thus far, resident Kenny Rayome Jr. is the sole individual vying to become mayor of Libby.

Despite Teske’s disinterest in continuing on as mayor, he is considering another run at a city council seat. Teske previously served as a city councilor.

“Council has the authority, the leverage,” Teske said. “It would be interesting to get back into it.”

Three city council seats are up for election this cycle, those held by Gary Beach, Rob Dufficy and Kristin Smith. Thus far, only resident Zach McNew has filed candidacy papers, according to the county clerk and recorder’s office.

Teske held the council president title in 2016 when former Mayor Doug Roll stepped down amid a failed recall effort. In a 5-0 vote, his fellow city councilors named Teske as Roll’s replacement.

A significant portion of the makeup of the present city leadership stems from that weeks-long period of troubles in 2016. City Councilor Gary Beach earned his seat after Dejon Raines stepped down. Kristin Smith joined shortly thereafter, following the resignation of Barb Desch. Teske went from city council to the mayor’s seat.

Looking back, Teske expressed satisfaction with the progress made under his watch. Of note, he said, was the agreement with the Cabinet View Golf Club aimed at sparking development of land near the course and returning a chunk of the outstanding loan it had taken from City Hall.

Earlier this year, the golf club approached city council with news of a potential buyer for the property. Under the terms of the $1.54 million loan, which financed construction of the club’s back nine, the organization would reimburse city coffers after developing the nearby land. The planned development never emerged and the loan has remained outstanding for more than a decade.

As a fresh-faced mayor in January 2017, Teske listed finding a solution to the outstanding loan as a priority. Last month, city council agreed to a proposal to give the organization a $541,000 grant for a new clubhouse after it repaid the outstanding $1.54 million. Club representatives have said that the land sale hinged on the influx of extra dollars.

“Getting this thing with the golf course wrapped up will be a big deal,” he said last week.

Teske highlighted as well the recently approved portion of the city’s wildlife management plan pertaining to Libby’s deer population. Next up: wild turkeys and rabbits, he said.

And, as in the 2017 interview with The Western News, Teske looked to infrastructure projects, particularly water and sewer work, but also roads and sidewalks.

“I have no idea of how many blocks and streets [we’ve done]. It’s been a lot,” he said. “Those are important to me.”

He hopes future city councilors will continue pushing to put big-ticket water and sewer projects on alternating years.

“Right now, we’ve got a pretty good assessment of what needs to be done,” he said.

As for short-term goals before the November election, Teske wants to see the community’s splash pad reopen this year. Officials kept it closed last year as the coronavirus spread across the country.

“Hopefully, with COVID-19 restrictions lifted we’ll get the splash pad back,” Teske said. “That was a point of contention last summer.”