Beach resigns from Libby Council; city seeks applicants for vacant seat

Libby City Councilman Gary Beach has resigned his seat.

Beach’s resignation was announced by Mayor Peggy Williams during the city council meeting Monday night.

In a statement to The Western News, Beach said, “It has been an honor to serve on the council and represent our community for the past eight years. I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunities and experiences I have had while serving on the council. It has been a privilege to work alongside dedicated individuals committed to improving the quality of life in our city. The reasoning for my resignation is due to personal matters.

“Thank you for your understanding and I wish the entire council continued success in their efforts to better serve our community.”

Williams said the city will advertise for candidates to fill Beach’s seat. Applications are available at City Hall or cityoflibby.com. People interested in submitting applications should include a resume to the City Clerk/Treasurer or City Administrator at P.O. Box 1428 or to the city hall at 952 E. Spruce St. by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11. The appointment will be at a special meeting at 6:15 p.m. Sept. 16.

Beach was the leading vote getter (449) while being elected to his second term in November 2021. Whoever is appointed to fill Beach’s term will serve through the end of December 2025.

“Gary has been an exceptionally good council member,” Williams said. “He’s done a good job analyzing problems and getting solutions. He’s sat on the water and sewer and street committees and those are two areas where some of the biggest problems occur. He will be missed.”

Beach, who has lived in Libby since 1989, was a candidate for city council in 2015. While he was not elected, he was then appointed to a city seat in September 2016 to fill a vacancy after council member Dejon Raines announced her resignation after learning she was pregnant. Beach has served as the chair of the city’s Budget and Finance and Lights, Streets and Sidewalks committees. He was also a member of the Water and Sewer and Wildlife committees.

In a Nov. 5, 2021, story in The Western News, Beach said he hoped to continue tackling important projects for the city without burdening taxpayers. 

“The big thing is staying fiscally responsible and moving forward with good projects without increasing rates,” he said. 

Beach pointed to a recent water main project, which the city funded using grant dollars, as the kind of project he would support in the years to come.

Beach is currently employed at Timberline Auto as a service manager and as the head brewer at Cabinet Mountain Brewing Company.