Roll, Williams running for Libby mayor
by Brent Shrum, Kootenai Valley Record
October 7, 2009
Libby Mayor Doug Roll is facing a challenge from Councilwoman Peggy Williams in this fall’s municipal election, with ballots to be mailed out late this week for return by Nov. 3.
Roll was appointed last year to fill out the remainder of Tony Berget’s term as mayor after Berget was elected county commissioner. Roll is now seeking a full four-year term in office.
Roll was born and raised in Montana, graduating from Libby High School in 1973 and serving three years in the Marine Corps before returning to work at Higdem Ford, Asarco and Timberline Auto Center. Since 1994, he has owned and operated DP Automotive.
For the past 15 years, Roll has been a member of the Libby Volunteer Fire Department, and he served more than five years on the city council before being appointed mayor.
"I believe the city’s main responsibility is maintaining our infrastructure, streets, sidewalks, water, sewer and law enforcement," he said. "Our completion of the first two blocks of Mineral Avenue is a start."
The completion of the Fred Brown Pavilion at Riverfront Park is the beginning of a park that will be "the envy of Lincoln County," Roll said.
"I have been proud of what this city has done with limited resources," he said. "The council and mayor have worked hard to do their best to provide the needed services to maintain and improve our community, and I hope to continue in the same direction."
Williams was elected to a four-year council term in 2007. She has been a resident of the city of Libby for 32 years and has been active in Bill Koch/Kootenai Cross Country Ski Club, church activities, and STOKR/Habitat for Humanity. She is an avid gardener and quilter.
Williams is the chief financial officer for KLCB and KTNY radio stations in Libby.
Williams said she is running for mayor because she has a different perspective of how city business should be conducted.
"First of all it should be run as a business because it is a business," she said. "It should be open and transparent in its operations and responsive to its owners, the residents of the city of Libby."
Issues of concern for Williams include neglected infrastructure, upgrades of the waste water treatment plant, water distribution problems, and overdue maintenance on city owned facilities.
See the next week's paper (October 13th) for a look at the candidates running for Libby City Council.
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Editor’s Note: See the October 6, 2009 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, on Tuesdays, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
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