In the wake of Libby City Councilor Hugh Taylor taking the mayor’s chair next month, the city is accepting applications for an appointment to his soon-to-be vacant council seat.

The appointment will fill a two-year vacancy beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Applicants must reside within the city municipal boundaries, be a U.S. citizen, and be at least 18 years of age.

Those interested in applying for the opening can download an application from cityoflibby.com under the “How do I” tab in Service opportunities or pick one up at City Hall at 952 E. Spruce St, Libby MT 59923.

Applicants must submit completed letters of interest and applications, with a current resume, to City Administrator Sam Sikes at City Hall, by mail to PO Box 1428, Libby MT 59923, or email to [email protected]. 

Interviews and appointment will be on Monday, Dec. 15 with swearing in prior to the new year.

Taylor beat incumbent Mayor Peggy Williams in the November general election, 401 votes to Williams’ 220. It was a rematch of the 2021 election when Williams got 345 votes to Taylor’s 299 for the mayor’s seat.

Taylor, a Libby native, was appointed to the council in March 2018. He won election to his current seat in 2023.

He is a U.S. Marine Corp veteran and served on the Libby Volunteer Fire Department for over 10 years.

Williams was elected to city council and began serving in January 2008. She served on almost every city council committee, serving as chairman of the budget committee for six years, elected council president in 2016 and elected Mayor in November 2021 after being appointed to fill the remainder of the Brent Teske’s term when he was appointed to the Lincoln County Commissioners.

Council will also have two new members after incumbents Kristin Smith and Melissa Berke decided not to run. Incumbent Gail Burger won one seat with 299 votes while newcomers Brian S. Crompton collected 411 votes and Erica Schaefer got 385 to win the other seat, all three-year seats.

Ethan Kolp claimed a two-year seat by acclimation when no one else ran for the seat. Kolp was appointed to council in March 2025 when Ian Smith had to give up his seat after taking a job as a police officer in Troy.