The Libby Area Chamber of Commerce’s City Candidate Forum saw six of seven candidates share their views on how to make the city better Tuesday evening at Maki Theater.

The forum saw a trio of candidates for mayor, including incumbent Peggy Williams as well as councilor Hugh Taylor and Jonathan Jameson. The term is for four years.

City council candidates include incumbent Gail Burger along with Brian S. Crompton, Brooke Bolin and Erica Schaefer. They are running for three seats, four years each. Schaefer was unable to attend the forum, but she provided answers to some of the questions that candidates received one week ahead of the event.

The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4. It is an all mail-out election and ballots were sent out on Oct. 16. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Nov. 4. They can be dropped off at the sheriff’s office on California Avenue in Libby or at the election center at Mineral Avenue in Libby.

One change this year is the voter’s year of birth also must be entered near the signature line. 

Chamber Board Treasurer Bruce Vincent presented questions to the candidates. They each had two minutes to answer and the entire event lasted about an hour.

Many cited the cost of living as being a detriment to Libby’s progress. Others cited the need for continuing work to make repairs and upgrades to the water and wastewater systems. Sidewalks and trust in officials were also some of the topics discussed at length.

“The biggest challenges we face is the cost of living,” Jameson said. “And while our water system is being replaced, which takes time, we should be buying water filters for all residents so they can have better water.

“Continuing to work on our aging and failing wastewater treatment is one of our biggest challenges,” Taylor said. “I also feel there needs to be more trust, more open lines of communication.”

Williams said unfilled jobs are a major concern.

“We have a lot of job openings that aren’t getting filled because of the cost of housing,” she said. “We have friendly zoning for businesses, we just need more people who can afford to live here.”

Vincent posed a hypothetical situation that allowed the candidates to decide what they’d decide what to do if $1 million fell from Heaven.

Crompton, Burger and Jameson said they would use it on water projects to improve the drinking water.

Williams would use it to create a better downtown, improving the sidewalks and appearance of Mineral Avenue.

Taylor said he’d put the money into the city’s Economic Development Fund and invest it to build a larger pot of money that could be used for improvements.

Most of the candidates agreed that the work that has been put into the budget has been good.

“The last seven or eight years, the mayor and council have worked well together on it and that needs to continue,” Taylor said.

Williams touted her budget experience after years of serving on the committee.

“We need to continue our fiscal responsibility and keep our capital improvement plan in place,” Williams said.

Burger pointed out that there’ll never be enough money to cover the city’s needs.

“Leann (Monigold, city clerk and treasurer) does a great job with the budget, but it’s not just one person in charge, it’s a group of us that work together to build a good budget,” Burger said.

Regarding improving economic development, there were many suggestions.

“We need more affordable housing because many jobs here don’t pay enough to cover the cost of living,” Crompton said.

“We’re working with a group to develop better sidewalks and lighting on Mineral Avenue,” Williams said.

Taylor said keeping open lines of communication with business owners would be helpful.

“What do they need?” “Working with the Port Authority would also be good for us,” Taylor said. 

Jameson said he’d like to see Amtrak utilized more to get more tourists here.

“They’ll spend money here because we do have a lot to offer,” he said. “We’ve seen some silly spending here trying to fix up older buildings, but some of it is necessary if we’re going to keep people here.”

All the candidates said building better communication is necessary.

“It’s one of my three big issues, we need to keep the meetings online and we need more engagement,” Burger said. “This is not the community vs. the city.”

Bolin said, “Trust is earned through effort.”

Taylor thought the city needed a social media page to increase engagement.

Jameson said he’d create weekly updates of what is happening on Youtube. He’s also a proponent of seeking alternative sources to power the city building, citing increasing and unpredictable costs.

    Hugh Taylor
  

    Jonathan Jameson
  

    Gail Burger
  

    Brian Crompton
  

    Brooke Bolin