New Libby mayor, councilors sworn in
SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 4 weeks AGO
Here are the members of the Libby City Council who were sworn in Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during a ceremony. From left are Erica Schaefer, Brian Crompton, mayor Hugh Taylor, Ethan Kolp and Gail Burger. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby outgoing mayor Peggy Williams swears in councilor Gail Burger during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby councilor Ethan Kolp is sworn in by outgoing mayor Peggy Williams during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Incoming Libby mayor Hugh Taylor is sworn in by outgoing mayor Peggy Williams during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
New Libby councilor Brian Crompton and outgoing mayor Peggy Williams share a laugh after he was sworn in during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
New Libby councilor Erica Schaefer and outgoing mayor Peggy Williams after she was sworn in during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Most of Libby’s new city councilors and its mayor were sworn in Monday at a ceremony in council chambers at the city builders.
Outgoing mayor Peggy Williams swore in her successor, Hugh Taylor, then councilors Gail Burger, Brian Crompton, Ethan Kolp and Erica Schaefer.
Taylor won election in November with 401 votes. He was appointed to council in 2018.
For the three council seats up for grabs, incumbent Gail Burger won re-election with 299 votes. Burger was appointed to the seat following the resignation of Gary Beach in 2024.
Newcomers Brian S. Crompton had 411 votes and Erica Schaefer had 385 as they secured the two remaining four-year seats.
Brooke Bolin had 160 votes. She was later selected to fill Taylor’s seat by council at a meeting last month. The appointment will fill a two-year vacancy beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Bolin was sworn in Friday, Jan. 2.
Ethan Kolp claimed a two-year seat by acclimation after no one else ran. Kolp took the place of Ian Smith in March 2025. Smith resigned the seat Feb. 18 because he took a job with the Troy Police Department. Smith served on council for 14 months following his election in November 2023.
Council will hold its first meeting of 2026 at 7 p.m. Monday. Most of the members are relatively new to the job - something Taylor pointed out following his election to mayor.
"It's the biggest turnover since I've been involved and we still have to fill my council spot, but we're in a good place with our police force and the city crews," Taylor said.
Some of the major issues and projects council will deal with include the repair of the old Flower Creek reservoir following its breaching last month following record rainfall.
The development of the Port Authority property is another weighty matter council will be involved in.
Libby outgoing mayor Peggy Williams swears in councilor Gail Burger during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby councilor Ethan Kolp is sworn in by outgoing mayor Peggy Williams during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Incoming Libby mayor Hugh Taylor is sworn in by outgoing mayor Peggy Williams during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
New Libby councilor Brian Crompton and outgoing mayor Peggy Williams share a laugh after he was sworn in during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
New Libby councilor Erica Schaefer and outgoing mayor Peggy Williams after she was sworn in during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)ARTICLES BY SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER
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