Columbia Falls City Councilman Christopher Semok has resigned after the mayor and city council sent him a letter of censure recently for not attending well more than half of the meetings since he took office in January.

Of the 13 city council meetings since the beginning of the year, Semok had missed all but five, including key meetings on the city’s new Land Use Plan and the approval of Teakettle Heights, the largest single subdivision in the city’s history. He resigned on June 28.

Semok, 22, had no prior political experience and had only lived in the city about a year when he ran for office in the fall of 2025. He might not have been elected to the seat to begin with, but two other candidates dropped out of the race as the election neared.

Now the city council is tasked with finding a replacement. Under Montana law it has 30 days from accepting his resignation (July 6) to find a city resident to replace him. Mayor Don Barnhart said Monday that Semok was contrite in his resignation.

“He was very gracious and thanked us for allowing him to be on council,” Barnhart said.

Candidates interested in the vacancy are urged to contact the city. A person has to be a U.S. resident and a resident of the city for more than 60 days.

The goal is to name a replacement by the Aug. 3 meeting of council.

Then in November of 2027, the city will have two separate filings for candidates to consider: Candidates for three four-year council positions and candidates to complete the two-year term the unexpired term of the created vacancy.