Montana: Libby Editor resigns after revelation that he helped draft Mayoral recall petition

The recall effort against Mayor Doug Roll has taken a new twist. The editor of the Western News, Bob Henline, reportedly helped draft the recall petition against the mayor. Two petitions were rejected (Montana is a judicial recall/malfeasance standard state and the petition requires a specific legal cause to go forward), but a third one was accepted on June 17. Petitioners need 329 signatures in 90 days.

The issues cited in the final petition against Roll include an alleged refusal to follow the city council in scheduling meetings and listing items on the agenda as well as executing a contract for a city attorney without approval of the council.

Henline joined the paper in October 2014 and covered city government.