Editor Resigns Amid Questions About Mayor’s Recall Petition

LIBBY, Mont. (AP) — A northwestern Montana newspaper editor has resigned amid questions about his involvement with an effort to recall Libby's mayor.

Bob Henline resigned from The Western News on May 26. The Libby newspaper reports Henline was clearing his desk on June 2 when he told General Manager Suzanne Resch that he helped write two drafts of a petition to recall Mayor Doug Roll.

Resch says she does not condone newspaper employees taking part in the stories they cover. Henline says he believes the newspaper's role is to better its community.

Roll tells the Flathead Beacon he had suspected Henline of being involved with the recall effort. He accuses Henline of manipulating the news to further his own agenda.

Petition organizers have until Sept. 17 to gather enough signatures to force a recall election.