2016 General Election

A special supplement to the Jackson Hole News&Guide

November 2, 2016

BRADLY J. BONER / NEWS&GUIDE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

For live election results, visit JHNewsAndGuide.com throughout Nov. 8.

2 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

I am committed to leading with INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY.

General Election Index 3

4 5 6 8 10 14 15 15 15 16 21 22 23

I have a forward thinking vision for the future of our schools and I believe your children are worth my time to implement it.

I am focused on creating a vibrant learning environment for our children using empathy, research and collaboration so that the children are engaged and enjoy the process of learning www.facebook.com/CarlynHunterforTetonCountySchoolBoard/ Paid for by Margot von Gontard

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Special supplement written, produced and printed by the Jackson Hole News&Guide Publisher: Kevin Olson Assosciate Publisher: Adam Meyer

Post your suggestions for Dr. Frye to take to the hospital board

Editor: John R. Moses Deputy Editors: Richard Anderson, Johanna Love General Election Special Section Editor: Richard Anderson Layout and Design: Kathryn Holloway Photographers: Bradly J. Boner, Ryan Dorgan, Rugile Kaladyte Copy Editors: Jennifer Dorsey, Mark Huffman, Tom Hallberg Features: Richard Anderson, Melissa Cassutt, Mark Huffman, Mike Koshmrl, Kylie Mohr, Emily Mieure, John Spina

www.facebook.com/DrFryeWyo Paid for by Dr. Joyce Frye for Hospital Board

This election,

VOTE FOR

Introduction / U.S. President / Uncontested 1 Percent Sales Tax Jackson Mayor Jackson Town Council Teton County Commission St. John’s Medical Center Wyoming House District 22 Teton Conservation District Constitutional Amendment A Wyoming Senate District 16 Teton County School District No. 1 U.S. House Justices and Judges Voting Info

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WORKFORCE HOUSING & TRANSIT

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©2016 Teton Media Works Jackson Hole News&Guide P.O. Box 7445, 1225 Maple Way Jackson, WY 83002 , 307-733-2047 Fax: 307-733-2138, JHNewsAndGuide.com

For Teton County Commission

RE-ELECT

VOTE FOR solutions that protect our community character and wildlife

Early voting is underway. Visit 200 S. Willow to vote early.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th Paid for by the Teton County Democrats

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Our economic future depends on creating an atmosphere that will attract and sustain new businesses.

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GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 3

Introduction By now you know all about Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president of the United States, and Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival.

Maybe you also know about Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate for the high office, and Jill Stein, the independent “green” party nominee.

Fewer, perhaps, have heard of Darrell Castle of the Constitution Party or Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, another independent candidate.

That’s six men and women running for president — not just two — and while the Jackson Hole News&Guide does not plan on diving into presidential politics with this biannual general election guide, its intention is to offer one last shot of information about who is running for town, county and relevant state offices and about where they stand on the biggest issues of our times.

Democrat Ryan Greene and Republican Liz Cheney stand in pretty stark contrast to each other, although, again, two other candidates are on the ballot: Libertarian Party candidate Lawrence Gerard Struempf and the Constitution Party’s Daniel Clyde Cummings.

Rep. Marti Halverson, a Republican from Etna, seeks to keep her seat from challenger Marylee White, a Democrat from Wilson, and Sen. Dan Dockstader, a Republican from Afton, is running against Democratic challenger Richard Kusaba, of Kemmerer, for his Senate District 16 seat.

Greg Epstein, Trey Davis and Nikki Gill join incumbent Natalia D. Macker in the race to fill two seats on the Teton County Board of

County Commissioners.

Pete Muldoon is challenging Mayor Sara Flitner for her seat, and Town Councilors Jim Stanford and Hailey Morton Levinson are being challenged by Jessica Chambers and Judd Grossman.

Nine candidates are on the ballot for four seats on the Teton County School District Board of Trustees.

Five people are running for three seats on the St. John’s Medical Center board, and three are running for two seats on the Teton Conservation District board.

And who could forget about the question of a sixth cent of general sales tax to help pay for housing and transit solutions?

But there’s also a Constitutional Amendment to vote on about investing more of the state’s funds in the market. Plus there are eight judges — Supreme Court justices, District Court judges and Circuit Court judges — seeking retention.

That’s a lot of the people’s business to take care of, and even though it may feel like this political season has been going on way too long, it really all comes down to one day — Nov. 8 — Election Day, when it all gets done.

Readers will have seen all the advertisements, read all the newspaper coverage — collected on the web at JHNewsAndGuide.com/news/election — listened closely during the many forums and probably even met with candidates or know them as friends or neighbors.

But there’s almost always something more to know, and the News&Guide hopes this section fills in whatever gaps might be remaining.

Speaking of filling in the gaps,

there are two other races readers may or may not know about: the uncontested seats for House District 23, which Democrat Andy Schwartz is seeking to retain, and House District 16, for which longtime Jackson Hole politico Mike Gierau stands unopposed.

missioners. He and his wife, Jean, have run several businesses in Jackson and have two children.

House District 23 includes most of the unincorporated parts of Teton County, except for the South Hoback, Wilson South and Wilson North precincts.

Rep. Andy Schwartz

Mike Gierau

In 2014 Andy Schwartz, 66, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination to House seat 23 and then beat Republican nominee Jim Darwiche in the general election.

This election season he has been the only canSchwartz didate to stand for the seat.

In the House, Schwartz served on the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee, the Labor, Health and Social Services Committee and the Select Committee on Legislative Facilities, among others. Bills he has sponsored include legislation related to the powers of housing authorities, resort districts located within municipalities, and harassment of big game.

He states on his website, SchwartzHD23.com, that he is against state control of federal lands, wants to maintain social services even in the face of statewide budget cuts and wants to explore new ways of growing Wyoming’s heretofore extraction-based economy.

Before winning his House seat Schwartz put in 12 years with the Teton County Board of County Com-

A Jackson businessman for 37 years, Mike Gierau served on the Jackson Town Council for four years and the Teton County Board of Commissioners for six.

This year he seeks the House seat left open by Rep. Ruth Ann Petroff, who Gierau announced earlier in the year that she would not seek re-election.

A dedicated Democrat, Gierau has been involved in the county and state party for years and was a superdelegate at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. He also is the founding chairman of Jackson Hole Air Improvement Resources, which works with airlines to ensure adequate service to Jackson Hole Airport.

Gierau told the Casper Star-Tribune that as a representative he would work to support tourism and keep “public lands in public hands.”

The owner of Jedediah Corporation, he runs Jedediah’s at the Airport in Jackson and in Missoula, Montana. He and his wife, Paty, have two children.

House District 16 covers the town of Jackson.

— Richard Anderson

ELECT TREY DAVIS Teton County Commissioner Community

Leadership

ty • A Str on

Accountability

There is a limit to Jackson Hole’s growth. I support preservation of personal property rights with a focus on private sector solutions to meet our economy’s challenges. I will support and implement the approved Jackson/Teton Comprehensive Plan and Integrated Transportation Plan when fiscally responsible to meet workforce housing needs and transit solutions.

i Vo

ce

for T e

In collaboration with environmental groups and non-profits, I will support funding to study and assess the effects development may have on the surrounding wildlife, waterways and water quality on areas inside and outside of the County, and will support enforcement efforts to hold people accountable for preserving and protecting the area’s ecosystem.

ightforward

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Preservation

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During the campaign, I am the only candidate that As I have said from the start of this race, I am ready has come forward with some proposed solutions! to find the balance between preserving the “Last of I have experience managing $40M dollar the Wild West” that values “community first” ecisive an D d budgets and 150 employees at a time. My with the need for economic development , g personal and professional experiences will and sustainability. I would appreciate add great value and perspective to the your vote November 8th to ensure the County Commission, as will my work character of Teton County remains true. ethic, accountability, grit and decisionmaking abilities.

ton

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Endorsed by State Senator Leland Christensen, Paul Perry, Lisa daCosta, Joe Rice, John & Mary Kay Tur ner, Paul Vogelheim, Rob & Celia Wallace, For mer Mayor Mark Barron, Representative Ruth Ann Petrof f, and Mike Randall “The Barber”

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4 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Andy Schwartz & Mike Gierau have 35 years of combined community service • • • •

11 years on Planning Commission 4 years on Town Council 18 years on Teton County Commission 2 years at Wyoming State Legislature

Sales Tax One percent sales tax to fund housing and transportation If passed the general revenue sales tax measure will levy an additional 1 percent of sales tax, providing the town and county with an estimated $10 million to $12 million in revenue.

The Town Council and Teton County Board of County Commissioners have signed resolutions pledging to spend half the collected money on housing and half on transportation projects. Both bodies have set up “community priorities funds” to collect and track the money.

Critics of the proposed tax say housing and transportation projects are better funded with the specific purpose excise tax, or SPET, because money levied that way is legally bound to be spent on a specific project.

Proponents of the proposed tax say SPET funds can be used only for capital projects, not for operational costs such as bus drivers or housing compliance officers. They also say the fiscal flexibility of a general revenue tax allows the town and county to take

Ballot Language Andy Schwartz & Mike Gierau

“We are voting for the 1% sales tax for housing & transportation & we hope you will too.”

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Shall Teton County, Wyoming, be authorized to impose an additional 1 percent of General Revenue Sales and Use Tax to be used for general revenue purposes?

advantage of unforeseen opportunities, especially in terms of purchasing property to develop for workforce housing.

Also, proponents say, amid falling state revenue the additional funds from a general sales tax would prevent cuts to government and social services, because money currently earmarked for housing and transportation could be used for other things.

Collection of the general sales tax would begin once the current SPET — passed during the August primary to raise $10 million to stabilize the West Broadway landslide — is finalized, keeping the sales tax at 6 percent.

But in the future, if additional capital projects are identified the town and county could propose SPET projects that would bring the sales tax to 7 percent if voters approved.

Currently, 4 percent of the sales tax is collected by the state and redistributed to towns and counties across the state. The fifth percent of sales tax was passed in 1990 as a general sales tax, which helps fill the general funds for towns and counties. The sixth percent is currently collected for the SPET. If passed the sixth cent of sales tax would be in place for four years, at which point elected officials could continue it by way of resolution. At any time Jackson residents can call the tax to a vote via a referendum. That would require that a petition be signed by 5 percent of the Teton County electorate, at which point the town and county would hold a special election.

— John Spina

Paid for by the Teton County Democrats

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• Greene’s wife Lindsey works in a Wyoming public school.

• The couple are raising their two young children in Rock Springs.

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GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 5

Town of Jackson Mayor Two candidates, nonpartisan Sara Flitner (incumbent) Pete Muldoon

grew up on a ranch in Wyoming. At age 25, soon after moving to Jackson, she began a strategic communications firm, Flitner Strategies. There, she said, she learned the collaborative leadership process she prides herself on today.

Over her career Flitner has worked with dozens of organizations, businesses and public departments throughout Wyoming. Those connections, she said, provide her with the knowledge and connections to move the town and the community forward.

As mayor for the past two years Flitner has put her primary focus on housing 65 percent of the workforce in-county. While many of the projects she has worked on have yet to come to fruition, at least five developments with nearly 250 units are awaiting public subsidies, and a potential ordinance to allow accessory residential units throughout town.

With additional funds from a pro-

Jackson is at a crux: physically, financially and philosophically.

The 2016 election will select the majority of the Town Council seats, including Jackson’s first four-year mayor.

With zoning updates scheduled for Districts 3, 4 and 5 in the coming years, declining state funds and increasing traffic congestion, the next council will set the course of Jackson for years to come.

There are two candidates for mayor: incumbent Sara Flitner and challenger Pete Muldoon. While the mayor is just one vote of five on the council, he or she has the added power of determining agendas and running meetings.

Sara Flitner

Incumbent Mayor Sara Flitner

posed 1 percent general sales tax, also on the ballot Nov. 8 (see page 4), Flitner believes she can see many of these projects through.

In addition to her business and civic work Flitner served on the Environmental Quality Council, the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, the First Interstate Bank Foundation, the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust and other nonprofits and agencies.

Pete Muldoon

Growing up in a military family, Muldoon moved a lot as a child. At age 17 he followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the National Guard and later the Army, fighting in the Gulf War. After serving four years, he moved to Jackson in 2000. Here, he said, he finally found a home.

For the past 16 years Muldoon has worked various odd jobs, from baggage handling and construction to writing, waiting tables and singing

in a local band. In 2009 he started Jackson Hole Production Company, but he continues to work low-wage jobs to keep his head above water.

That experience of being a blue-collar worker and renter is what he says separates him from his opponent.

To alleviate housing pressure for the working class, Muldoon proposes that the town subsidize salary-restricted affordable housing projects with tax revenue rather than increasing development rights for private sector developers building workforce housing.

Muldoon became politically active in Jackson Hole in 2015 when he sought appointment to replace Melissa Turley as a county commissioner after she vacated her seat mid-term.

While he didn’t make the final cut, he clearly expressed his desire to serve and represent what he believes is a neglected segment of Jackson Hole: the working class.

— John Spina

One seat, four-year term

Flitner

Housing

Transit

Taxes

Community Engagement

We have made more progress on housing in the last 15 months than in the last 15 years. Plans include two rental developments on town- and county-owned property; a publicprivate partnership opportunity for rental with the Housing Trust (which simply needs more funding); and two private developers in the queue to provide additional deed-restricted and rental units through incentives.

The town has really stepped up its planning of more effective and convenient routes, and more people actually use the system. I was excited to help with the bike share program, solving another problem for bus users who get to town and are stranded a mile or two from their destination.

We will continue to take incremental steps to make pubic transit a good investment for locals.

The town must prioritize needs over wants, then ensure that we have the tools in place to address those priorities. Our housing efforts are key.

With funding we could complete three projects that stand in the wings and get even more long-term benefit from two private-sector developers willing to give us more of what we want.

I am proud of two decades of problemsolving work experience and a track record of getting things done. I have worked with every sector of this community and succeeded — in conservation, housing, social services, transportation and more. I know how to set priorities, allocate resources, bring people together and leverage talent.

We all want what’s best for Jackson.

I have a track record for delivering that.

Jackson’s facing a choice. The path we’re on leads to less housing for our working class and our town becoming a resort for the wealthy with empty second homes but no place for our friends and neighbors to live. As your next mayor I’ll make the tough decisions needed to solve our housing emergency and keep our community whole.

We have to plan for a future with massive reductions in vehicle ownership. The auto industry is investing billions of dollars in autonomous cars that could massively impact driving habits and could reduce parking requirements by up to 90 percent. Our bike culture is growing rapidly. We need to consider this before building more roads to solve yesterday’s problems.

Wyoming has the third-lowest state and local tax rates in the U.S. This explains why, although we’re the wealthiest county in the U.S., we struggle to solve our housing problems, and our human services agencies rely on donations.

We have to do a better job of making tourists and wealthy second-home owners pay their fair share.

Our elected officials can’t just wait around for everyone to agree. They have to stand up for what they believe in and work to change hearts and minds. That means doing the research, getting the facts and going out and making your case. That’s what leadership is about, and that kind of community engagement is essential to getting things done.

Muldoon

Y O U R V O T E M AT T E R S

It has been a true honor serving our community as your town councilor and one that I would like to continue. This is a service I take to heart, take seriously, and I am proud to do. Providing opportunities for working families, small businesses, environmental stewardship and ensuring our quality of life are paramount to the future of Jackson, our home. These are the values that guide my decisions and these are the values I will continue to work for as your town councilor.

VOTE Hailey

and thank you for your support! www.haileyforcouncil.com PAID FOR BY HAILEY FOR COUNCIL 319826

6 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Jackson Town Council Four candidates, nonpartisan Jessica Chambers Judd Grossman Hailey Morton Levinson (incumbent) Jim Stanford (incumbent) With two open seats on the Jackson Town Council, the 2016 election could drastically alter the council’s path, especially with four very different candidates: incumbents Jim Stanford and Hailey Morton Levinson, and challengers Judd Grossman and Jessica Chambers.

With councilors serving for four years, their opportunities to rezone the town, increase taxes and update the transportation systems will build a foundation for Jackson long into the future.

We all come from different places, but we agree on this :

We’re VOTING

FOR SARA

“She is a tough yet considerate mayor.” - Clarene Law “Civility. Fairness. Collaboration. I’m voting for Sara.” - Ruth Ann Petroff

Jessica Chambers

“We all know this woman. Sara’s character is beyond reproach.”

- Jennifer Ford “She is being an excellent mayor during challenging times for the Town of Jackson!” - Bruce Hawtin “I’ve known Sara for years, and I know she is working to make a place for all of us.” - Willi Brooks You deserve a leader who can truly lead, get results, and run our town with integrity and civility.

Sara

FLITNER for MAYOR

Vote November 8th #gettingthingsdone

Paid for by Flitner for Mayor committee

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Antler

by Antler

Idea

by Idea

Solution

by Solution

Proudly helped build the northwest arch on the Town Square

Together we’ll solve our community’s problems — and keep Jackson Hole, uniquely Jackson Hole.

Jessica Chambers is not your typical Jackson candidate. She has lived in Jackson for just seven years, having grown up in Pittsburgh, and she studied political science at the City University of New York in Manhattan.

After college she worked at the United Nations and Newsweek. She turned her back on a career in public service when her mother died and she won custody of her two younger siblings.

When Chambers moved to Jackson she began a new life and revived her dream of serving the public. Her journey to Jackson, she said, provides her with an outsider’s perspective and unique ideas for the future of the town.

Since moving to town she has become an integral member of the community, working with social service organizations and nonprofits, including College Bound Latinas, Model UN, Shelter JH, Humans United and Giving, and the Guest House Initiative, which she helped found.

She also serves as a Wyoming Democratic committeewoman.

Chambers’ main job, however, is being a mom. That, she said, would allow her to work full time as a town councilor.

She supports subsidies for housing but also supports increased density and development rights for private developers in new areas of town, specifically noting the area around Kmart and the newer post office as a second hub.

Chambers’ activity in the community, she said, is a direct consequence of feeling so welcomed when she transplanted her family, and now she wants to do more.

Judd Grossman

Judd Grossman hitchhiked into Jackson in 1980 as a full-time professional musician. In the 1990s he

served on the Town Planning Commission during the resort zoning process.

In 2002 he co-founded Planet Jackson Hole with his wife, Mary. They sold the publication in 2014. His time as publisher of the Planet and as a member of the planning commission, he said, helped inform his political stance as a libertarian and taught him the history and inner workings of local government.

Unlike his opponents, Grossman adamantly opposes public subsidization of private developments. Instead he routinely pushes a proposal for a workforce housing overlay in the downtown core. His plan would allow for sizable density bonuses and a reduction in the parking requirement for only market-rate, deed-restricted workforce housing.

By concentrating the population in downtown Jackson, Grossman says, the town can become less car-centric, and less money would need to be spent expanding START service.

Without the need for subsidized housing or expanded transit service he opposes the general revenue sales tax.

Hailey Morton Levinson

Levinson’s parents moved to Jackson when she was 1 year old. From Girl Scouts to Jackson Hole High School and eventually the Jackson Town Council, she is ingrained at every level of the Jackson community.

Levinson’s experience as a child, as a young adult and most recently as a young mother provides her with a unique perspective on the council, she said. She said her degree in political science from Georgetown University taught her to work well with others and to be ideologically flexible, which makes her an ideal councilor.

Levinson strongly supports the work the Town Council has completed during her time in office and believes housing and transportation problems can be solved if the council stays its course, especially if voters approve the general sales tax increase in November’s election.

She has served as vice mayor for the past two years and also serves on the Travel and Tourism Board and the boards of Energy Conservation Works, the Chamber of Commerce and the Pathways Task Force.

Her four years in office, she said, have taught her the minutia of local government and how to move things forward effectively and efficiently.

Jim Stanford

Stanford grew up obsessed with rivers. Working as a guide on the Snake River, he said, was literally a dream come true when he arrived in See town council on 7

Please Vote

Betsy Carlin

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For Teton County School Board

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GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 7

Two seats open, four-year term Housing

Taxes

Transportation

Community Engagement

• Linked to conservation and sustainable communities.

• Can’t solve a problem we don’t understand; need to stop job creation.

• Local workforce housing focus, rentals and tenant protections needed.

• Government must play role; no “profitable” solution to the housing crisis.

• Incentivizing private sector accelerates gentrification; examples all over the world.

• John Dewey said, “All genuine education comes about through experience.” We need action.

• We need to make up our mind about the kind of community we want.

• Quality services cost money.

• Social services relying on philanthropic giving is unsustainable and prevents organizations and staff from doing their job of providing services.

• Town is not a business; tax provides a common wealth for the common good.

• Support 1 percent tax on the Nov. 8 ballot.

• We need carrots and sticks to reduce single-occupancy vehicle travel.

• Commit and take action.

• Tribal Trails: Jury out.

• “Field of Dreams” approach does not work; coordinated and systematic approach required.

• Hire transportation director to work with planning director and don’t micromanage.

• Road expansion results in more cars; couple with HOV/bus lanes.

• Pay and permit parking in town.

• Current process for public involvement is inefficient and ineffective.

• Hold monthly town halls to keep the electeds in regular contact with the public.

• Reform or regularize workshopping process to minimize final-hour objections from public.

• Commitment to make this place more livable so people don’t have to prioritize meeting basic needs over civic engagement.

• Translate government materials into Spanish.

Limit new development rights so that we don’t encourage job growth.

Create a workforce housing overlay that allows increased density in the urban commercial core exclusively for deed-restricted workforce housing, so employers and employees have the opportunity to take care of their own housing needs without massive, unsustainable public subsidies. Use SPET to create housing for public sector workers.

Defeat the general excise tax increase.

It’s based on flawed planning that will waste hundreds of millions of dollars while making only a few percentage points’ difference in our housing and transportation problems. It’s ridiculously expensive lip service and subsidizes business. The Town Council hasn’t earned a blank check. Reinstate SPET to fund community priorities with community input and oversight.

Limit new development rights so that we don’t encourage traffic growth. Focus new development with reduced parking requirements into the walkable urban commercial core of Jackson and Teton Village, where there is easy access to work, shopping, entertainment, pathways and transit. Use SPET to expand START as demand warrants. No empty buses. Optimize, expand and connect our roadway system.

As a former newspaper publisher I have a passion for free speech and open dialogue. I will make myself accessible to meet with constituents. I will make sure the public is presented with the information they need to give the council feedback on the decisions we are making. I will make sure that we communicate effectively with our Latino residents.

I support the 1 percent option because it allows the town and county to address our community priorities holistically and long term. Our visitors pay the majority of sales tax. A special revenue fund and resolution has been passed to ensure transparency and to easily track where the funds are being spent. The town runs a tight, efficient and effective budget.

Levinson

I support opportunities for people to live and work in Jackson. I want to see families thrive and opportunities for generational continuity. Providing, preserving and protecting affordable and workforce housing is important for our quality of life and character.

Working together is how we will make the most progress. Public projects, private projects and partnerships all have a role.

Our quality of life and quality of our surrounding ecosystem are affected by transportation congestion and choices.

I have and will continue to support alternative transportation including START, bicycle routes, sidewalks, snow plowing, etc. We also need to look at connectivity and follow the Integrated Transportation Plan. Making alternative transportation more convenient than the car is a way to change our habits.

Engaging the community on different levels is important to me to hear a wide range of input and dialogue. Streaming meetings makes it easier for us to be informed. Neighborhood meetings, informational workshops, website interaction, social media, etc., are some ways we can engage the community.

As town councilor I consistently and constantly listen for and reach out for feedback and input.

The 1 percent general sales tax is a more effective way of funding local government. The community has 100 percent control over how the money is spent, compared with only 40 percent control of the lodging tax. Because of declining state grants the town will be forced to cut services without additional revenue. Our budget is tight and carefully scrutinized.

For too long the community has resisted road improvements yet continues to drive everywhere. The Integrated Transportation Plan holds us accountable: If traffic continues to get worse, then planning of road projects begins. The plan lays out choices and calls for a more robust transit system, if residents choose to ride the bus.

Every council meeting is streamed and archived on video online at TownOfJackson.com. Our website is thorough and easy to use. I am reachable by email, phone and in line at the grocery store. I respond quickly to community concerns, whether asking staff to fill potholes on streets or place topics on upcoming council agendas.

Stanford

We need to build more deed-restricted housing. Deed restrictions are the only way to guarantee affordability into the future. We need to zone for more housing, particularly on the west side of town, along the commercial strip from the “Y” to Smith’s, and in northern South Park. With thoughtful design, duplexes, fourplexes, bungalow courts and apartments can be blended into existing neighborhoods.

Chambers

Grossman

town council Continued from 6

Jackson 20 years ago as a young ski bum and river rat.

With a degree in history and English from Duke University, Stanford found his first salaried job as a journalist for the News&Guide. That job, he said, allowed him to study Jackson Hole, understand its inner workings

and meet a diverse cross section of the community.

After 20 years with the News&Guide, Jackson Hole magazine and his own blog, JH Underground, Stanford ran for office and was elected to the Town Council in 2012. He said will likely go back to journalism, in one form or another, after holding office.

During his four years in office

Stanford has become one of the most vocal members of the council. He has supported subsidized housing projects, accessory residential units and incentives for private developers in District 2 while maintaining a skeptical view of short-term rentals.

Stanford said he prides himself on asking tough questions, using the skills he learned as a reporter and ensuring that projects are properly

vetted and that public dollars are efficiently spent.

His time as a river guide, Stanford said, informed his strong stance on conservation.

As a town councilor he serves as the liaison to the Transportation Advisory Committee and the Jackson Hole Airport and Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation boards.

— John Spina

SCHOOL BOARD Annie Band Betsy Carlin Nick Grenoble Carlyn Hunter 319909

Paid for by the candidates 319672

8 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Teton County Board of County Commissioners Four candidates (nonpartisan) Trey Davis Greg Epstein Nikki Gill Natalia D. Macker (incumbent) Two seats are open on the fivemember Teton County Board of County Commissioners. One is held by Chairwoman Barbara Allen, the other by Commissioner Natalia D. Macker.

Allen, a Republican, announced in the spring that she would not be seeking re-election. Macker, a Democrat, was appointed to her seat in August 2015 and is running to keep her title.

Two Democrats and two Republicans advanced from the primary to the general election. The two candidates who receive the most votes on Nov. 8 will win seats on the board.

Republicans Trey Davis and Nikki Gill and Democrat Greg Epstein join Macker in the race.

The other commissioners on the board are Mark Newcomb, Smokey Rhea and Paul Vogelheim. Learn more about the Teton County Commission at TetonWyo.org/BCC.

Trey Davis (R)

Trey Davis is a Louisiana native who studied forestry and business in college before attending the Louisiana Culinary Institute in Baton Rouge.

Davis worked on his family’s lumber mill in high school. One of his grandfathers was an engineer for Texaco, the other was a pastor. He credits his upbringing for teaching him “hard work, accountability, ethics and trust.”

Davis was executive chef at two highend resorts and spas where he supervised up to 150 chefs and oversaw a $40 million food and beverage budget. Davis now owns Sweetwater Restaurant.

“I know a little bit about what it

takes to be held accountable and to work with people,” Davis said at a recent candidates forum.

Davis, 45, has been a resident of the valley for 16 years. He and his wife, Town Attorney Audrey Cohen-Davis. have two children, Jordan and Hudson.

Davis said his experience owning and managing a restaurant has given him a close look into the community’s housing issues. He often speaks of the struggles his own employees have faced. He has suggested that increased density in Hog Island, coupled with new START bus routes, may ease some of the housing crunch.

“The reason I have put myself out here is because of the struggles we all face in the future,” Davis said. “I will tackle head-on our housing problems, our traffic and transportation issues, and environmental problems, including wildlife, waterways and water quality.”

Davis has served on the board of Trout Unlimited. He supports many nonprofits, including Ducks Unlimited, the Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust and Friends of the Snake River.

Visit TreyDavisForTetonCounty.com.

Greg Epstein (D)

Jackson Hole native Greg Epstein is the head of production at Teton Gravity Research, a job he said has given him experience managing projects, budgets and staff. He was a member of the Friends of Pathways board for four years, most recently as president.

Epstein said his family ties — his mother was an elementary school teacher in Wilson for 42 years, his father owns a small business, and he met his wife in the valley — and many friendships keep him well connected to the community. He said his homegrown roots would bring a “unique perspective” to the board.

“For many people Jackson Hole is

a household brand,” said Epstein, 45.

“But for those who reside here it is a special place that deserves accountable stewards to help guide its future.”

Epstein supports the proposed 1 percent general revenue sales tax, saying it offers the community an opportunity to gain a steady revenue stream for housing and transportation while also freeing up money in the budget for social services that are threatened by declining state revenues.

At a recent candidates forum Epstein said he’s focused on creating stable housing in Jackson Hole.

“With stable housing we can create stakeholders in the community,” he said. “When we create stakeholders within the community we then can create stewards for the community.”

For more visit GregEpstein.com.

Nikki Gill (R)

Nikki Gill is the youngest candidate in the race at 28 years old. She is a fifthgeneration native who grew up on the Jackson Hole Hereford Ranch, an operation started by her great-grandfather Bruce Porter in 1928.

Gill attended the University of San Francisco, receiving a bachelor’s in business administration with a minor in political science. She returned to Jackson in 2012 and now works as the director of marketing and sales for her family’s ranch. She also helps manage her family’s commercial holdings.

Gill’s family has a long history of public service and community engagement.

Her grandfather Ralph Gill served as a county commissioner and mayor of Jackson. In addition to the ranch Gill’s family started the Jackson Drug Company, Teton Theatre, Log Cabin Bar and Jackson Hole News.

Gill married Rob Ottaway, part owner of Cowboy Coffee Co., last August on her family’s ranch. She said grow-

ing up working at local businesses and now being married to a small-business owner have given her insight into the housing crisis.

“Because of this I know how crucial it is that these businesses stay in Jackson and how they help our community as a whole,” Gill said. “From an early age my father and grandfather taught me how important it is to preserve Jackson’s past but also to strengthen its future.”

Gill swept the Republican field in the August primary, earning 41.23 percent of the vote.

Visit VoteNikkiGill.com for additional information.

Natalia D. Macker (D)

Natalia D. Macker is the only incumbent in this year’s race, though this is her first election cycle running for county commissioner. She was appointed to the board in August 2015 after Melissa Turley resigned.

Macker, 32, is the artistic director of Off Square Theatre Company. Before joining the board she was twice appointed to the Parks and Recreation board, a joint town and county advisory board.

She also made a run for Wyoming House District 22 seat in 2014, losing to incumbent Rep. Marti Halverson.

Gov. Matt Mead appointed Macker to the Land Quality Advisory Board in 2015. The five-member board is part of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. As a commissioner Macker serves as a liaison to six boards and is a voting member on one, the Energy Conservation Works Board.

Macker has been a strong supporter of the proposed 1 percent general revenue sales tax, saying it offers the consistent revenue stream needed to make progress with the community’s housing and transportation woes.

“I stood up to serve in public office See county commissioners on 9

VOTE NOVEMBER 8th FOR A COMMON SENSE CONSERVATiVE FOR HOuSE DiSTRiCT 22 • An employer who is acutely aware of the challenges facing working families.

• Supporter of youth programs: Scouting, 4-H, FFA, Girls and Boys State.

• Advocate for the developmentally disabled and the disadvantaged.

• A fiscal conservative who has signed the No Tax Increase Pledge.

• Strong defender of private property rights.

• For individual liberties; against crony capitalism; business friendly.

• Proponent of Wyoming’s management of our forests and wildlife.

• Committed to sustaining responsible mineral development and reclamation.

• Experienced; Knowledgeable; Forthright; Courageous; Responsive.

MARTi HALVERSON

HOuSE DiSTRiCT 22

STAR VALLEY RANCH • ETNA • FREEDOM • NORDIC RANCHES WILSON • HOBACK • BONDURANT • ALPINE • DANIEL

307-413-5236 • 307-883-0250 PAID FOR BY MARTI HALVERSON • P.O. BOX 5009 • ETNA 83118 318937

GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 9

Two seats open; four-year terms

Davis

Epstein

Gill

Macker

Housing

Transportation

Taxes

Social Services

I’d like to make headway on affordable rentals for workers. Zoning is key. Build some affordable rental housing by the Munger Mountain School because sewer and water will be connected. The new joint Jackson/Teton County Housing Authority and Housing Action Plan will help move us forward with plans for public-private partnerships to provide more housing.

With clear direction from electeds and the community that affordable housing is a priority, the supply and management side of the housing department can be a great tool for this community.

Have a START transportation loop that stops at Rafter J, Melody Ranch, the new Munger Mountain School (eventually) and Hoback and circles back to modular units across from WYDOT, Game Creek and Old West Cabins. That will reduce a significant number of vehicles traveling from south of Jackson into the town of Jackson. Even if each family uses one vehicle instead of two due to the availability of public transportation to those locations, that will ease traffic congestion. I will also support park-andride and bike share initiatives.

I strongly support funding for affordable housing and transportation, but all it takes is a budget amendment, a change to the current resolutions adopted by the electeds or a natural disaster, and the 1 percent general sales tax can be used for other purposes. I believe SPET should be used so the public knows exactly what project is being funded.

I am not OK with giving the town and county a blank check for millions of our public dollars. With SPET the community gets to vote on what the best specific use of such funds.

If local funding cuts happen we will need to take a closer look at the county’s fiscal position and revenues versus expenditures. The county may need to tighten the belt and provide for the needs instead of the wants.

Our local social service organizations and community members in need of true services are more critical than the wants. For example, an underprivileged child in need of food and safety is more pressing and essential in terms of social services than several of the “wants” funds are currently used for.

Housing solutions need to focus on “Town as Heart” and complete neighborhoods.

I support the 1 percent sales tax to create stable funding for housing and transportation. I will prioritize changes to land development regulations to make it easier for private developers and new businesses to build workforce housing, and collaboration between the Jackson/ Teton County Affordable Housing Department and housing organizations, developers and employers to increase our stock of deed-restricted rental housing.

I support expanding START bus service to make it easier for us all to ride the bus: increased frequency, earlier and later service, and service to new areas like Melody Ranch, Rafter J and Wilson.

I also want to fully use the park-and-ride at Stilson as a year-round transit center and identify locations for additional park-and-rides. I support hiring an ITP coordinator to implement the actions called for in the Integrated Transportation Plan. I also want to unite START bus, pathways and complete streets.

I support the 1 percent sales tax to create stable funding for housing and transportation. The Town Council and County Commission created community priorities funds to track revenue and expenditures. Expenditures will be tracked by the Teton County treasurer based on the annual project list voted on by the elected boards. If those officials don’t live up to your standards they can be voted out of office. If the 1 percent tax is approved voters can decide whether to renew it in four years.

The Teton County Public Health Department says a lack of stable housing is the No. 1 health issue affecting Jackson Hole. Without proper funding and collaboration for costeffective housing solutions, that will increasingly strain social services and harm the health and well-being of our entire community. That is one reason I support the 1 percent sales tax on the Nov. 8 ballot to create the ability to make dynamic decisions toward longterm housing solutions.

We should enact a “fee-bate” system for residential building permits if a new unit is permanently deed-restricted for workforce housing. We could use that money to pay rebates to those in the private sector who are creating new, deed-restricted workforce housing that goes above and beyond what is required. Organizations such as the fire and police departments, school district, and hospital could have first right of refusal on those deed-restricted homes.

This is a way to reduce the burn rate of valuable taxpayer dollars.

The frustrating traffic we’ve experienced these past couple of years doesn’t have to be the new normal. The county needs to stop kicking the can down the road on decisions that could take hundreds of vehicles off the road every day.

People want solutions. Safety requires it. Wildlife needs it. The winter parkand-ride program at Stilson is the only one of its kind in Teton County, and it has proven success. Why not continue that program into the summer? That could take hundreds of cars off the road during peak traffic season.

While millions in new revenues might sound like the solution to traffic and workforce housing, I favor doing all we can to lay the groundwork for putting more of the burden and risk on the private sector. I don’t believe we have done all we can to solve our community’s problems first before raising taxes on everyone. SPET puts the onus on elected officials to meticulously scope, plan, bid, price and budget housing projects and transportation proposals and then to put those proposals before the voters with transparent costs.

I would first look at limiting commissioners’ travel, budgeted at $32,900 a year. When there are people in need I don’t think those travel funds are appropriate. Furthermore, we should limit commissioners’ pay. It was never intended to be a full-time job. When people and critical services are in need, we must make sure that putting our community first isn’t just talk. I will hold public forums at which the community can give input on how best to tighten our belt. We have a strong, positive and smart community.

My focus is on increasing options for affordable rentals and partnering with the private sector. Priorities include purchasing land and updating to housing mitigation regulations. The county is leading by example: Seventyfive adults and 31 kids are living in 44 units at the Grove. In the current fiscal year we budgeted for 21 units of employee housing for Parks and Rec and $1.3 million for infrastructure so Habitat for Humanity can begin building 24 more units at the Grove.

Next summer WYDOT will begin work on improvements at the “Y” intersection.

We want those improvements to be based on data, so the county is helping to fund traffic modeling in partnership with WYDOT and the town of Jackson.

We need to continue to work to get our residents and visitors on the bus.

That means partnering with employers, improving our commuter service outside traditional hours, expanding routes to underserved areas of the valley, working with Grand Teton National Park to pilot a transit program and more.

The 1 percent sales tax is the most effective tool for implementing the Integrated Transportation Plan and the Housing Action Plan. I supported the resolution to commit those funds to affordable housing and transportation. I also supported the resolution to create a special revenue fund into which the funds from the tax will be deposited. I will continue to uphold the county’s history of transparency and accountability with budgeting. I am proud of my record of fiscal responsibility and financial sustainability.

Teton County has an excellent history of funding social services, including during the recent downturn. I will continue to prioritize these services. I will continue my work with commissioners from around the state and our legislators for funding and innovation in rural health care. We need to boldly address the mental health crisis in our state. We need to work together to ensure an efficient continuum of care. We need to continue focusing on prevention and early interventions to save money and, most importantly, to save lives.

county commissioners Continued from 8

to represent all of us,” Macker said at a recent candidates forum. “For me a community without working families isn’t a community, and we can’t let that happen in Teton County.”

Macker moved to Jackson Hole from Los Angeles in 2011. She and her husband, Thomas, live in Ho-

back and have one son, Alisdair.

Go online to MackerForWyo.com for details.

Candidates responded to the following questions: Housing: What will you do in next year to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

Transportation: What is the first initiative that you would work to put in action to ease traffic congestion?

Taxes: Do you support the 1 percent sales tax? If

Judd Grossman

f Town Council 3 36 Year Resident of Jackson.

3 Former Planning Commissioner.

3 Institute Workforce Housing Overlay.

3 Protect Open Space, Wildlife

3 Defeat General Tax Increase and

Habitat and Stable Neighborhoods.

Reinstate SPET.

votejudd.com

Our Children, Our COmmunity, Our Future “I believe in open lines of communication with a willingness to listen and an objective of moving forward.”

VOte

Flanagan

TCSD SCHOOL BOARD

Real Solutions, Not Expensive Lip Ser vice Paid for by Judd Grossman

yes, how can you ensure accountability with these funds? If no, how can SPET effectively address housing and transportation needs, as operational costs cannot be covered and other projects will also be competing for the money?

Social Services: How do you plan to continue to fund social services in the community with declining state revenues?

— Melissa Cassutt

320057

Paid for by Flanagan for TCSD

319512

10 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

St. John’s Medical Center Board of Trustees Five candidates (nonpartisan) Susan Crosser Dr. Joyce Frye Scott Gibson (incumbent) Dr. Bruce Hayse (incumbent) Cynthia Hogan (incumbent) Three seats on the seven-member board are up for election on the St. John’s Medical Center Board of Trustees. Five candidates are in the running — three incumbents and two challengers. The positions are fouryear terms, with new trustees sworn in in time for the December meeting.

While the three incumbents, Dr. Bruce Hayse, Cynthia Hogan and Scott Gibson, are running as a slate — a group of candidates aligned on a common platform — voters can cast a ballot for whichever three candidates they like best.

Wilson resident Susan Crosser and Dr. Joyce Frye, a retired OB/GYN, are also seeking seats on the board.

The Board of Trustees is a publicly elected board that oversees the public nonprofit hospital. St. John’s is expected to earn a net revenue of $110 million in fiscal year 2017. The hospital also receives about $4 million from district tax revenues, which contributes to nonoperating revenue.

Trustees meet publicly every month in the boardroom at St. John’s Medical Center. They are also seated on several committees that are closed to the public.

The four other members on the board are Chairman Michael Tennican, Vice Chairwoman Barbara Herz, Secretary Elizabeth Masek and Trustee Joe Albright.

Learn more about the board at TetonHospital.org/Board.

Susan Crosser

Susan Crosser is a retired certified public accountant who lives in Wilson.

She has been a resident of the valley since 1981.

She was a regular patient at St. John’s starting in the summer of 2010 until January of the following year. She has been a critic of the care she received and of how the hospital is governed, both of which drive her candidacy.

This is her second time running for a seat on the board. Crosser also applied for appointment to the board in 2015, but was not selected. She has run regular advertising in the Jackson Hole Daily for years, urging patients to seek cancer treatment outside of Jackson Hole.

Crosser, 59, said she isn’t against the hospital. Rather, she said, she is running to increase transparency on the board and to encourage the hospital to rein in the services it offers patients.

“I believe they’re constantly overreaching,” she said. “They’re constantly trying to say they’re a cancer center that can handle any cancer treatment — that’s totally wrong.”

Crosser can be reached at scrosser@ bresnan.net.

Dr. Joyce Frye

Dr. Joyce Frye is a retried OB/ GYN who earned her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree in 1978 from Des Moines University. She also holds a master of business administration from Saint Joseph’s University and a master of science in clinical epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Frye, 67, is board-certified in integrative medicine, and obstetrics and

gynecology. She led the gynecology department at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in West Philadelphia. Frye retired in 2013 from the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

She retired full time to Jackson in 2014 with her husband, though they have owned a home here since 2006.

She said she is running to become more involved in the community.

Frye said her medical background, combined with a fresh set of eyes and “coming in without an agenda,” will aid her success as a trustee.

“These are the skills and experiences that I have that I think could be most useful,” she said.

Learn more about Frye at Facebook. com/DrFryeWyo or by emailing drfrye@fusionmedicine.com.

Scott Gibson

The three incumbents announced early in the candidate filing period that they would be running on a “common platform for continuity of progress.”

Scott Gibson, 64, has been a fulltime Jackson resident for seven years.

His professional experience stems from the tech industry, though he also served on the Oregon Health and Science University governing board and foundation board for a decade prior to relocating to Wyoming.

Gibson was appointed to the board in 2011 and was elected in 2012. He is seeking re-election for his second term.

Gibson has been a supporter of the board’s current structure, calling the committees “farm teams” for potential board members. While committee meetings are not open to public, the trustees do appoint members of the public to the committees.

“I’ve used the term since we’ve started this, that we’re using a ‘farm team,’” Gibson said. “It’s an enormously great way to come up to speed on our hospital and the industry and, frankly, to see how well that person works with the team.

It’s been a terrific experience to create continuity.”

Dr. Bruce Hayse

Dr. Bruce Hayse, 67, is the candidate who has served on the board the longest, having first been elected in 2008. Hayse has been a family practitioner in Jackson Hole since the early ’80s. If re-elected, this will be his third term on the board.

“The hospital board was known for not working in a unified manner,” Hayse said of his early years on the board. “The hospital board was known for its difficult relationship with the medical staff. I think we’ve seen a 180-degree turnaround on that in the time that I’ve been on the board.

“It’s entirely a different group now than it ever was in the past,” he said. “I don’t think anybody on the board comes at issues with a personal ax to grind.”

Cynthia Hogan

Cynthia Hogan, 59, has been serving on the board since April 2015, when she was appointed to a vacancy left by Zach Hall’s early departure.

Hogan retired to Wilson from the East Coast in 2103 after spending more than 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry. She has served on several health care boards prior to her appointment.

Hogan, who served as the chairwoman of the search committee that See st john’s on 11

319509

GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 11

Three seats open; four-year terms

Crosser

Frye

Gibson

Hayse

Hogan

Services

Mental Health

Fiscal Responsibility

Transparency

This is my primary concern. For many aspects of health care you can only have a true level of competency because you have the necessary volume. The hospital will never have the volume to provide competent oncology services for cancer.

It should not be telling patients that it can replace qualified surgical and medical oncologists with general surgeons and a part-time oncologist. I worry that there may be similar situations where the doctors or hospital are overreaching to the detriment of patients.

We have multiple mental health agencies in the community with staff trained in this area. The hospital needs to serve only in a supporting role. It is not a rehab facility, nor is it a mental hospital.

If there are specific requests from the mental health agencies for assistance, they would need to be reviewed caseby-case to make certain the hospital should be involved.

I can give no assurance how the hospital assesses the cost versus benefit of all its components. In fact, I am concerned that the hospital may be unable to actually make such an assessment. How do they determine who should bear the burden of departments losing money? How do you weigh high drug costs for cancer patients while building a birthing center that was projected to lose money before it was built (2 percent growth rate disclosed, 6 percent rate used to calculate size)? Some areas always need support (ER, charity care, outreach), but we can only evaluate fiscal responsibility if we understand the costs.

Yes, I am in favor of differentiating those aspects of committee meetings that require closure by law from those sessions that do not. There should not be an “invitation only” aspect, nor should there be selective filtering. An elected board of a public agency should not be afraid to conduct its business with transparency. Part of that transparency would include information on costs and justification for programs or clinics that do not pay for themselves.

The World Health Organization definition of health: a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. St. John’s should not only provide health care but promote total health. Services it should offer are acute and trauma care, including nutrition and modalities known to expedite recovery, minimize rehospitalization, improve resilience and optimize quality of life until the end of life. What it can offer is limited only by imagination and funds. People should be encouraged to offer suggestions about services and to provide feedback about those that are initiated.

Mental health services in Jackson are offered by a patchwork of well-intentioned providers but without an overall structure that enables those in need and their loved ones to access services. In addition to triage and short-term crisis care the hospital could offer a mental health triage service that leads to longer term treatment, including of chemical dependency, through community providers. Better would be prevention; e.g., mindfulness training has been shown to facilitate pain management, employee and patient satisfaction in the hospital, healing in trauma survivors, and even classroom behavior in children.

Hospitals nationally are notoriously bad at accounting for the costs associated with an episode of care; the cost of having a baby is a recent example that can vary radically from one hospital to the next, in part because hospitals typically distribute indirect costs system-wide regardless of whether they were utilized for an individual patient. Utilizing and making public the results of a system such as Activity Based Cost accounting would allow the public to better evaluate the cost of a particular service line, whether it is being delivered as efficiently as possible, and its value to the community.

I served on a committee with the Department of Defense reviewing grant applications for alternative therapies in breast cancer research. The DoD mandated a community member on the group, in this case a breast cancer survivor. Her input was invaluable: For an acupuncture study she wanted to be sure needles would not be put in the edematous arm. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute requires that patients, providers and payers all be involved in developing protocols to compare the effectiveness of treatments. More than transparency, it is important that stakeholders are also members of hospital committees.

This is one of the most important questions for the St. John’s leadership and the Board of Trustees to get right. We want to offer the services demanded by our local community, if we can offer those services delivering very highquality outcomes and patient satisfaction. A great example of a new service line we offered recently is cardiology services (Dr. Ellen Gallant), which were demanded by our community. But we won’t offer interventional cardiology because our volumes would not be large enough to achieve high-quality outcomes.

This is a very key community problem.

St. John’s and our foundation have just launched a study questioning the top 40 people in the field in our community, including all the leaders of key service providers, to look at opportunities around the overall system of care for mental health. We are looking to see if more coordinated care could make a big difference in outcomes. Luckily, a generous anonymous donor is interested in funding this exploration process. Certainly St. John’s can’t, nor shouldn’t be, the complete answer in this arena, but we are committed to exploring how we can help with coordinated care solutions.

As citizen representatives, trustees give oversight to our CEO and executive team, and we try to faithfully represent all stakeholders (patients, staff, taxpayers, partners, non-employed physicians, insurance providers, etc.) fairly for balance and sustainability.

We report to the public about our work for two hours every month. The location and time of these meetings are published in advance in the News&Guide. We are moving forward with having these meetings broadcast over the web so we achieve greater reach to the public. We take our financial and quality outcomes seriously and see them going hand-in-hand – meaning one without the other is meaningless.

I support citizen involvement on all our committees, and I led the charge that added 13 citizens to committees or to serve as board advisors or task force members. We welcome contact from engaged citizens, especially with the time and experience to help.

That said, I think having committees like Human Resources, Quality and Safety, Finance and Strategy be entirely public would not be well advised. I believe it would slow progress, tamp down open discussion of ideas, concerns and initiatives. We recognize, however, that we have an obligation to report to the public on decisions that we are legally allowed to discuss, and we do so at the monthly board meetings.

The services offered have to be determined by community need for those services juxtaposed with the financial ability of the hospital to offer those services. The important factor is that St. John’s exists to provide support for the community and not for the sake of providing profits for shareholders. We must therefore be focused on those services that are of most value to the citizens of Teton County.

This community does have significant unmet mental health needs. I have been deeply involved in helping with those needs for the more than 30 years I have been practicing here. As such, I believe I have a good understanding of our mental health problems. It also seems clear that the hospital is the only entity capable of carrying a leadership role in this arena.

It is the job of every hospital board member to ensure responsible fiscal management. In the case of St John’s that means in particular that expenditures should be directed toward the good of the community. That includes providing services for those members of our community lacking in resources to obtain necessary services. During my tenure on the board the financial position of the hospital has improved markedly, yet we have managed to keep our charges below the Wyoming average.

I have always been in favor of as much public involvement as possible, subject to the constraints imposed by the nature of our business.

A healthy hospital is determined by its ability to deliver high-quality services and superior patient satisfaction. St. John’s achieved a 4-star quality rating from CMS, placing it in the top 20 percent of hospitals in the U.S. Multiple factors drive quality, including volume of procedures, technical skill required, trained support staff and up-to-date technology. Patient satisfaction is high. Satisfaction trends are reviewed quarterly, as is every written comment. As we explore new services we evaluate whether there is a need in the community and if we can deliver superior quality and patient satisfaction. Only then do we consider whether the service is financially sustainable.

We face an epidemic of addiction, alcoholism and depression across the U.S. Teton County is not immune and state budget cuts have hit resources. St. John’s already plays a role in mental health, through physicians treating patients and patients brought to the ER to detox. St. John’s Foundation is conducting stakeholder interviews, which will result in a report and a work group and an action plan. In the mental health space coordinated care is essential to a program’s success. St. John’s will continue to play a role in addressing mental health needs, but other experts, institutions, community volunteers and philanthropists will be needed to succeed.

This week, BKD, the independent auditors for St. John’s hospital and foundation, completed its annual review of the financial statements. It gave a clean opinion, which means that appropriate controls, processes and financial protocols are in place. The auditors spoke at foundation and hospital board meetings and were available for Q&A. Committees review potential investments (in equipment, programs, etc.), based on their area of expertise and make recommendations to the full board for approval. Finally, our annual budget is available for review. Of more than $100 million in annual net revenue, less than 4 percent of St. John’s revenue is from public funds

At the Community Foundation I was reminded that trustees should not interfere in operations, which are the responsibility of the CEO. The role of the board is to chose and support the CEO, lead strategy work, support philanthropy and ensure compliance with regs. Committees prepare work for the board. If we all prepared everything we would be in endless meetings.

Committees already have public representation, except those that deal with peer review, which by statute are confidential. In the public board meeting each committee chair should deliver a report of work completed. The public may pose questions, but no one does. Please ask questions. Get informed. Board meeting minutes are on the St. John’s website.

st john’s

Continued from 10

identified new CEO Dr. Paul Beaupre as a finalist for the position, said current board members have a good relationship with each other and the administration, something she feels is necessary to keep as Beaupre transitions into his role.

“I would hate to see that disappear, especially with Paul Beaupre coming on,” she said.

The three have promised to “focus on quality, ac-

cess and financial security” as Beaupre transitions into the hospital, as well as expand wellness and prevention initiatives in the community. They’ve also vowed to increase community engagement through quarterly events.

Gibson can be contacted at scott@ sgibsonenterprises.com. To learn more about Hayse, email bhayse@tetonhospital.org. Hogan can be reached at cynthia.hogan@me.com or by visiting CynthiaHogan.org.

Candidates were asked to share their position on

the following four questions, included in the grid that appears above.

Services: What services or treatments can the hospital offer and how should this be determined?

Mental Health: What role should St. John’s have in addressing mental health needs in the community?

Fiscal Responsibility: What assurance can you give that public funds are being spent responsibly?

Transparency: Would you be supportive of opening the board’s committees? Why or why not?

— Melissa Cassutt

12 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

NOVEMBER 8 2016 GENERAL ELECTION SAMPLE BALLOTS TH,

Names of candidates will be rotated on the official ballots and will not always appear in the order indicated in the sample ballots.

House District #16, Senate District #17:

*1-2 Mid East Jackson, 1-5 Mid-West Jackson, 1-6 Cottonwood Park, 1-8 East Jackson, 1-9 West Jackson

House District #23, S

1-1 South of Jackson, 1-3 Skyline/Hi-Country/Gros Ventre 2-1 Kelly/Moose/Airport, 3-1 Moran, 4-2 Moose/Wilso

GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 13

VOTE CENTER LOCATIONS:

There will be six locations open on Election Day, and you may vote at ANY one of those locations, regardless of where you live in Teton County. All Vote Centers will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

VOTE CENTER LOCATIONS:

TETON COUNTY LIBRARY 125 Virginian Ln, Jackson, WY TETON COUNTY/JACKSON RECREATION CENTER 155 E. Gill Ave., Jackson, WY OLD WILSON SCHOOLHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER 5655 Main St., Wilson, WY TETON COUNTY WEED & PEST BUILDING 7575 US-89, Jackson, WY ALTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 15 Alta School Rd., Alta, WY MORAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 501 Moran Ct., Moran, WY

Senate District #17:

Butte ,1-4 North Jackson , 1-7 Rafter J, 1-11 Indian Trails, on Rd, 4-4 Teton Village/Moose Wilson Rd, 5-1 Alta

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MARKING A BALLOT TO VOTE: FILL IN THE OVAL TO THE LEFT OF THE CANDIDATE/ PROPOSITION OF YOUR CHOICE.

USE ONLY THE SPECIAL PEN OR PENCIL PROVIDED IF YOU MAKE AN ERROR PLEASE RETURN YOUR BALLOT TO THE ELECTION OFFICIAL AND REQUEST A NEW BALLOT

House District #22, Senate District #16: 1-10 South Hoback, 4-1 Wilson South, 4-3 Wilson North

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14 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Wyoming House District 22 Two-year term Two candidates Rep. Marti Halverson (R) Marylee White (D) Wyoming House District 22 spans three counties: Lincoln, Sublette and Teton. The district includes Wilson and Hoback in Teton County and much larger, northern portions of Sublette and Lincoln counties.

Marti Halverson, a Republican from Etna, has held the seat since 2012. This year she faces challenger Marylee White, a Democrat from Wilson, in the general election on Nov. 8.

The winner will serve a two-year term.

Rep. Marti Halverson

Rep. Marti Halverson has been a Star Valley resident since 1996, but she is originally from the East Coast.

Halverson was born in New Britain, Connecticut, and attended Bradford College and Northwestern University.

She is retired from the durable medical device industry.

Halverson has served as the Lincoln County precinct committeewoman since 2000, and was elected Wyoming national committeewoman in

2012 and 2016.

She was voted into the Wyoming House of Representatives in 2012, after Democrat Jim Roscoe decided not to run for re-election. She was reelected in 2014.

Halverson served on the House Judiciary Committee and the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Law and Halverson Criminal Justice Committee in 2015 and 2016. During her first term she was a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee.

She opposes the expansion of Medicaid, saying states that have expanded have seen enrollment surpassing projections. She also is skeptical of the government’s tapering proposal, in which federal backing is expected to decrease incrementally to 90 percent by 2020.

“After 2017 their promise is vague,” Halverson states. “Medicaid expan-

sion is not good for Wyoming,” she wrote in a document on her position.

“There is no statutorily fixed source of federal money. The federal share can be cut or can end at any time. The feds have no legal obligation to Wyoming to pay their share.”

She supports the transfer of federal public lands to the state and the decriminalization of White medical marijuana.

More at MartiHalverson.com.

Marylee White

Fourth-generation Wyomingite Marylee White was born in Greybull and graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in journalism.

She has lived in Jackson Hole since 1983.

White worked for the Jackson Hole News in the ’80s, and then as a preschool teacher and for the nonprofit pARTners Jackson Hole. She is now the manager of the Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center and serves

as the volunteer coordinator for the Jackson Hole International Visitors Council.

She opposes the transfer of federal public lands to the state of Wyoming — an issue that spurred her to run for the seat.

“The biggest issue that absolutely compelled me into the race was the issue of the transfer of federal public lands to the state of Wyoming,” White said. “In my opinion, it’s surprising to me that legislatures would consider it and the Republican Party has it on their platform. I see it as a nonstarter.

I don’t believe there is a constitutional basis for the federal government ever turning federal lands to the state of Wyoming.”

She supports Medicaid expansion and the decriminalization of marijuana. She is also supportive of continuing to fund education despite declining state revenues, saying, “Education is the way out of this boom-bust cycle.”

White is married to Charlie Thomas, owner of Magpie Furniture. Their children, Yara and Sawyer, are both university students.

Visit White4WY.com.

— Melissa Cassutt

Bill Scarlett Teton County School District Trustee Student Success Academic Excellence Community Engagement Fiscal Responsibility

Scarlett for

Schools Paid for by Scarlett for Schools

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DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! Tuesday, November 8th

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GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 15

Teton Conservation District Two seats open; four-year term; one at-large, one urban seat Three candidates (nonpartisan) Thomas M. Campbell (at large) Bailey K. Schreiber (urban) Travis Ziehl (at large) At ballot booths Tuesday, Teton County residents will get to choose between a small-business owner and the president of an environmental consulting firm for one contested seat on the Teton Conservation District.

Travis Ziehl, who owns the fledgling company Jackson Hole Property Services, has thrown in his name for the district supervisor seat now occupied

by Tom Campbell, who is running for re-election. Campbell is the president of Biota Research and Consulting.

A Hoback Junction resident who has spent a dozen years in the valley, Ziehl worked until recently as the assistant supervisor for the Teton County Weed and Pest District, a publicly funded dis-

trict whose mission is to control noxious weeds and pests in Teton County, using environmentally sound practices, and to educate the public about the issue.

Ziehl’s new business is geared toward groundskeeping and caretaking work, but he has also fallen back on what he knows best.

“Basically I’m doing a lot of what I was doing at Weed and Pest, but on the private market,” Ziehl said.

The chance to provide oversight for the conservation district was compelling to Ziehl because of his interest in restoration ecology, energy efficiency and diminishing waste.

“As humans in this ecosystem,” Ziehl said, “I think it’s super important that if we’re making changes we’re either returning it back to normal or making it better through native species.”

Incumbent Campbell, who was unable to be reached for an interview, is a specialist in terrestrial and aquatic ecol-

ogy. He is a certified wildlife biologist and ecologist, according to a biography at BiotaResearch.com.

His 25-year consulting career has included raptor, sage grouse, big game, small mammal, reptile and amphibian research, and he has helped to author environmental baseline studies and impact assessments.

During the 2012 election Campbell beat former supervisor Tom Breen to take his seat.

Bailey Schreiber, an attorney for Holland & Hart, is running unopposed to retain her “urban” seat on the Conservation District’s board, a slot that must be occupied by a resident of the incorporated town of Jackson.

The Teton Conservation District is funded by 1 mill of property tax that has been in place since 1999. That mill equals about $38 on a $400,000 property in Teton County.

The district’s board of supervi-

sors makes decisions that influence a staff of five: Executive Director Tom Segerstrom, Administrative Manager Emily Hagedorn, Land Resource Specialist Robb Sgroi, Water Resource Specialist Carlin Girard and GIS/Wildlife Specialist Morgan Graham.

Major ongoing projects the district is engaged in, Segerstrom said, include the study and mitigation of nutrient pollution in Fish Creek, study and mitigation of winter flooding in Flat Creek, creating defensible space for wildfire on private lands and mapping septic systems all around the county.

Openings on the Teton Conservation District’s seven-member board are staggered, with three more seats scheduled to open up in the 2018 election season. They are now occupied by Sandy Shuptrine, Dave Adams and Bob Lucas.

— Mike Koshmrl

Constitutional Amendment A Should the Legislature invest more funds in the stock market?

The Wyoming Constitution allows the state Legislature to invest certain funds — money set aside for the state’s public employee retirement system and permanent state funds — in stocks or shares in private or public companies.

It does not, however, allow the state to invest any other funds in the same manner.

Adoption of Amendment A would allow the Legislature, with a two-thirds vote of the members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, to authorize the investment of additional state funds in equities.

Passage of the amendment would allow investment of the pooled funds in the Budget Reserve Account, the Legislative Stabilization Reserve “rainy day” account, capital construction school operating funds, water development accounts, spending policy reserve accounts for the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund and Common School Land Fund, and revenues from the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Game and Fish Department.

Proponents of the amendment say the state has over $19 billion of potential investment capital. By

Ballot Language Currently, the Wyoming Constitution allows the legislature to authorize the investment of public employee retirement systems funds and permanent state funds in equities, such as stock or shares in private or public companies. Permanent funds of the state include funds designated as permanent funds by the Constitution. The Wyoming Constitution does not allow the state to invest any other funds in equities. The adoption of this amendment would allow the legislature, by two-thirds vote of the members of both houses, to authorize the investment of additional specified state funds in equities. not investing that money, especially when the state is in such dire financial straits, the state is missing an opportunity to make up ground, they say.

“A good investor knows that a diversified investment portfolio is key to economic success,” Wyoming Treasurer Mark Gordon wrote in a statement released by Vote Yay for Amendment A. “This includes investment into equities.

“Amendment A would allow for the investment of a fraction of the state’s nonpermanent funds,”

Gordon wrote, “but only with a two-thirds vote by the Legislature. The permanent funds currently earn money for Wyoming from the equities they are invested in.

“These permanent funds are performing three times better than the nonpermanent funds that live under the constitutional restriction that is in place at this time,” he wrote.

Opponents of the amendment suggest the risk of investment is too high.

“What happens if millions set aside for construction projects or the nearly $2 billion in the rainy day accounts were suddenly reduced by 20 to 40 percent?” Wyoming State President Phil Nicholas and House Speaker Kermit Brown asked in a statement. “How would the funds be made up, and by whom? These protected pooled funds stabilize our budgets in times of need. We taxpayers have no way to make up capital losses to our liquid savings accounts.”

To be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot the amendment needed a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the state Legislature. The Senate approved the amendment 28 to 1. The House of Representatives approved the measure 50 to 9.

— John Spina

Senate District 16 Four-year term Two candidates Richard Kusaba (D) Sen. Dan Dockstader (R) Richard Kusaba doesn’t pretend he’s going to unseat incumbent Wyoming Sen. Dan Dockstader, and his campaigning has been minimal. But he’s running because he thinks “it’s nice to have a Democratic name on the ballot” and he wants to make a couple of points.

Kusaba is a 50-year-old surveyor from Kemmerer, at the far southern end of District 16, which is mostly Star Valley but includes the South Hoback, Wilson South and Wilson North precincts.

He served on the state party’s platform committee and describes himself

as “a Roosevelt Democrat” with a bit of “LBJ War on Poverty and Great Society” influence: “I think government has a positive role to play in this world,” he said.

Two points Kusaba makes about what he thinks is important for Wyoming’s future: “Public lands in public hands,” he said of the continuing debate about Dockstader state control of federal lands.

“Noises about Wyoming trying to take over federal lands in Wyoming are simply that, noises,” he said. “We’re a

small state with a small population, and handling federal lands is a big job.”

On energy, Kusaba said, “We need to diversify the economy here.

“We’ve got a lot of wind here, and rather than just bringing in the turbines let’s bring in the manufacturers of the turbines, educate the workforce and go that way.”

Kusaba was Kusaba raised in Nebraska and Tennessee, lived in Boston and moved to Kemmerer, where his grandparents lived, in 1997.

Incumbent Dan Dockstader is a

conservative Republican and a Mormon in a district where those things are the dominant demographics. He was first elected in 2008 after serving a term in the Wyoming House. Without a Democrat challenger Dockstader was re-elected in 2012 with 98.1 percent of the vote. He previously served a term in the state House, and was a delegate this year to the Republican National Convention.

In the past session Dockstader served on the Education Committee and the Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee.

Dockstader, 58, is publisher of the Star Valley Independent and a radio broadcaster. He is married, with four children and one grandchild.

— Mark Huffman

EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT! so make yours matter on November 8th

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16 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Teton County School District No. 1 Nine candidates, nonpartisan Annie Band Curt Behle Betsy Carlin Emily E. Flanagan Nick Grenoble Carlyn Hunter Kate Mead (incumbent) Patricia A. Russell (incumbent) Bill Scarlett The Teton County School District No. 1 board of trustees race this year is boisterous, with nine candidates running for four positions on the board.

School district trustees are volunteers and are not paid. Current board members say trustees can expect a five- to 10-hour commitment each week, sometimes more.

The four open seats of the sevenmember board are now held by Syd Elliott, Robbi Farrow, Kate Mead and Patricia Russell. Only Mead and Russell are running for re-election. All seats are four-year terms.

The formation of a slate consisting of Annie Band, Betsy Carlin, Nick Grenoble and Carlyn Hunter shook up the race this year. A slate is a group of candidates running on a common platform in multi-seat elections.

That doesn’t mean that a vote for one is a vote for all or that it is necessary to vote for Band, Carlin, Grenoble and Hunter as a package deal. Voters will be allowed to choose four individual candidates to fill four school board positions in November, regardless of whether they are members of the slate.

The slate’s identification as progressive caused some backlash.

Some members of the community are worried about people with potential partisan leanings sweeping onto the board as a majority vote.

Members of the slate have denied those statements, saying they are nonpartisan individuals who simply want to model collaboration.

Some of the major issues the school board is facing now are budget priorities in a time when tough financial decisions are affecting education at the state level, the inclusion of the Latino community into the school district, the grade reconfiguration of Jackson and Colter elementary schools and the construction of the new Munger Mountain Elementary School south of town.

Detailed information can be found in a video of the school board candidates forum. Go online to JHNewsAndGuide.com/multimedia or TCLib.org/vote.

Annie Band

After attending graduate school at the University of Montana and studying bats in the neotropics, Annie Band moved to Jackson full time in 1988 to work as a naturalist. She taught at Teton Science Schools in Kelly until 2006.

After her son — now an eighthgrader at the middle school — was born, Band began shifting to the jewelry design small-business career she is running now. She said her decision to become more closely involved with the school board began last spring during the controversy over the invitation to have Shelly Donahue speak at local schools.

Band has said Donahue’s abstinence-only sex-ed program has “been extensively reviewed and was found to be ineffective, to obtain blatant scientific misinformation, harmful gender stereotyping and shaming language.” Band would like to see data-driven decisions that build consensus.

“In [the] future my hope is that the school board will be far more collaborative and transparent in their decision-making process,” Band told the News&Guide. “Whether the issue is school siting, curriculum changes, reconfiguration or other, open communication with the community and district itself is absolutely critical.”

Curt Behle

Curt Behle, a resident of Alta, is originally from Southern California and has lived in Wyoming since 2014. He has worked as an information technology manager at Zions Bank and as a senior manager at Qualcomm in San Diego. His mother was a K-6 grade teacher in Orange County, California, for 40 years. He has three children in the district.

Behle cited increasing geographic diversity as one of his primary reasons for running.

“Being involved with parents over here, I’ve noticed that we have lacked overall representation because we are such a small portion of the district,” Behle said of the Alta enclave. “We have a little bit of a different culture than the Jacksonproper area over here.”

Behle said he brings a variety of ideas to the table, including the importance of integrating technology and education.

“I’m passionate about protecting the integrity and the culture of our unique area while also bringing in insight from other areas,” he said.

“Seeing what’s happening in some of the larger cities across the country can give us insight into some of the things we can improve on or may be coming here.”

Betsy Carlin

Betsy Carlin owns EC Consulting, specializing in early childhood care and education. She has a master’s degree in early childhood education with a focus on advocacy and policy. Before moving to Jackson in 1989 she was a kindergarten teacher for two years.

“I’ve dedicated my professional life to supporting children and families in the field of early childhood education,” she said. “I just want to support my community with my expertise and knowledge. I always assume positive intent — it’s just who I am — so I think I’ll add a grounded perspective to the board as I hope we move forward in a positive direction.”

Carlin has a daughter in fifth grade at Wilson Elementary School.

She says her extensive board experience at the local, state and national levels prepared her well for a position on the Teton County school board. Carlin said that she is passionate about anti-bias in education and that inclusivity will be a large part of her platform.

“I’ll make decisions that lift students and families up rather than marginalizing them or creating separate groups of people,” she said.

Emily Flanagan

Emily Flanagan is co-president of the Parent Teacher Organization and was the president last year as well.

She is a Jackson native with children ages 6, 8 and 10 at Davey Jackson and Colter elementary schools.

“I have kids in the district, and their education is of the utmost importance to me,” she said. “I’m taking a vested interest in their future.”

While campaigning Flanagan said, “You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who is going to care as much as I do.”

Flanagan’s mother is a teacher, first at the kindergarten level and

now as the music teacher at Jackson Elementary School.

“Between all of us we have 58 years in the Teton County School District — and that matters a lot,” Flanagan said. “There’s a sense of tradition and a sense of community that I take a lot of pride in.”

Flanagan speaks frequently about having good relationships with teachers and walking the halls of the schools as the PTO co-president, suggesting she would bring their insight and perspective to the board.

Nick Grenoble

Nick Grenoble, the director of Teton Educational Services, came to Jackson from a full-time teaching position in South America.

Grenoble believed that some of the resources available to larger communities were lacking in Teton County, and that students weren’t competing on a global scale for admissions to college and job opportunities.

The desire to “provide access to the same level of resources that I was accustomed to growing up in the Boston area in a formalized structure” nudged him, he said, to found Teton Educational Services in 2011.

He is also the coordinator of college preparatory services through Teton County Library.

“I believe it takes a community to educate a child,” Grenoble said.

“One of the strengths of Jackson is how well organizations collaborate.”

Grenoble says his priorities include promoting teacher empowerment, ensuring that science-based curriculums are used for health and sex education, monitoring the effective and responsible use of technology implementation in the schools, and making sure graduates enter the world equipped for an evolving economy. He is also passionate about translating test prep materials into Spanish.

Carlyn Hunter

Carlyn Hunter said she decided to run for the school board “because I hope one day that my grandchildren will live in Jackson Hole and attend the public schools here. So now is the time for me to act by participating in the process of making sure that for every dollar spent on the school system each child is given the best education possible.”

Hunter has called Jackson “a small community with incredible teachers and resources with an already excellent school system that needs fresh eyes and somewhat of a different perspective in order to move forward in a positive way.”

She cites “openness and clarity” as being important in the future.

Hunter said she believes in trust, integrity and collaboration as key components to her platform, as well as the platform of the slate.

Hunter has two children: a daughter in the MD/MBA program at Stanford University and a son who works in finance in Hong Kong.

She said she “knows what it takes to get children through the system onto successful, happy careers” and is a proponent of helping children become “change makers” and contributors in society.

Kate Mead

Incumbent Kate Mead, who is seeking a third term on the school board, is a civil litigation lawyer and the managing partner at Mead & Mead Law Services. She is also a partner in the Mead family ranch in Spring Gulch.

Before coming to Jackson, Mead taught English at a boarding school

in Maine and coached multiple sports. She says she wants to pay forward the dividends of her own education to the students of Teton County.

“Education can make an incredible difference in our lives,” she said.

Mead thinks consistency is key.

“One of the reasons our schools have improved dramatically is because we’ve had consistent leadership,” Mead said. “Our board has accomplished a great many things.”

She listed things such as implementing later start times for high schoolers based on research, and having the highest ACT scores in the state as examples of collaboration. She supports Munger Mountain Elementary School, calling it “dynamite location.”

Mead also touted her drive and her involvement in the valley.

“We’re stickers,” she said. “We’re going to be here a long time, the Mead family.”

Patricia Russell

Incumbent Patricia Russell earned her Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and moved to Jackson in 2008.

Russell is in her second term on the Teton County Planning Commission and has been a member of the Teton County Education Foundation volunteer board for three years.

After running for school board in 2012 Russell was elected interim chairwoman in October 2014 and has been elected two more times to the position.

Russell believes experience is key.

“I would be very concerned about how the board would be run with four new trustees,” Russell said. “There’s a steep learning curve on the school board. It really is advantageous for the district to have people who understand why decisions were made and why we have the new school and the reconfiguration.”

Russell is proud of the district’s accomplishments during her tenure on the board, including the Munger Mountain Elementary School. She and Trustee Keith Gingery were the only two trustees to vote for a dualimmersion, English-Spanish school to be considered as part of the reconfiguration process this spring.

Bill Scarlett

Bill Scarlett is a Jackson Hole High School graduate who worked at Jackson State Bank for more than 15 years before moving to Wells Fargo. He now works in entrepreneurial investing and believes he will bring finance and budget expertise to the table.

“We need someone on the board with a sharp pencil to figure out where to go,” Scarlett said. “Especially with the potential of statelevel cuts to education budgets.

“Throwing money at things isn’t always a solution,” he said. “Sometimes it makes the problems worse.”

With two elementary-school-age children, both in the district’s dualimmersion program, Scarlett said he wants to see the school district continue to improve its curriculum across all grades and reconsider creating a separate dual-immersion school during the reconfiguration process.

Scarlett said he noticed his kids struggling with some aspects of the new curriculum, and he believes all curriculum choices should be made at the local level, not in Cheyenne or Washington, D.C. — Kylie Mohr

GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 17

Four seats open; four-year terms; nonpartisan

Band

Budget Priorities

Latino Integration

Standardized Testing

First-Year Action Items

The school board’s purpose in reviewing the budget is to fully align school budget with mission, and without a comprehensive discussion with our experts weighing in I could not say what specific cuts or new investments should be made. The process should involve teachers, staff and community, and will make clear what programs or expenditures are not advancing the mission. Those can then be cut and new initiatives considered.

English as a Second Language and diversity must be embraced as an asset in our schools, or a culture of acceptance and blended learning will not be able to take root. Disenfranchisement of students is the cause of suffering and poor learning that ends up affecting all students. Working with our Latino community mobilizers to create regular forums would be a first step.

Research shows standardized tests are not particularly meaningful. In order to get an accurate picture of our students’ true level of achievement, ability to think critically and master content, we must change our metrics.

I do see movement in this direction, and changes must be undertaken with considerable discussion and collaboration with the district staff.

Board professional development and process review is needed. Lateral systems of leadership can deeply engage teachers and staff and fully utilize their expertise. Standardized testing as the primary metric for achievement is problematic. If we want our kids to be highly competitive on the national level, we must consider what high-performing districts are doing.

With budget challenges in Wyoming imminent, I would never be in favor of cutting any core academics and then arts, sciences and finally sports for any level of learning. Cuts would start with any program outside of the mentioned areas. To accommodate other programs that greatly impact the core learning areas leaves you with a mediocre effort.

Integrating any culture like the Latino culture must be at their comfort level.

The Latino culture has a deep-rooted culture around family, work and values.

We must educate ourselves more about their culture and they around ours. The relationships and integration will grow with time. We must be patient, open and thoughtful.

I support standardized testing because it is the way that we are measuring our progress or levels. The experience for the kids and the teachers is, however, stressful with it being a buildup that overshadows true all-around performance. Staying connected and excelling with the standards while improving on the experience for our teachers and children is needed.

I plan on putting on the agenda what is important from the students, teachers and community. What is important today may not be in a few months when I would be on the board. I am fully committed to their needs over my own.

Today it is to support those that are in those roles.

In my experience the place to start to trim budgets is through natural attrition, carefully examining every position as it opens. With over 80 percent of the Teton County School District budget in salaries, this is a practice I would support. Recognizing school principals are the experts on their specific school needs, I would fight to preserve their requested and justified budget priorities.

The only way to integrate Latino families into the school community is by building relationships. Traditionally, schools ask families to participate in activities such as family nights or even conferences based on school terms.

Schools must look beyond participation to engagement, building respectful two-way relationships that open opportunities for a shared awareness of both the home and school culture.

Standardized tests are a reality of our current educational system and one type of assessment tool used to show how students are progressing toward the learning goals set forth by the Wyoming State Standards. More important are the ongoing assessment practices teachers use throughout the year to drive how they creatively develop and use curriculum to meet the needs of students.

I am not running for a position on the school board with the intent of putting specific action items on the agenda.

During my first year I hope to quickly develop an understanding of the board process and to fully participate so our district continually improves and becomes a premier education system where all children reach their full potential.

I’d like to see the budget. Candidates are at a disadvantage to current board members in that we don’t have some of the same information. As a PTO board member I know that there are some basic needs not being met in the classroom, yet other spending is happening that seems unnecessary.

We have also had recent changes in the business and finance department in the district. I would like to have more information.

There are community mobilizers that have already been trained and put into action for early childhood education and awareness. We need to utilize the people we already have in place to benefit the district in more ways.

I think they are a necessary component in our current education system.

We are lucky to have so many teachers that recognize, however, that a test score isn’t necessarily indicative of the child’s true knowledge.

We need to readdress the reconfiguration timeline. It isn’t in the best interest of the district to move ahead in time for the 2017-18 school year.

My priority will always be the classroom experience. I would need to consult administrators when looking for areas to reduce spending. One idea to reduce the pressure on our teachers and the budget is to recruit community members to teach elective classes. My favorite class in high school was a Law in Society class taught pro bono by a local attorney.

First, we need to hire more Latino staff.

Our schools must have an adequate number of staffers who are fluent in Spanish and not assume that written communication is sufficient. When planning events it is important to consider the needs of these families.

We can remove some of the barriers by scheduling events late in the evening and offering free on-site child care or conducting outreach.

I believe that standardized testing is overemphasized, but we must prepare students to succeed in the system that exists. As a test prep instructor I see both the benefits and the harm of standardized testing.

Targeted instruction reaps significant advantages. That is why I offer free ACT prep courses through Teton County Library and as part of Jackson Hole High School’s College and Career Ready curriculum.

Explore options for a full-size gym at Munger Mountain Elementary; discuss ways to allow all students to participate in extracurricular activities without overburdening the school district; debate the benefits and implications of a 100 percent dual-immersion elementary school; collaborate with community partners to enhance after-school options; and engage in a community discussion about where our next elementary school should be located.

I need to see what we are spending in every area and seek input from the financial experts and all stakeholders to see what changes we need to make.

Where there is waste and where there is need. We must have health counselors and college counselors.

The arts are my passion. Let’s work together.

The best way to reach out to the Latino population is where they congregate — every Sunday in the fall and spring at the soccer fields. Another way would be through connecting with the library and Children’s Learning Center.

Each of us here in Jackson knows or has connections to Latinos in some way. If we each reach out and engage with the people we know our joint outreach will have impact.

It’s about caring for what you are doing, not performing to please an admissions game. Harvard advocates kindness rather than overachieving, accepting only children who have been risktakers and demonstrated leadership and empathy. There is an ever-growing number (800 at present in the U.S.) of colleges that do not require SAT/ ACT. Changing times. The scholarship programs must set new parameters, too.

No agenda. I’m just going to work with teachers, parents, the administration and all stakeholders. We will plan for the future together.

Behle

Carlin

Flanagan

Grenoble

Hunter

LIVE LOCAL

ELECTION

RESULTS Tuesday, November 8th JHNewsAndGuide.com

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18 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Teton County School District No. 1 Four seats open; four-year terms; nonpartisan Budget Priorities

Latino Integration

Standardized Testing

1st Year Action Items

My budget priorities are to keep any cuts far from the classroom. That means maintaining staffing and our focus on academic achievement. The areas we can cut are field trips and activities that are not essential to our mission. Since our student population is increasing, our cuts will be small compared to other schools in Wyoming.

Specifically, more district outreach to parents of kindergarten age children.

Latino parents want to help their children succeed as much as any other parent. A designated staff member to work with these families is critical.

Expanded after-school programs and expanded summer programs are also important to get Latino families involved.

I support standardized testing so that we know how we are doing as compared to other schools in our state and nation. Unfortunately, PAWS, the state test for the lower grades, has been changing every year. Every junior takes the ACT in Wyoming, which helps us to gauge our work. Teton County ranks at the top of the state.

For the coming year I will put on the agenda after-school programs for K-5 in every school until, say, 5:30 p.m. Kids would stay in the school buildings at the end of the day and have opportunities for enrichment activities as well as access to extra academic help. The Teton County School District has the facilities and the staff. Funding sources and collaboration with nonprofits will be essential.

I would not reduce staff salaries. Our students deserve the highest-quality staff. Administration should recommend areas to reduce that minimize the impact on students. I will advocate for the Education Foundation to raise funds to continue the high quality of services for our students. My philosophy is to affect the kids as least as possible.

Continual invitations and focus on integrating all students and families, as well as community groups in the schools, is a top priority. Through partnerships with community resources and through offering a wide range of opportunities for inclusion, we will have a solid, communitywide team to support all kids.

Standardized testing is a necessary process because it is used for many things. Wyoming uses the ACT for its accountability measures, and colleges use standardized testing for admissions. As with anything, practice helps produce better results, so while I do not like how much time it takes away from the learning process, I support it.

Since I have no specific agenda I will support whatever is appropriate on our agenda to focus on what is best for kids. It’s important to work as a team to best serve our kids. However, one area I would like to re-examine is a dual immersion school. While we want neighborhood schools, I would like to explore some kind of hybrid structure.

It is the superintendent’s responsibility to create and present a budget to the board. Protecting salaries and benefits should be the priority. As for cuts, I would look to the superintendent’s staff to make their recommendations.

I would carefully review those recommendations in order to minimize negative results.

I want both Latino and non-Latino families to be more involved with their children’s education. However, involvement comes with a parent’s desire and ability to make the time to be involved. The schools should continue to provide multiple forms of communication in both Spanish and English, giving families sufficient notice of events and meetings.

The schools need objective ways to assess student and teacher successes and weaknesses. Additionally, these standardized tests are required to monitor our schools’ requirement to meet the state standards.

Immediately, I want to discuss the current timeline of the reconfiguring process. Additionally, with the state of Wyoming now facing additional funding shortfalls, I would urge an analysis of the Teton County School District’s next budget reflecting a minimum 2 percent reduction in the 2017-18 revenues.

Mead

Russell

Scarlett

Mike Gierau

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

"An Effective Voice for Teton County" Owner of Jedediah Corporation since 1980

www.electmikegierau.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect Mike Gierau 319628

GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 19

WE AGREE - VOTE TO KEEP

“We suppor t Natalia bec ause of her p track reco roven rd of puttin g o ur commu first. We n nity eed her lead ership.”

- Bruce & Ca rolynn Hawt in

t me. She n e s e r p e r o t lia Macker a t a N rd calls. t a s h u e h “I tr t d makes n a k r o w e a leader.” ’s e h S . d puts in th e e’s balanc h S . r nn Petroff i A a f h t u R .

She’s p - Re “We grew u p here, and w e know Natalia is co mmitted t o action fo r Teton Cou nty’s futu re. We need her. The com munity need s her. The next gene ration nee ds her.”

- Cady Cox & Kyle Fleming

“Natalia Ma cker is work ing hard f everyone or in Teton Cou n t y.”

- Carmina O aks, commu nity leader

kills & s e h t s a h “Natalia munity. m o c r u o d e to lea c n e i r e p l role of a ex c i t i r c e tands th l She unders tions & wil a iz n a g r o service ported.” our human p u s e r a y the make sure wartz h c S y d n A - Rep. er unty Former Co

n Commissio

paid for by Macker for Wyoming 319873

www.mackerforwyo.com | Facebook.com/mackerforwyo

20 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Inve st i n a s t ro n g e r a n d bet t er fu tu r e fo r Jac ks o n H o le by vot in g FOR th e 1% Ge n e ra l Rev e n u e S a l e s Ta x b y N ov e m be r 8 t h.

VOTE FOR

AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRANSPORTATION CHOICES

THANK YOU for your endorsement and support!

Jill & Reed Armijo Mickey Babcock Annie Band & Jon Hunt Martina Bello Craig Benjamin Larry Berlin Abbie Bilotta Melinda Binks & Greg Miles Jan and Larry Birenbaum Katherine Brady Mike Brennan Frank Brummer Amy & Bomber Bryan Rose Caiazzo Phil Cameron Betsy Campbell Tom Campbell Brenna Cannon Betsy Carlin & Becky Watson John Carney Sarah & Andy Cavallaro Jessica Sell Chambers Geneva Chong Ken Cohen Natalie Connell Carter Cox Anne & Randall Cresswell Jamie Crowley Domenic Cuzzolina Paul D’Amours Yves Desgouttes Kurt Dubbe Stephen Dynia Chris Erickson Mary Cobb Erickson Cathie Evans Julie & Matt Faupel Christina Feuz Jean and Dick Ferguson Sara Flitner & Bill Wotkyns Don Frank Scott Garland

Kate Gersh Peggy Gilday Mike Gireau Chris Gnaedinger Amy & Jeff Golightly Karyn Greenwood Paul Hansen Leslye & David Hardie Bob Hartman Charisse Haws Carolynn & Bruce Hawtin Lin Heffner Bonnie & Mark Hershberger Melanie & Frank Hess Shawn Hill Lannie Hoglund Rick Hollingsworth Scott Horn Mandy & James Howell Nancy Hughes & Joaquin Hanson Hal Hutchinson The Johnson Family Arne Jorgensen Patrice Kangas Nikki Kaufman Christina Kitchen Jack Koehler Nicole Krieger & Chris Moll Gina & Ted Kyle Carrie Kruse Andrea La Fevers Anne Ladd & Len Carlman Bill Leake Mira Lee & Greg Epstein Rich Lee Allison Lenz & David Vandenberg Robbin Levy Lokey Lytjen & Bill Collins Natalia D. Macker Steve Markason Mike May Brendan McDermott

Brett McPeak Dawn Meserole Amy & Casey Morton Hailey Morton Levinson & Nate Levinson Carolyn & Jim Little Jr. Alexander Lopez-Wilson Betsy Mollinet KJ Morris Gale Armstrong Moses Jim Moses Chris Moulder Pete Muldoon Anne Muller Katy Niner Alli Noland April Norton Nancy & Bob Norton Brandie & Mel Orchard Don Opatrny Heather Overholser J. Scott Page Kelly Park Ernie Patterson Francesca Paulucci-Rice Erika Pearsall and Ned Jannotta Carl Pelletier Leslie Peterson & Hank Phibbs T. R. Pierce Jeff Potter Thomas E. Ralston Bettie & Reynolds Pomeroy Liz Storer & Luther Propst Aaron Pruzan Ben Read Rosie & Shelby Read Smokey & Chuck Rhea Cindy Riegel Annie & Travis Riddell Frederick Reimers Rebecca Reimers Jonathan Schechter

Skye Schell Maggie & Brian Schilling Brendan Schulte Andy Schwartz Cheryl & Bill Schwartz Mark Sullivan Sandy Shuptrine Shannon Shuptrine & Ben Ellis Brian Siegfried Tyson Slater Beverly Smith Dan Smitherman Mary Speyer Jim Stanford Carson Stanwood Kim Stertzer Ryan Stolp Phoebe Stoner Frances Tessler Karen Terra & Bob Graham Shirley Thomas Stephanie Thomas Alexander Tilen Melissa Turley Richard Uhl Amy & Steve Unfried Joni Upsher Jim Verdone David Viehman Lynne Wagner Christine Walker Mike Wardell Nancy Weeks Andy Weenig Diana & Mike Welch Stefani & David Wells Bill Wiley Lance Windey Marisa Wilson Libby Crews Wood & Peter Wood Debra Wuersch Tim Young

cpcjh.org paid for by the Community Pr ior ities Coalition

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GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 21

r o f E T VO

U.S. House of Representatives Two-year term Four candidates Elizabeth Cheney (R) Ryan Greene (D) Lawrence Struempf (L) Daniel Clyde Cummings (C) Four candidates are running to replace U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis as Wyoming’s sole member of the U.S. House of Representatives, though two have dominated the discussion.

Wilson resident Elizabeth Cheney defeated eight opponents in the Republican primary to become the party’s nominee. She has built her campaign on a pro-coal, anti-Obama platform.

If elected she hopes to repeal the clean-power plan, reel back federal regulations and provide more power to the state to control environmental regulation, including the transfer of federal lands into state hands.

In doing so she believes she can help bring coal back from its recent decline.

“Our economy was built on reliable, affordable energy,” states her website, CheneyforWyoming.com. “Generating real economic growth and bringing jobs back begins with relieving our energy industry of the job-crushing burden of unnecessary federal regulation.”

She has also derided the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, and tax increases under the Obama administration.

“Obamacare is built on expanded federal spending, additional unconstitutional regulations, coercion and increased taxes, and now everyday citizens, business owners and our seniors are the ones left footing the bill,” Cheney said. “Instead of more federal regulation, special interest giveaways and subsidies, our health care system needs an infusion of market-based principles and tort reform.”

Cheney began her career in politics as the deputy assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs and worked for several national campaigns, including those of President George H.W. Bush and her father, Dick Cheney.

Her experience at the national level, she said, separates her from her opponents and gives Wyoming the best chance for effective representation in the House of Representatives with only one out of 435 seats.

“It’s a combination of understanding federal bureaucracies and national leadership,” she said. “I’m the only candidate with experience building a national coalition. … I’m the only candidate who has seen these federal bureaucracies work from the inside. … I’m the only candidate with a track record of standing up for tough issues knowing that there will be harsh national criticisms.”

Her experience, however, also gives Cheney’s critics much of their ammo.

She was born in Wisconsin and attended part of sixth and seventh grade in Casper while her father campaigned for the same seat in the House of Representatives she now seeks. The family then split time between Casper and Washington, D.C., following her father’s election to Congress.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Colorado College and a law degree from the University of Chicago.

Cheney’s top opponent, Democrat Ryan Greene, is Wyoming through and through. He was raised in Casper, attended Wyoming Community College and earned a business degree from Western International University.

Following graduation he worked in his family’s Rock Springs energy services company for 18 years, starting as a welder and working his way up to operations manager.

“I’m running as a Wyoming Democrat,” he often says, “not a New York Democrat or a California Democrat.”

He doesn’t agree with all of the Obama administration’s policies, but

he views most as legislation that can be built upon and improved.

For example, while Cheney wants to repeal Obamacare and replace it with a new free-market program, Greene believes changes can be made to make it more efficient and financially amenable.

Greene supports both the coal and oil industries but thinks the state needs to diversify its economy, both inside the energy sector and out. By investing in renewable energy, along with coal and oil, Greene believes the state can continue to be the country’s main source of energy for years to come.

“Wyoming’s energy industry has been good to so many Wyoming families, including mine,” Greene said on his website, RyanGreene16.com. “But we can’t expect one industry to carry all of the burden all of the time. We need to diversify Wyoming’s economy inside and outside of the energy industry.”

By incentivizing major corporations to move to the tax friendly state, he believes Wyoming can avoid the boom and bust cycles of the coal and oil industries, create regional development programs that partner local, federal and state governments to support small businesses with infrastructure and technology improvements, and attract new, large companies to operate in the tax-friendly state.

He is strongly against the idea of the federal land transfer, citing issues of legality, the record of states selling of public lands and, most importantly, the massive financial burden that could bankrupt the state and lead to poor management of the public lands in Wyoming.

Besides the clear policy differences, Greene is the most vocal about his ability to work with both sides of the aisle, something he said Cheney is incapable of doing thanks to her deep-seated opposition of Democrats.

“Cheney is running for Congress through Wyoming, not for Wyoming.”

Greene said. “I’m running to push Wyoming issues. I don’t care if I’m working with a Democrat, a Republican or with an Independent, as long as we are progressing Wyoming issues. Legislative solutions come from working together.

[Cheney] won’t do that.”

The final two candidates in the race represent independent parties. Lawrence Struempf is running on the Libertarian ticket. Daniel Clyde Cummings is running as a member of the Constitutional Party.

Cummings was born and raised in Salt Lake City and received his doctorate from the University of Utah. He has served in the House of Delegates of three state medical associations and sat on the board of trustees for one. He also served in many lay ministerial assignments in his church and did a twoand-a-half-year mission. His website is Cummings4Congress.com.

As a Wyoming Libertarian, Struempf believes in less government and more liberties, less federal and more state control of local resources.

He was raised on a cattle ranch in Fremont County, where he grew up working. He graduated from the University of Wyoming and raised his family here. He is an active Cowboy Joe member as well as an NRA member.

He has worked a variety of jobs — from construction and heavy equipment operator to driving semis. After earning his bachelor’s degree he worked as a network/systems engineer and project manager and started and managed his own corporation, Rocky Mountain Information Systems, setting up and repairing networks, servers and related computer information systems. He also worked as a college faculty member in computer information systems for more than 13 years.

— John Spina

E S N E S N O M COM S N O I T U L O S HOUSING

√ S I V A D Y TRE √ L L I G I K NIK

It’s not about the party. It’s about what’s best for our county

Please VOTE for

COUNTY COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES

TREY DAVIS and NIKKI GILL Register at the polls.

Paid for by the Teton County Republican Party 320073

On the Nov 8th General Election there will be a question regarding a 1¢ General Revenue Tax

DO YOU

KNOW WHERE YOUR

SALES TAX DOLLARS

GO?

(4 PENNIES)

1 1 1 1

(5th PENNY)

69%

LOCAL OPTION TAX

GOES TO THE STATE OF WYOMING the remaining

31%

6%

SALES TAX

IS SPLIT 55% - Teton County 45% - Town of Jackson

1

1%

GOES TO A STATE OF WYOMING ADMIN FEE the remaining

99%

(6th PENNY) 1% General Revenue LOCAL OPTION TAX

1%

1

GOES TO THE STATE OF WYOMING

99%

IS SPLIT 55% - Teton County 45% - Town of Jackson

IS SPLIT 55% - Teton County 45% - Town of Jackson

WHAT IS A GENERAL REVENUE TAX?

A local option tax with flexibility to fund both capital projects (i.e. building workforce housing or purchasing additional START buses) AND operational expenses (i.e. housing compliance, bus driver salaries, and fuel for START buses).

A 1% General Revenue Tax would be used to fund the community priorities of housing (50%) and transportation (50%) The Teton County Commissioners and Jackson Town Council have committed through a Policy Resolution to fund these priorities.

COLLECTIONS OVER A 4 YEAR PERIOD ARE ESTIMATED BETWEEN $40M AND $48M AND ARE DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TOWARD THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES OF HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION. The Chamber of Commerce estimates that two-thirds of these collections would come from visitors to the area. It’s estimated that locals would fund the remaining one-third.

to learn more visit: WWW.TOWNOFJACKSON.COM Paid for by the Town of Jackson

319582

22 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

EPING PUBLIC LANDS IN PUBLIC HANDS PUBLIC LANDS IN PUBLIC HANDS NOT KEEPING A PARTISAN ISSUE IN WYOMING

Justice and judge retention

IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE IN WYOMING

ELECT ELECT

Retain or not — Supreme Court, eight years; District Court, six years; Circuit Court, four years Three Supreme Court justices Kate M. Fox William U. Hill Keith G. Kautz Three District Court judges Norman E. Young Marvin L. Tyler Curt A. Haws Two Circuit Court judges Robert B. Denhardt James Radda

States attorney and an assistant attorney general for Wyoming. He has practiced law privately in Wyoming and Washington.

Justice Keith Kautz

Teton County voters will help decide Tuesday whether to retain three Wyoming Supreme Court justices, three district court judges and two circuit court judges. If the results of the general election indicate that a judge should not be retained in office, the Judicial Nominating Commission will advertise for applicants to fill the vacancy.

Supreme Court judges serve eightyear terms.

“If you get this stuff into state hands, it is not going to be available because the state would have the power to dispose of it, and when they get in a crunch – like all of them are – they are going to peddle it off and put it into the coffer, not thinking of what that does to the guys like you and me who know where this trail is into the fishing hole, hunting spot, or backpacking area...forget it.”

Former Senator Al Simpson, (R) Quote from Al Simpson to Wyoming Wildlife Federation

Justice Kate Fox

THE INCUMBENT IN HD 22 HAS GOT IT WRONG ON THIS ISSUE. SHE IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE MAJORITY OF WYOMINGITES. I WILL WORK HARD TO PREVENT THE TRANSFER OF FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS TO THE STATE OF WYOMING.

White for Wyoming on Facebook marylee@white4wy.com www.white4wy.com

Paid for by the Committee, White for Wyoming

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Get FULL ACCESS to the LATEST NEWS: As a valued Jackson Hole News&Guide subscriber, you can access news and information through our digital products. Activate your account by going to jhnewsandguide.com/subscribe.

Call 307.733.2047 if you need assistance.

Gov. Matt Mead appointed Kate M. Fox to the Wyoming Supreme Court in January 2014.

Before her appointment, Fox was in private practice with Davis & Cannon LLP. She joined the firm after serving for one year as law clerk to a federal district court judge.

She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming School of Law. She also earned her bachelor’s degree from UW.

Justice William Hill

William U. Hill was appointed to the Wyoming Supreme Court on Nov. 3, 1998. Before his appointment to the judicial bench Hill served as Wyoming attorney general.

Hill received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wyoming in 1970 and graduated from the UW College of Law in 1974.

Hill served as an assistant United

ACCOUNTABILITY

The Town Council unanimously approved the creation of the Community Priorities Fund which will track all revenue and expenditures by the Town.

TAX FACTS GET THE FACTS. GO VOTE.

Paid For By the Town of Jackson.

Norman E. Young was appointed district court judge in Fremont County in 2003.

Young received a Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma State University in 1976 and a law degree from Oklahoma State in 1980.

Young practiced law privately in Riverton before becoming a prosecuting attorney in Fremont County in 1994. He served as prosecutor until his bench appointment. He was voted for retention in 2004 and 2010.

Judge Marvin Tyler

Marvin L. Tyler attended undergraduate and law school at the University of Wyoming.

Tyler practiced privately in Rock Springs from 1981 to 2008. He was appointed to the 9th District Court of Sublette County in September 2008. He was voted for retention in 2010.

Judge Curt Haws

Curt Haws majored in Asian studies at Brigham Young University and graduated in 1984. He received his law degree from the same school in 1987.

He earned his Masters of Law in Chinese law from Tsing Hua University in Beijing in 2005.

Haws has practiced law in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Jackson. He was appointed to the Sublette County bench in 2007.

Circuit court judges serve fouryear terms.

Robert B. Denhardt has served as a Fremont County circuit judge since his appointment in 1983.

Denhardt majored in history and political science at the University of California at Santa Barbara. After serving two years in the Army he attended the College of Law at the University of Denver.

Denhardt moved to Wyoming in 1972 and worked as a staff attorney and director for Wind River Legal Services. He practiced privately and served as a municipal judge in 1982 before being appointed to the circuit bench by Gov. Edgar Herschler.

All projects will involve public input.

The Town and County meetings are always open to the public, and budgets are ALWAYS available for review and comment.

A SHARED TAX

It is estimated that 66% of our sales tax collections come from visitors. This tax would allow a portion of housing and transportation costs to be mitigated by visitors.

YOUR TAX WILL NOT INCREASE

Judge James Radda

Taxes will remain at 6%. Groceries will continue to be non-taxed.

1% GENERAL REVENUE VS. SPET

As opposed to SPET funding, a General Revenue Local Option Tax has the ability to fund operational expenses (such as bus driver salaries and fuel). SPET cannot fund operational expenses.

319882

To learn more, visit townofjackson.com – or visit with your town representatives.

Judge Norman Young

Judge Robert B. Denhardt

TRANSPARENCY

ONE CENT

Keith G. Kautz was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 2015. The Wyoming native served as a district judge in the 8th Judicial District of Wyoming.

He got a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wyoming in 1975 and graduated from the UW College of Law in 1978.

He practiced law in Torrington from 1979 until 1993, when he became a district judge.

District court judges serve six-year terms.

James Radda received his undergraduate degree from Fairfield University in Connecticut in 1974. In 1980 he received his law degree from the University of Bridgeport School of Law, now the Quinnipiac School of Law. Radda practiced in Connecticut from 1980 to 1990. He practiced privately, as a prosecuting attorney and as a contract public defender.

Radda worked for the Teton County Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 2010, prosecuting criminal cases and doing civil work. He then prosecuted briefly in Maine before returning to Wyoming and being appointed to the Teton County bench in 2010.

— Emily Mieure

GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - 23

Voter Information Polling sites

PRIMARY 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, August 10, 2016 -

Where do I vote on Election Day?

In 2016 several counties in Wyoming are testing the vote center concept and replacing their traditional 6 5 polling sites with vote centers.

Vote centers have become increasAlta Elementary School Moran Elementary School ingly popular throughout the country 15 Alta School Road 501 Moran Court for the many benefits they offer voters and local governments.

The most notable benefit of the vote center is convenience. Now voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballot at a location that is convenient rather than required by precinct lines.

3 Teton County will offer six locaOld Wilson Schoolhouse tions throughout the county to vote Community Center Teton County/Jackson on Election Day. 5655 Main St. Recreation Center On Tuesday, Election Day, you may 155 E. Gill Ave. vote at any one of the following vote centers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. regard1 less of where you live in Teton County: • Teton County Library, 125 Virginian Lane 2 • Teton County/Jackson Recreation Teton County Library Center, 155 E. Gill Ave. 125 Virginian Lane • Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center, 5655 Main Street, Wilson • Teton County Weed and Pest Building, 7575 Highway 89 • Alta Elementary School, 15 Alta School Road, Alta • Moran Elementary School, 501 Teton County Weed Moran Court, Moran and Pest Building If these locations are not conve7575 Highway 89 nient for you on Election Day you can also vote by absentee any time before 4 Election Day. Wyoming is a “no excuse absentee voting” state, which means a voter can cast an absentee ballot for any reason whatsoever.

Check out the “Absentee Voting” vote, though those who do if will nee “Voter convenience,” she said. and Thesatisfies new system expected Theretheir is no voter registration 22-1-102(a)(xxxix) the is tion fromto any other jurisdiction, Votersvoter.” can cast “That’s the biggie.” streamline voting because more to cast a ballot at the time of registra information under the Elections tab available at the Drivers License following qualifications: applicable.

Diviballotssion at ofany location.

Larimer County, Colorado, blazed check-in stations will be available at tion. People interested in registerin on the Teton County Clerk’s webpage, • Must be 18 years of age on Elec• Must notbefore be aElection convicted felon or the Department of TransportaDay will need to cas the trail with vote centers in 2004, us- each center.

By Melissa Cassutt TetonWyo.org/cc to learn which absen- tion tion Day. adjudicated mentally or any other state agency. absentee incompetent. ballot. ing a model of one center per 7,500 to “We will have eight check-in places an tee voting method works best for you.

• Must be athe citizen of the meet can those A person may register 10,000 to votevoters. not Laramie also qualificaregister on Electio County, at each of theUnited town polling People places, sowho Voters Voters no longer have to worry only other Wyoming county trying out that actually will make 16 check-in Day, but waiting to register at th tions may also register to vote at the less than 14 days before about casting their ballots in the cor- an election, States. polls often longer, elecDaigle said. the system, has•planned to have stations in the town,” Daigle on said, Registration information Must be a bona fide resident of polls primary andtakes general at any or new as prorect precinct.

Anyelection one of sixspecified, polling one center per 2,575 voters. “whereas before we only had 13 pollAny voter can cast an absentee ba stations will do. by Wyoming Statute 22-3-117 Teton County and the precinct in tion days.

The state of Wyoming is exempt vided Teton County will have one center ing places in the county.” lot at the absentee polling site up un “Anyone who is a resident of Teton If you have questions regardfrom the National Voter Registra- if that person has acceptable identi- which you register. The move also saves the county til any Election Day. Absentee ballots tha County can go to a vote center on per 1,720 voters.

“There’s only the •sixMust placeswithdraw to go,” money, because fewer election judges voter registraing the formwere call mailed 733-4430. tion Act, commonly known as “motor will be collected unt as defined pursuant to W.S. Election fication Day regardless of where

are needed to staff the sites, and it al- 7 p.m. on Election Day. they live,” Teton County Clerk Sherry Daigle said.

The centers are located at Alta lows Daigle to post a deputy clerk at The absentee polling site is ope Daigle said.

Teton County is one of two coun- Elementary, the Old Wilson School- each site, something she previously from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monda through Friday. It’s located in th ties in the state experimenting with house Community Center, the Weed didn’t have enough staff to do.

While it doesn’t matter which lo- basement of the County Administra countywide vote centers, a concept and Pest District building south of that allows voters to cast ballots any- Jackson, Teton County Library, the cation a voter chooses, the machines tion Building, 200 S. Willow St. Voters must declare a party to vot where. The switch means fewer poll- Teton County/Jackson Parks and Rec- will still register which of the 18 preWY Daigle said, but more reation gym and the Moran School. partido. ¿En donde podrá votar? cincts in the county a ballot is being in the Aug. 16 primary election. ing locations, Signs will be posted at all of the old preguntas? cast from, Daigle said. The •vote cenflexibility for votersWILSON who no longer • OLD SCHOOLHOUSE Legislaturas Estatales y Fede¿Sigue teniendo Puede votar antes de tiempo dentro Melissa Cassutt at 732-707 places to redirect thoseinformación who ters willdirecta be open from to 7(Senado p.m. Contact have to rush across town toCENTER get to a polling COMMUNITY (CENTRO rales y Cámara de RepreObtenga del 7 a.m. de un “pre voto” o también conocido specific precinct. swing by out of habit, Daigle said.

There’s also still time to register to or county@jhnewsandguide.com.

Infomación general sobre las elecciones generales del condado de Teton

como “voto ausente”, desde el 23 de septiembre hasta el 7 de noviembre — diríjase hacia el edificio municipal (calles Willow y Simpson) para votar o para obtener una boleta y votar para después. El día de las elecciones generales es el 8 de noviembre, y podrá votar en las casillas colocadas alrededor del pueblo.

En 2016, varios condados en Wyoming pondrán a prueba el concepto de voto de centro y sustituir a sus sitios de votación tradicionales con los centros de votación. Centros de Voto se han vuelto cada vez más popular en todo el país por los muchos beneficios que ofrecen los votantes y el gobierno local.

La ventaja más notable del Centro de votar es la comodidad. Ahora, el votante tendrá la oportunidad de emitir su voto en un lugar que sea conveniente, más que requerido por las líneas del recinto. El Condado de Teton ofrecerá seis lugares en todo el país a votar el día de las elecciones.

El 8 de noviembre del 2016 (Elección General) puede votar en CUALQUIER uno de los siguientes Centros de Voto 07:00 a.m.-07:00 p.m. independientemente de donde usted vive en el condado de Teton: • TETON COUNTY LIBRARY (LA BIBLIOTECA) 125 Virginian Ln, Jackson, WY • TETON COUNTY/JACKSON RECREATION CENTER (LAS ALBERCAS) 155 E. Gill Ave., Jackson,

DE COMUNIDAD DE WILSON) Secretario del Condado: TetonWyo. sentantes): A quien verá en su boleta 5655 Main St., Wilson, WY org/cc o del numero (307) 732-8429. O depende de los distritos del Senado/ • TETON COUNTY WEED & contáctenos al: (307) 733-9417, Face- Cámara. Estos también son compePEST BUILDING (EDIFICIO DE book.com/jhalliance o JHAlliance.org/ tencias PAST, “partidistas,” que significa INVESTED IN JACKSON’S DEDICATED TO JACKSON’S FUTURE. MALAS HIERBAS Y PLAGAS) 7575 newvoter (información en inglés sola- que los candidatos si podrán identifiUS-89, Jackson, WY carse con un partido en especifico-pemente).

It has been a true honor serving our community as your town councilor and one that I would like votar to continue.

This is a ser• ALTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ro usted si podrá por cualquier (ESCUELA PRIMARIA ALTA) candidato sinbusinesses, importar working de cuálfamilies, par¿Queand hayI am en proud mi boleta? vice I take toDE heart, take15 seriously, to do. Providing opportunities for small Alta School Rd., Alta, WY tido usted pertenece.

Talvez se cuestione por que no todo environmental stewardship and ensuring our quality of life are paramount to the future of Jackson, our home. These are • MORAN ELEMENTARY el mundo puede votar en las mismas Todos podrán votar en la iniciativa the valuesPRIMARIA that guide my decisions and these are theestá values will podrá continue para to fightlafor as your SCHOOL (ESCUELA DE boleta deltown 1%councilor. de impuesto locompetencias, aquí lo Ique MORAN 501 Moran Ct., Moran, WY ver en su boleta. También podrá ver cal opcional Por supuesto, si estos lugares no en linea “boletas de ejemplo” en www.

Podrá ver en su boleta la iniciativa son convenientes para usted el día tetonwyo.org/cc (información en in- de la opción del 1% de impuesto local. de elección, también puede votar por glés solamente).

Al votar “Si,” se mantendrá igual la Primary Election August – General Election November 8 ausente cualquier momento antes del 16 Los tasa de impuestos de ventas al 6%, residentes de la ciudad de Jackdía de las elecciones. Wyoming es un son podrán votar por el Ayuntamiento nuestro Ayuntamiento y Comisión del estado de “sin excusas votar ausente” y el/la Alcalde.

Condado han resuelto como utilizar que permite al elector para emitir un • Todas estas posiciones no son par- este dinero en vivienda y transporte. voto ausente por cualquier motivo. Por tidistas (que significa que los candidaEsta información fue compilawww.haileyforcouncil.com favor, ve la información “Como Votar” da por y traducida en nombre del tos no dirán para que partido están).

PAID FOR BY HAILEY FOR COUNCIL en la pestaña en la página Elecciones • Dos candidatos compiten por la Condado de Teton, la Alianza de 315522 del Secretaria del Condado para saber Alcaldía, y quien genere mas votos Conservación de Jackson Hole, y qué método de voto por ausente que gana.

One22. funciona mejor para usted!

Ninguna de las agencias nombra• Cuatro candidatos compiten por dos asientos del Ayuntamiento, y los das arriba endosan ni oponen o expre¿Que tal si no esta registrada/o? top dos que obtengan mas votantes san ninguna opinión en cuanto a los Se puede registrar en el momento gana. candidatos o iniciativas — esto es solo que vaya a votar. O se puede regisTodos pueden votar por la Comis- información objetiva. trar antemano — es súper fácil, solo ión del Condado y Legisladores Fedenecesita de su identificación (ID) y rales y Estatales.

This information was compiled by and reconocimiento (no prueba) de su di• Comisión del Condado: Los Re- translated on behalf of Teton County, rección física. Puede que escuche por publicanos y los Demócratas que the Jackson Hole Conservation Alahí, que no se podrá registrar una se- ganaron las Elecciones Primarias de liance and One22. None of the agenmana previa a las elecciones pero no agosto estarán compitiendo por dos cies named above endorse or oppose se desanime — se puede registrar to- asientos mas en las elecciones gene- or express any opinion with respect to dos los días, solo puede que termine rales de Noviembre. Los dos que ten- the candidates or initiatives — this is votando al mismo tiempo. gan mayoría ganan, sin importar el simply to provide information.

HAILEY MORTON LEVINSON-

VOTE Hailey

and thank you for your support!

24 - GENERAL ELECTION 2016, Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Enough is enough.

Enough is enough.

Tax-and-Spend is ruining our community.

Tax-and-Spend is ruining our community.

We don’t want government to collect more We don’t wantbigger, government collectand more tax money to get busier,tolouder, tax money get bigger, busier, faster. faster.

Moretohotels, houses, cars,louder buses,and parking lots, office buildings, stores, More housing means morenoise, hotels,apartment cars, buses, complexes, sidewalks, traffic lights, parking lots, office building, stores,signs… noise, and then we need more housing.

Wecan’t can’tbreathe. breathe.

We Please, stop.

Please, stop.

N

You can’t buy community character.

Don’t vote for a tax that will keep throwing money at our problems.

You can’t buy community character.

Don’t vote for a tax that will keep throwing money at our problems.

Paid for by Keep Wyoming Wild Keep Wyoming Wild 319872