Primary Election Guide 2018

Available Online Only

PRIMARY

ELECTION GUIDE 2018 Vote Tuesday, August 21

In an effort to be as useful as possible, this election guide features only the contested primary races that appear on local ballots. Races with a single candidate on the ballot — such as one Republican or one Democrat — are not included. Those candidates will be profiled before November’s general election.

Park County Commission.............. Pages 2-13 City of Powell Mayor....................Pages 14-16 Powell City Council...................... Pages 17-19 House District 24.........................Page 20-21 Senate District 19....................... Pages 22-25

U.S. House........................................Page 26 U.S. Senate................................ Pages 27-28 Treasurer...........................................Page 28 Auditor...................................... Pages 29-31 Governor.................................... Pages 32-41 Sample Ballot....................................Page 42

Page 2

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Park County Commission

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Forum

Commission candidates talk budget, development

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

T

he Republican candidates for the Park County Commission who gathered in Powell last month seemed to generally agree the county government has been run pretty well. But there were still a number of suggestions about how the county could do a bit better.

Nine of the 10 Republicans seeking the three open seats on the commission attended the July 12 forum at the Park County Fairgrounds: incumbent Joe Tilden and challengers Lloyd Thiel of Clark, Pat Stuart of Heart Mountain, Dossie Overfield of Cody, Cathy Marine of Powell, Anton Lehman of Heart Mountain, Richard George of Heart Mountain, Bob Berry of Cody and Zach Bowman of Cody. The only candidate missing at the Park County Republican Women’s forum was Bob Stevens, a retired attorney from Wapiti. The discussion — held before an audience of about 60 people — lasted roughly an hour.

COUNTY BUDGET One of the questions posed to the candidates was whether there’s anything they would have changed in the county’s recently passed budget.

Bowman, a realtor who owns a lawn care and snow removal business, said he would have liked to see commissioners place more of an emphasis on each department’s revenue and how much money was left over at the end of year; he suggested departments apply for more grants.

With that shift in focus, “We can be a lot more apt to give them a little if they need an extra grader, something to that effect,” Bowman said.

Marine, a retired college educator, said she feels “that our county is doing very well and it’s been managed very, very well.”

“But we can always improve what we can do with our money,” she added.

Marine also urged people to look at their local government’s budget, saying that with the various special property tax districts, “there’s a lot of money out there that we’re spending.”

Thiel, a rancher and owner of an excavation business, said he wouldn’t necessarily change anything — though he did say he’d generally like the county to become more efficient.

“We need to run more as your dollars instead of the government’s dollars,” he said.

Berry, the owner of a bed and breakfast, said he’s not a numbers guy, but wouldn’t do a whole lot different with the budget.

“The commissioners have done a wonderful job in the past,” he said, citing the county’s roughly $16 million reserve account for contingencies.

Tilden, who’s seeking a third four-year term on the commission, said he’s very proud of the budget for the coming fiscal year.

Following several years of cutting, an influx of money from the federal government allowed the county to approve “very well-deserved” 5 percent raises for employees while also putting another $2 million into savings, Tilden said.

“We have to put ourselves in a position where we attract qualified people, because Park

County is in the service business,” he said of the raises. “We service the people of Park County and that’s the most important thing.”

George, who’s transitioning out of the farming business, took issue with the size of the raises, noting that the county also agreed to pay for employees’ increased health insurance premiums.

“I honestly feel like we should have given our county employees an option of a 1 or 2 percent, 3 percent increase or we would continue to cover their health insurance premium increase, but not both,” he said. George added that he does believe “in paying for our employees” and said some workers are still underpaid, even after the raises.

Lehman, the owner of a musical instrument repair shop and a part-time county employee, said he’d heard that not all employees got the 5 percent raise.

“We gave a large raise to the elected officials and yet not everybody in the county” got the 5 percent raise, he said, specifically referring to the museum and library boards.

County Clerk Colleen Renner said commissioners gave the museum and library boards the funding to approve 5 percent raises for all library and museum employees; it was up to those boards to decide how to distribute the money.

Stuart, meanwhile, criticized the commission for putting another $2 million into its roughly $16 million reserve account.

“That is an amazing amount of money in reserves” given the county’s roughly $26 million budget, she said, saying most entities have no more than six months of operating reserves.

“This is well above that and I feel that, rather than charging the taxpayers of the county a 1 cent tax, we should be spending some of that money down or using it for new projects — like a Powell library, which has been on the books as being needed since 2007,” said Stuart, a former CIA officer.

Overfield, a former manager of a water district and Cody school board member, said she appreciated the way the commissioners went over the budget line by line and met with every department head to figure out where things did and didn’t work.

“I also think that when you have things like as many bridges as the county has and as many snow removal issues as the county has with storms possible, that sometimes a reserve like that can come in handy,” she said, adding, “Knowing that we have that kind of reserve doesn’t really bother me too much.”

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES Another question posed to the panel asked what they see as the county’s biggest opportunities in the coming years.

Tilden cited economic development and praised the work of Powell Economic Partnership and Forward Cody, while citing the importance of tourism and lifting restrictions on oil and gas production.

Bowman also cited economic development as the big opportunity — though he suggested the county government’s role is to be as small as possible to let growth happen.

“I think as a commissioner, we just need to remember that we’re not always the professionals; the entrepreneurs are,” Bowman said.

Cathy Marine said there are many opportunities, with each Park County community having its own strengths — such as Powell having agriculture and Northwest College.

“There’s a variety of things we can look at strengths in each one, that become strengths for the entire county,” she said.

In the coming years, Thiel said to expect more people, which will mean more development.

As commissioners, “I think the best thing we can do is stay out of their way [and] assist in what we can to keep the values of Park County; we don’t need it destroyed,” Thiel said.

He said his background in excavation, building and construction would be helpful in keeping development in the best interests of the entire county.

George said he’s heard Park County may have substantial amounts of natural resources still in the ground, but that he thinks the county’s economy will grow beyond oil, agriculture and tourism. He said the commission’s job will be “to make sure if there is red tape, that we have connections in Washington and at the state level to fight for the people of Wyoming — regardless of what industry it is.”

Berry said the county needs to develop its tourism — using the county’s two entrances to Yellowstone National Park — and to create jobs.

“It is difficult to keep young people here, because the best opportunity — and these are great jobs — is to wait tables and make beds,” Berry said. “That’s admirable, but you can’t buy a house with it.”

Lehman predicted that tourism will become a bigger part of Park County, but expressed doubt about the county’s ability to retain its youth.

“Yes, we need to get jobs, we need to keep people working, but we have to have the reality that the kids are going to leave no matter what,” he said, citing his own children as examples.

Stuart disputed that.

“Give them [young people] good jobs; they love this place and they will stay,” she said, adding that, “I think that the commission needs to take more of an active role in being county leaders and in finding ways through non-taxed areas to grow our economy.”

Later in the forum, Thiel noted how he built up his businesses and suggested that could be a model for young people.

“The opportunities are here; we just need to show them,” he said.

Overfield also saw economic development as an opportunity, along with the tourism and minerals industries.

“I think the one thing that the commissioners need to work on, or at least keep in mind, is as these things happen, we need to stay out in front of what the people need,” she said.

If more people are coming in — through new jobs or more tourism — the county needs to have the infrastructure in place to keep up with them, she said. Having the roads, services and extras that people want will make both visitors and residents happier, Overfield said.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Park County Commission

Page 3

Forum

Republican commission candidates make their cases in Powell and Cody

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

T

he nine Republicans running for the Park County Commission got a couple chances to show off their credentials and pitch their ideas to voters at events in Powell and Cody earlier this month.

Incumbent Joe Tilden and challengers Bob Berry, Zach Bowman, Richard George, Anton Lehman, Cathy Marine, Dossie Overfield, Pat Stuart and Lloyd Thiel are vying for three available seats on the commission.

Eight candidates attended a July 31 forum hosted by the Park County Republican Women in Cody and then a Powell Economic Partnership community lunch in Powell on Aug. 2.

MAKING THEIR CASE Two-term Commissioner Tilden said he’s “very proud” of his record — including helping to cut some 20 percent of the county’s budget during “some pretty difficult financial times.”

But he specifically pointed to his experience in federal land management.

“Oil and gas, tourism and agriculture are the economic drivers of this county. And it’s very important that we have someone serving as a Park County commissioner that has knowledge of the NEPA process and also the ESA when it comes to sage grouse, grizzlies and wolves …,” Tilden said at the July 31 forum. “And I most definitely have that knowledge; I’ve proven that time and time again.”

Marine, a retired educator, said she doesn’t have an agenda but a continuing desire to serve the people of Park County.

“Jesus Christ is my lord and savior, and if I am elected, I will serve you ethically, morally and honestly to help maintain the life we all love,” Marine said.

That concern — of maintaining Park County’s current lifestyle of things like 4-H, Little League baseball, hunting, camping, fishing and time with friends for future generations — is something Marine said she’s heard across the county.

“It’s a life we do need to concentrate on maintaining, and yet still working to help it grow,” she said. “It’s a fine line, and you need to be conscious of the fact that each community in Park County is unique, but we can work together.”

Meanwhile, Cody bed and breakfast owner Berry pitched himself as a rock-ribbed conservative.

“Conservatism is more than believing in I’m against abortion and I’m for the Second Amendment,” he said. “It is a state of mind and it is a matter of principle; it’s how you live your life.”

Examples of that lifestyle, he said, are his opposing abortion by supporting Serenity Pregnancy Resources and supporting youth through the Christian program Young Life.

When it comes to conservatism, “you either are or you’re not — and I am. And that’s how I will conduct my life as a commissioner,” Berry said.

Stevens, a retired attorney from Wapiti, pitched his two decades of service in the U.S. Navy and five decades of running his own law office, among other accomplishment. He said his philosophy is that the best government governs the least.

“I think this is a fine county; I think I can help,” Stevens said of his run for commission.

“I think if I got in there, I could even get a little bit more money cut out of the budget. There’s some fat in there yet that we could get out if someone wanted to work at it — and I would.”

George, a farmer and state Republican Party official who grew up in the Heart Mountain area, emphasized his experience in agriculture and his youth.

“I bring a unique perspective to this field: I have a 50-year outlook, because I plan on being here for the next 50-plus years,” George said.

“My goal is not to fix something short-term, but to make something work for us long-term to be fiscally responsible.”

As for his decade of personal experience in agriculture, “I’m going to understand the needs of our farmers, our community, because that is a big issue for us here,” George added at the Powell event. He recently cut back on his farming, citing tough times.

Stuart, a former CIA officer who also lives near Heart Mountain, said she wants to maintain Park County’s lifestyle. ”Yet we’re well on our way to becoming Anyplace, USA, through sprawling development, a growing opioid crisis, a packed jail, a brain drain of youth and an inadequate job market,” she said at the Cody forum.

While people are working on those problems, central coordination and leadership are lacking, she said.

“I say let’s relieve our commissioners of the nitty gritty and give them time to plan, coordinate and lead,” Stuart said. She suggested the county free up the commissioners’ time by hiring a county administrator to streamline and manage the county’s day-to-day operations.

Overfield of Cody said that, although the county has “a broad spectrum of economic levels, I believe we generally have a good quality of life.”

“I’m running for Park County commissioner to do my part to maintain that quality of life,” Overfield said. “Change is inevitable and I would like to make those changes work for our best interests.”

Overfield first developed a love for the public process while working in the county commissioners’ office more than 30 years ago, she said, then went on to manage the Northwest Rural Water District with its employees and millions of dollars worth of projects and dealing with various federal and state agencies and hundreds of private landowners. Overfield also served three terms on the Cody school board.

After a few years off, Overfield said she’s missed “doing the work of the public.”

“I’ve missed trying to solve problems for the public and I love Park County, all of Park County, and I’ve found that I’d really like to get back involved,” she added at the PEP event.

“And the county commissioner position looked good for me.”

Bowman is a former bush and commercial airline pilot who left the industry to start up his own lawn care and snow removal business in Cody. He said that — without taking on any debt — he’s grown it into a six-figure business that serves more than 120 accounts in the Big Horn Basin.

“I’d like to see government run the same way,” he said.

Bowman added that the commissioners have done a good job, but he’d like to see more efficiency.

“My generation grew up in the technology boom, and I think that we bring a lot to the table as far as what we can do to lean things out,” Bowman said. In the past, inefficiencies might have been met by hiring more employees, but “there are ways to do that with technology,” he said.

Lehman, a Heart Mountain resident, owns a musical instrument repair business and is a part-time employee at the Cody landfill.

“If elected, I plan to especially represent Powell, Clark and Meeteetse, as they have the least representation on the commission,” Lehman said at the PEP event, adding that he would try to attend Powell City Council meetings and keep the commission up to date on what’s going on in Powell and Meeteetse.

During the Cody forum, Lehman also said he’d fight to keep federal lands under federal ownership — and open to multiple uses like mining, grazing, four-wheeling, horse-riding and other activities.

“I don’t believe in privatization; I don’t believe in the state taking over federal lands,” he said. “I believe they belong to the people of the United States and they should be free and open to the people of the United States to visit and to be able to recreate on.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Candidate Lloyd Thiel missed the Cody forum, but was back in town for the PEP lunch, where candidates were given a minute and 45 seconds to introduce themselves and answer a couple questions about economic development.

Thiel said it wasn’t enough time to thoroughly cover economic development, and said he’d welcome citizens’ views, concerns and solutions. Thiel also said he’d support PEP “very strongly” as a commissioner.

“I think the best thing we can do is let them do their job and minimize the red tape to allow economic [development] here in Park County,” Thiel said.

He added that the county is blessed to have energy, agriculture, recreation, “all the tools needed for a lot of expanded economic growth.”

Thiel said growth can be good or bad and said he’d watch that it be done “in the best manner with Wyoming values first in mind.”

He also issued a challenge to all the candidates present to encourage Wyoming youth to stay in the state.

“So many campaigns are run on the negative: ‘Our kids have to leave; we don’t have economic [strength],’” he said. “We have all the tools here; it just takes hard work, dedication and commitment — and that is the core values of Wyoming and that’s what we are here in Park County.”

In her remarks, Stuart said one of the issues facing Park County is an overreliance on the extractive industries. She called for “a countywide economic plan [that] would provide a foundation for other planning,” saying she would set up a “stakeholders county economic commission” to create such a plan. The result could free up money to be spent on planning and infrastructure.

With Powell losing retail businesses in its downtown area, Lehman said that, if the area’s family farms are also lost, the local economy could be permanently damaged.

“We need to figure out a way to keep the farms here, and get our downtown back rejuvenated,” he said. “With extraction and natural resources under fire, there are some great challenges coming forward.”

Citing the difficulties faced by agricultural producers, George suggested economic development could be pursued by bringing valueadded products to Park County.

“I’m going to understand the needs of our farmers, our community, because that is a big issue for us here,” he said. The self-described fiscal conservative added that, “as long as the state, the House and the Senate, decide to sponsor the Wyoming Business Council and the ENDOW initiative [and] there’s money for stuff to come here to Park County, you know, I’m OK with fighting for that kind of thing.”

Bowman said there’s a fine line to be struck between keeping government as small as possible so it doesn’t intrude on small businesses while helping with infrastructure and providing a pro-business environment.

Bowman said the county’s small population presents some workforce-related challenges, but “I believe that that problem will take care of itself,” he predicted. “I think that this is a great place to live and I think that people will realize that and continue to come here as they grow their businesses.”

Berry suggested merging Powell Economic Partnership and Forward Cody, questioning why they’re separate groups.

“Why don’t we have one group that is, ‘Let’s make Park County great’?” Berry said. “And I think we fragment ourselves in that position, in thinking, oh, we’re from Powell, so we want to do this; we’re from Cody, we want to do that.”

Tilden said it’s “very important” to put Park County in a position to diversify. “... The commissioners’ role in doing that is primarily to maintain the infrastructure that we have and wherever possible, increase that infrastructure to attract new businesses into our county,” he said.

Stevens didn’t attend the Powell event.

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Park County Commission Bob Berry

Profile

Berry pledges to be public watchdog, servant for this place — not that I want to change it,” Berry said, adding, “I came here because I love f elected as a Park County com- this place and I want to preserve missioner, Bob Berry says he’ll the goodness that is the Cowboy be both a watchdog and a ser- State.” vant to everyone in the county.

He wants to preserve the area’s “There are a lot of people that cleanliness and its attitudes about come out of the woodthings like rodeo, huntwork and stuff — esing, fishing and visits to pecially when there’s Yellowstone. Berry, who a couple positions cites the Bible as his open on the council or moral and spiritual comcommissioners — that pass, said he also wants they see it as a job. I this to be a place where see it as a vocation,” the many Christians feel Berry said of his decomfortable in standing cision to run. “I see up and saying “it’s OK to it as a service to my believe in Jesus Christ.” community, and that’s Berry described himwhere I’m oriented.” self as someone who not BOB BERRY While there are only believes in Amerimultiple issues on ca’s founding principles, Berry’s mind, he bebut who acts on them. lieves “left coast” attitudes are For instance, he opposes aborcoming to Park County and “I want tion, so he supports Serenity Pregto stand in the way of that kind of nancy Resource Center. He also stuff, because it destroys the very takes issue with the commissionreason people come here.” ers’ decision to rent out space in The 67-year-old Republican the Park County Annex to Northowns the Robin’s Inn bed and west Wyoming Family Planning, breakfast with his wife Robin. because, while the organization They started running the Cody doesn’t perform abortions, they business in 2002, coming to Park “believe in abortions.”

County from Texas.

“I don’t think we should be in“I’ve been a [President Donald] volved with that,” Berry said. “I Trump supporter since before ev- think they [the commissioners] erybody else was, so I have vision messed up big time when they like he has vision and I have vision OK’d that.”

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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Overall, however, Berry said he believes the commissioners “have done a really good job” and are “a bunch of really good guys.”

He praised the commission’s work on recent budgets and supported their call for restrictions to generally be relaxed in the McCullough Peaks and the High Lakes wilderness study areas.

Berry said there’s “an awful lot of encroachment because of federal intervention” on public lands.

“I would be the first person to stand up for the 10th Amendment [regarding state’s rights] in this place and I would fight for it; I wouldn’t just say, ‘Oh, we have the 10th Amendment, please go away,” Berry said.

“Like [with] the Bundys in Nevada, I would stand close to those people,” he said, referring to ranchers who refused to recognize federal authority over the lands they grazed, triggering a standoff with federal authorities.

Berry’s background and education is as a historian; he co-wrote a book called “Yellowstone: Then and Now” documenting how the park has changed since its early days.

Among the numerous boards to which the commissioners appoint members, Berry highlighted the Park County Museum Board, which oversees the Homesteader Museum in Powell and the Park

County Archives in Cody.

“I think that history is important and I think it needs to be preserved, so I’m interested in keeping our museum system alive,” Berry said.

Commissioners also appoint half the members of the board — and fund part of the budget — of Yellowstone Regional Airport, another keen interest of Berry’s. “... I know lodging and I know tourism and I know how important that airport is,” he said.

Berry also knows the timber industry from work in logging, the outfitting industry from years of guiding people in Yellowstone and agriculture from his grandfather, who was a farmer. His experience also includes running a roughly $2 million overhead door distributorship for 25 years in Texas.

“Commissioner’s a blue-collar job and I have blue-collar hands,” he said.

Berry has been involved in local politics over the years, helping start the Cody Tea Party, serving as state committeeman in the Park County Republican Party and running for Wyoming Legislature in 2012 and 2014 (against Sen. Hank Coe and Rep. Sam Krone, respectively).

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Park County Commission Zach Bowman

Page 5

Profile

Cody small business owner offers ‘fresh thinking’ the candidates in the commission race — can’t afford to live in Park County and Cody. And he says ach Bowman has flown there’s been a lack of fresh ideas planes in the Alaskan bush, of how to fix things. started up a lawn care and Bowman wants to go beyond the snow removal business in Cody usual suggestions of either raising and sold real estate. Next, he taxes or cutting things out of the wants to serve as a Park County budget to improve the county govcommissioner. ernment.

“The reason I got into the “... Both of those race was I feel that a young hurt,” he said. entrepreneur is going to Instead, Bowlook at things a little differman thinks the ently than the other people. I county can find think that we can streamline other ways to boost stuff,” said Bowman, who non-tax revenue, is 38. such as ensur“I don’t want to come in ing all taxes are and make big cuts or burn paid. And money the place down, because I could be saved, he think that, by and large, the suggested, by percommission’s done a pretty ZACH BOWMAN haps buying more good job,” the Republican items in bulk, getadded. “But I think that my ting better vehicle generation has all these entrepre- prices or potentially using inmate neurs, contractors and real estate work crews to pick up trash at the agents and … we’re not really car- county’s landfills. rying our weight at the policymakBowman adds that there are ing level of local government.” things he probably just won’t know Bowman said one of his biggest until he’s a commissioner. gripes is that many people — in“It’s less about what’s actually cluding the children of the some of going on and more about, do we

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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have these solutions at hand?” he said. “Are we doing this, yes or no, and if we are, can we do it better?”

Bowman is calling for an overhaul of the Powell Branch Library.

“The Cody library’s this spectacular, huge building and Powell’s has holes in the floor,” he said.

Bowman describes himself as “fiscally conservative as they come, but if we’re going to generate this pro-business environment, you do that financially to the business owner [with low taxes], but you have to also consider that you have to appeal to the significant others and their kids.”

“So there’s other quality of life things in the macro-perspective that we need to pay for and we should pay for,” he added. “I’d like to see Powell not get the short end of the stick on some of that stuff.”

The Cody library sits in the bottom level of the Park County Complex (formerly known as the Marathon buildings), with the upper levels rented out to other entities. Bowman thinks that’s unfair competition for local landlords and said the county should study all options — including possibly selling off the building.

It was the Cody Nite Rodeo that first brought Bowman from Oregon to Cody around 1996; he was a high school student at the time.

He later got involved in guiding hunters, then attended Northwest College for business marketing.

Bowman went on to become a pilot, first serving as flight instructor at Montana State University in Bozeman, then worked as a bush pilot in Alaska.

After marrying, Bowman wanted a job with less risk and became a commercial pilot, flying routes on behalf of Delta and United.

He said his experience will give him insight into the Yellowstone Regional Airport budget, which is partially funded by the county.

Bowman later got out of flying and started Precision Lawn Care and Snow Removal, a business that’s grown to employ as many as 10 employees in the winter months and three in the summertime. He also is a real estate agent with Eagle Real Estate.

Bowman and his wife, Jessi, have two children — ages 4 and not quite 1 — who are fifth-generation Wyomingites.

Zach

Bowman Zach

Bowman Fresh Thinking, Traditional Values Fiscally Conservative Republican

For Park County Commissioner Paid for by Zach Bowman

Page 6

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Park County Commission

Profile Richard George More prepared and with more time, George runs again decade and that’s taught him how to cut back during the lean times and enjoy the flush times, George fter coming up a few hun- said. He and his wife, Rebecca, dred votes short in his bid significantly reduced their farmfor the Park County Com- ing operation this year (she’s mission in 2016, Richard George starting a job with the Meeteetse has decided to throw his hat back school district) and George says into the ring. that’s left him with The 35-year-old is more time to devote to again the youngest canbeing a commissioner. didate in the field, Further, as a leader being among nine Rein the Wyoming Republicans vying for publican Party — curthree seats on the comrently serving as the mission. party’s national com“I feel like the committeeman — George missioners have done said he’s built relaa good job overall, but tionships with most … having a younger of the Republican commissioner with a candidates running for RICHARD different viewpoint will office around the state.

GEORGE benefit the community,” If Republicans prevail said George, who farms in the in November’s elections, he’ll Heart Mountain area. likely be on a first-name basis He added that, “I feel like if we with a majority of the five offielect people that have 70 years cials who make up the State Loan worth of life experience, and and Investment Board. With that that’s all we look at as to who we board often in charge of deciding elected, we’re missing out on a which communities receive what demographic in our community state funding, “that [personal] inthat everybody in our community fluence will actually greatly affect says they’re so concerned about our community,” he said.

— and that’s the young people ...”

On the issues, George “really” George says he does bring ex- disagreed with commissioners’ perience to the table, as well. recent decision to approve 5 perMillions of dollars passed cent for county employees on top through his farm over the past of merit raises to some workers

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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and increased health insurance benefits. Noting that the county budget was boosted in large part by an unexpected surge in federal dollars, George wonders what could happen in the coming years.

“I think that we should have given more merit-based increases,” he said. “I think that we should have given our sheriff’s deputies a more competitive salary and I think that we should have given the rest of the employees the option of a 2 or 3 percent increase in pay or we would pay 100 percent of their [increased] health insurance benefits, but not both.”

George would also like to see the county take further steps to avoid competing with private businesses — including by taking another look at the rental rates at the Park County Complex.

“We need to make sure that we’re charging more, quite a bit more, so we are the last choice and we’re not hurting the industry for those who are leasing commercial buildings or lots from private owners,” George said. He said Merit Energy, which took over Marathon Oil’s lease for a large amount of space in the complex, is getting a “huge discount.”

George also suggested evaluating whether Park County Weed and Pest — a separate entity overseen by a board partially ap-

pointed by commissioners — is competing with private companies that spray weeds and sell chemicals.

Part of his reason for running, George said, is that “I don’t want to be a citizen in the back of the room, who doesn’t feel like they’re heard.”

As example of not being heard, George said that, although commissioners “came to the right conclusion” in recommending the McCullough Peaks and High Lakes wilderness study areas generally be released to less restrictive management, he felt the concerns of active agricultural producers were only partly heard on a county committee that studied the issue.

George also would have liked more public involvement before commissioners voted 3-2 last year to lease space to Northwest Family Planning at the Park County Annex in Powell. Input from both supporters and opponents of the organization was needed, “so commissioners are accountable to public opinion,” he said.

George said he’ll have an open door for everyone — including those he disagrees with.

“I think everybody should be more active in the political discussion in the community,” he said.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Park County Commission Tony Lehman

Page 7

Profile

‘Regular’ working man makes bid for commission — and he’s been involved with farming and ranching, built fence and cowboyed.

“I’ve done a lot of things to just be able to nton “Tony” Lehman considered run- stay here. So when people say, ‘Boy it’s difning for the Park County Commission ficult to live in Park County on working man the last two elections, but the timing wages,’ I’ve experienced it,” Lehman said. didn’t seem quite right.

He thinks that real-world experiHowever, when two sitting ence would be valuable on the comcommissioners announced they mission. wouldn’t be seeking re-election this “I have an understanding of what year, “we decided if we were going people are going through and how to run, that would be the time to hard it is for you to struggle through run,” Lehman said, adding, “usuour present economy,” he said. ally the incumbents are going to Lehman says “there’s not really a win, because we don’t have [any] lot wrong” with the way the county real bad ‘we need to get rid of’ government is being run. people, so this looked like the right He sees public land use as a time to do it.” “huge” topic, saying he wants to see The 54-year-old Republican, who TONY LEHMAN public lands remain open to things lives in the Heart Mountain area, like mining, grazing, recreation and describes himself as “just one of hunting and fishing. Lehman was the regular people.” pleased with the commission’s recent deciLehman owns Anton’s Musical Instrument sion to ask that the current wilderness study Repair, where the luthier has fixed stringed area in the McCullough Peaks be opened up instruments for roughly 24 years, and works to more use. as a gate attendant at the county’s landfill in “I don’t think that we need to have special Cody a few days a week, which allows him to interest groups from other parts of the state hear a bit about what’s going on in the county. and country coming here and forcing what Those are just a couple of the jobs Lehman they think we should have to live with,” he said. has taken on over the years: Early in his caLehman didn’t like it when Yellowstone reer, he was a manager at a 7-11 convenience National Park officials limited snowmobiling store, and he went on to run a couple of cabi- access to the park years ago and fears park ofnet shops in 25 years of woodworking, spent ficials could start turning people away as they eight years working for H&R Block, ran the begin talking about managing summer use. former Discount Appliance store in Powell “We should figure out ways to deal with the

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overcrowding, but ... it’s a national park; it’s supposed to be open to everybody and I want to fight to see that,” he said.

As the county grows, Lehman said one challenge will be providing services to more people while keeping the government “as small as possible.” When people move into an area, they want things like paved roads and lights, he said.

However, “Someone’s got to say, ‘Well, this is where it’s at ... and if you want that, it’s your area, you can provide it,’” Lehman said.

One of the ideas batted around every election cycle is creating more manufacturing jobs in the county, but Lehman believes it won’t work to bring those types of companies here “at the end of the road.” Tourism, mining and oil and gas have succeeded in Park County because it’s what’s naturally here, he said.

“We do need to do something about jobs,” he added. Lehman said businesses can be sought out and the topic should be looked at, “but I don’t know that there’s a real good answer.”

Lehman said his time in business has taught him how to stretch a dollar and work from a budget. (He’s also a “huge proponent” of shopping local.)

Lehman has some board experience, having served on the Cody Shooting Complex’s board years ago and helped with some committee work with the then-Buffalo Bill Historical Center. He’s lived in both Cody and Powell and worked in Meeteetse.

Lehman and his wife, Shelly, have three adult children.

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Park County Commission Cathy Marine

Profile

Retired Powell area educator running for commission center for the University of Wyoming on the NWC campus in 1990 while continuing to teach English and communications part-time and athy Marine says she learned the impor- coaching the speech team. She then became the tance of helping others at a young age. academic coordinator for UW’s OutNow, it’s a primary reason reach School for the Northwest Region why the rural Powell resident is in 1993. running for the Park County ComPrior to her retirement from that mission. post in 2008, Marine says she helped After retiring from her career grow the number of master’s and bachas an educator at the University elor’s degrees UW offered in the Big of Wyoming and from the Powell Horn Basin from eight to 32.

Rotary Club, “these past couple Marine says she would “figure out years, I have missed ‘doing,’” what degrees they [local students] Marine said in a recent interview. wanted and needed up here rather than “Not just doing, but ... workwhat the university wanted to offer.” ing with other people, for other Marine, who holds a doctorate in CATHY MARINE education, previously served as presipeople.”

When Marine read earlier this dent of the Wyoming Lifelong Learnyear that longtime Commissioner ing Association and as the director of Tim French would be retiring, she said she de- the Wyoming Academic Decathlon. An active cided that “this is what I’m going to do.” member of her church, she helped start a local “I’m not doing this to be against anything, Optimist club and later took a leading role with I am doing this ‘for,’” Marine said, adding, “I the Rotary Club. don’t have a pet project, except I’m a very con“You’ve got to do something for people,” she servative Republican.” said of a lesson learned from her father, who Marine, 71, has lived in the Powell area for was part of a volunteer service club called Civithe last 25 years — and she lived Cody for tan International. roughly eight years before that. She began Marine previously ran as a write-in canditeaching English at Northwest College in 1985. date for the Powell Hospital District board in Marine started the educational opportunities 2010.

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Part of the appeal of a spot on the commission, she said, is that it encompasses a wide variety of local, state and federal issues.

When Marine talks with people about what issues concern them, she said their first answer is that “teachers [have] got to have guns” in schools. When she explains that’s not a topic for the commission, “they have issues with individual cities, but they think the county’s doing pretty good,” Marine said. “Because it does reach and touch a wide variety of people in a wide variety of ways.”

Marine said her tagline for her campaign is “common sense government.”

One specific issue she brought up is the McCullough Peaks. Commissioners and local residents have spent the last couple years mulling how one portion of the peaks south of Powell — which is currently designated and restricted as a Wilderness Study Area — should be managed in the future. Commissioners have recommended protecting the current uses of the land and not designating any of the area as wilderness.

“There [are] a whole lot of people who won’t be able to hunt if you can’t use motorized [vehicles] over there — our disabled veterans, our disabled anybody [and] older folks who have hunted all their lives,” Marine said.

She described herself as an avid hunter (who also shoots trap and skeet) and a supporter of “public use for public lands.”

Paid for by the candidate

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Park County Commission Dossie Overfield

Page 9

Profile

Former Cody school board leader running for commission work for our best interests.”

The Cody Republican was the first to enter the race, announcing ossie Overfield — a former her campaign on March 22. leader of the Cody school Overfield said her interest in board and manager of the public process was sparked when Northwest Rural Water District she worked in the county commis— is running for the Park County sioners’ office in the late 1980s and Commission. early 90s. At that time, “I like to help if I her duties included servcan and try and bring ing as the secretary for consensus and look at planning and zoning, road where we’re going with and bridge, engineering, our quality of life,” solid waste, buildings Overfield said. “And and grounds and as a hopefully we’re able to backup for information maintain what we have technology and for the here in Park County, commissioners’ assistant, even though there’s alOverfield said. ways going to be some “I found it was very change.” interesting and I loved the DOSSIE At a recent forum, public process of governOVERFIELD Overfield said that, alment,” she said. though there’s a range of economic After leaving the county governlevels, she believes the county gen- ment, Overfield spent 22 years erally has a good quality of life. working for and then managing the “I’m running for Park County Northwest Rural Water District, commissioner to do my part to which provides drinking water to maintain that quality of life,” she rural properties around Cody, Powsaid. “Change is inevitable and I ell, Lovell, Garland, Deaver and would like to make those changes Frannie. Overfield said the job gave

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her experience with budgeting, utilities and easements and with overseeing both personnel and millions of dollars worth of construction projects. She also worked with hundreds of private landowners, plus state and federal agencies like the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Bureau of Land Management, State Loan and Investment Board and the Environmental Protection Agency, meeting local, state and federal regulations.

Overfield was elected to the Cody school board in 2002 and she went on to serve on the volunteer board for 12 years — including eight years as its chairman. That “enhanced” her interest in the public process and brought experience with budgeting, school construction, academics and working with constituents, she said.

At both the school and water districts, Overfield said she’s proven herself to be fiscally conservative.

“I believe I have a fair and balanced style of leadership,” she added. “I have a desire to listen, to research all sides of an issue, work

toward a compromise if possible and get things done.”

Overfield is also a member of the Shoshone Recreation Board, the Midwest Assistance Program board, Park County Republican Women and she is a long-time adviser to the anti-drug Cody CAN program at Cody High School.

Overfield would be the first woman to serve on the Park County Commission since Jill Shockley Siggins, who lost her seat on the board in 2010. However, Overfield has no plans to make gender a part of her campaign.

“In my mind, that doesn’t play into it,” she said. “Having the people in the job that will do the work and finding who the public thinks are the best people to do the job is fine and I don’t think gender plays into that.”

If elected, Overfield would be the third former Cody school board member to join the commission in recent years. Current commissioners Joe Tilden and Jake Fulkerson both served as Park County School District No. 6 trustees before getting on the board.

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Park County Commission

Profile Bob Stevens Retired attorney Stevens promises to cut ‘fat’ from county stuff that is just kind of fluff that we’ve slowly grown to like and want and use, but you can cut back ob Stevens believes he can on them and adjust yourself achelp Park County as a com- cordingly,” he said. missioner.

Stevens said there’s nothing in “I want to help out, and I think particular that he has in mind as they need somebody with something he would my experience, intelcut, though he said ligence, training and phihe’d be able to “pick losophy,” he said in a some fat’ out of the Wednesday interview. budget as a commisStevens, who is 89, sioner. is a retired attorney “I just think that and Wapiti resident. The if I got in there, if I lifelong Republican — were a member [of the one of nine local party board], I would have members seeking three no trouble finding it. commission seats — deI’m just not going to scribes himself as fiscally dig around it now,” BOB STEVENS conservative and he adStevens said. “It’s vocates for small governthere.” ment.

Stevens grew up in He thinks the county is “run a small farming community in Ilpretty well.” linois, called Paw Paw. As a young Stevens said someone recently man, he worked on farms, on a asked him what he would do if railroad and other jobs. He went Park County was to receive an on to serve in the U.S. Navy for two unexpected windfall. His answer? decades — including two tours in “I’d give it back to taxpayers,” the Korean War. he said.

After time as a teacher, he got As for what he’d do if county a law degree and ran his own law money became tight, Stevens practice for roughly 50 years in said he’d maintain funding for California. His experience inemergency services — such as the cluded filling in as a superior court county sheriff’s office. judge from time to time. He also “... But there’s an awful lot of taught economics and business law

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classes at Grossmont College in El Cajon, California, as an adjunct professor.

Stevens moved to Park County nearly three decades ago, practicing some law, serving as a circuit court magistrate and doing some substitute teaching in Cody. He continues to perform weddings today.

From Stevens’ years of running his own law office, “I understand the problems you have when you have to make a payroll,” he said, “which makes me really conservative with money — and particularly with other people’s money.”

“Government does nothing well,” he added later, going to say that, “you’ve got to have some government … but there’s an awful lot of government money that’s just waste.”

Stevens describes his general philosophy for government as “get out of the way and leave things alone.”

Stevens previously served on the Park County Planning and Zoning Commission, helping to craft the county’s land use plan. He was frustrated to see the clustered Copperleaf subdivision receive approval in the Wapiti area years ago, saying the intent of the land use plan was to avoid high-density developments on the North Fork.

“The commission should have done something about that, I believe,” he said.

Stevens expects Park County to grow — calling this a “great location” with railroad access, cheap power, water and a good, skilled labor pool — but he doesn’t expect to see a lot of change in the coming years.

Stevens plans to be frugal with his campaign expenditures, saying his total campaign budget consists of roughly $80 worth of business cards.

“I’m not going to buy an election,” he said, noting that some campaigns spend thousands of dollars.

Noting the pay and benefits offered to commissioners (a package that totals around $59,600 a year), Stevens said it’s “no wonder these guys [candidates] fight so hard” for what he feels is a part-time position.

“This is a well-paying damn job — too much so,” he said.

Stevens said he’s not running for the money.

“I don’t have to have any of that,” he said. “I’m funded, because I was cautious and prudent with the expenses as I went through life.”

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Park County Commission

Profile Pat Stuart Former CIA officer Stuart making bid for commission

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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erving as a Park County commissioner is primarily an administrative job, Pat Stuart says, and she believes she’d be “very good” at the managerial part of the work, given her experience.

“But that by itself would not attract me if it wasn’t that being a commissioner provides a platform for advocacy,” Stuart said of her decision to run for the county board. “And I feel strongly that some communities [of people] in Park County need advocates.”

“I’m talking about the high suicide rate, the high drug use rate, the numbers of dysfunctional families of domestic violence,” she said in a recent interview. “All of these involve people — and a lot of people — and they need an advocate, I think, at the county level.”

Stuart, a Republican, describes herself as a “strong fiscal conservative” who believes in “squeezing a nickel until it screams.” She says the solution is not to spend more government money or create new government programs to help — nor are the problems ones for the county commission to solve.

A believer in small government and less regulation, she instead sees a need for commissioners to help drive more civic involvement, partnerships and coalitions.

Stuart — whose career took

her to the CIA and across the ily’s Heart Mountain farm in 1994, globe — says she has connections spending time breeding and trainthat could help bring in people ing horses competitively and writand groups that others ing five books. might not think of, and She’s been heavithat can make a differly involved with Park ence.

County’s libraries, servShe grew up in ing two terms on the the Heart Mountain library board, helparea, attending school ing rally support for in Powell; she later a new library in Cody moved into Cody with and spearheading the her family. After getGrizzly Gathering — a ting her master’s in large-scale fundraiser international relations for the Park County at George WashingLibrary Foundation that PAT STUART ton University, Stuart involved artists craftdid academic work on ing fiberglass grizzly Capitol Hill, then joined the CIA’s bears. She’s also served a number then-Clandestine Services. She of nonprofit groups, ranging from spent 31 years with the agency historical groups to the Wyoming in Africa, Europe and the Arab American Association of Univerworld. Among other highlights, sity Women. she became the CIA’s first female Stuart has recently been an acChief of Station in an Arab coun- tive member of Wyoming Rising — try and the first female Chief of Northwest, a group that formed out Operations of a “conflict-ridden of the 2017 Park County Women regional division,” she said. and Allies March. Stuart said the “I believe that it was growing organization’s primary focus is up here, being a Wyoming person bringing civility back to politics. that made it possible for me to be “... It’s a group that straddles the a woman in a man’s job,” Stuart political divide and tries to bring said. Men in Washington were compromise back into the equaconvinced that women couldn’t do tion and tries to roll back the clock, the CIA work, but Stuart said she I guess, to a time when we could grew up in an environment where talk to each other and talk about “you don’t ask if it’s a man’s job or compromises that will benefit eva woman’s job, you just do it. And eryone,” Stuart said. that’s what I did.”

She recently briefed group Stuart returned to her fam- members about new-candidate

training she received from a group affiliated with the Democratic National Committee. “... It was the only candidate training I could find, and the Republicans don’t seem to offer anything similar,” Stuart explained, adding, “I called them up and I said, ‘I’m a Republican, would you train me anyway?’ And they said sure.”

Stuart said she was raised as a Republican and was registered as one throughout her time overseas.

“I considered myself very much aligned with [former U.S. Sen.] Al Simpson’s views of the world,” she said, adding, “Then I came back to Wyoming and discovered that the Republican party had started to move to the right of Al Simpson, and his views and my views, and I thought, ‘Well, I guess I’d better register as an independent.’”

Stuart switched her registration back to Republican years ago, when she took renewed interest in politics.

Within Wyoming Rising — Northwest, she says she’s worked to get more people involved in politics, “not necessarily in government, but in the processes.”

Now 78 and in “perfect health,” Stuart said she wants to give back and feels she still has a lot to offer.

“I think I bring to this possibility, a lot of talent and a lot of ideas and certainly a lot of passion,” she said.

FOR PARK COUNTY COMMISSIONER Pat Stuart – an Experienced, Proven Leader • • •

Attended Powell and Cody schools, step-daughter of Heart Mountain homesteader Author, volunteer, retired Heart Mountain horse breeder 31-year veteran of the CIA: 3-time Chief of Station and Chief of Operations in CIA’s Directorate of Operations

Dear Friends, We in Park County still retain so much of what America has lost, and I want to hold on to that … Yet, we’re well on our way to becoming Anyplace USA through sprawling development, a growing opioid crisis, a packed jail, brain drain of youth, and an over-reliance on the extraction industries. We need leadership and creative ideas to deal with these problems. As a traditional Republican and 31-year veteran of the CIA, I can bring skills and experience to the job of Commissioner: • handling large budgets and staffs • finding solutions for complex issues • team building and leadership • low tax and small government advocate

Vote for me on 21 August, thanks ! Pat Stuart Paid for by Pat Stuart for County Commissioner. P.O. Box 149, Powell WY 82435

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Park County Commission

Profile Lloyd Thiel Clark rancher Thiel offers real-world experience

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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n running for the Park County Commission, Lloyd Thiel says his main aim is to preserve the county’s Western way of life.

As new people move into the area, a lot of them are good people, Thiel says, but a few “want to change things a little bit at a time [to] however it was the way they moved from.”

“And pretty soon we’re not a handshake on the street and everybody stops to help one another — and I don’t want that to happen,” the Republican said, adding, “The longer I can postpone it, the better.”

Thiel, a Powell High School graduate and Clark resident, has nearly three decades of experience in cattle ranching and as an excavation contractor. “... Being in business for myself for 28 years, I didn’t read it in a book, I experienced” the area’s booms and busts, learning how to both save and invest money, Thiel said.

Thiel, 52, says he has no “vendetta, no ax to grand, no agenda” and no beefs with the current commissioners. He said each commissioner has great assets they bring to the board.

“As far as management of time and just common sense, I think [that] is what I can really contribute,” Thiel said.

He describes himself as a strong believer in private property rights, multiple use of public land and a strong education system and said he’s been “more a doer person than a BSer person.”

Thiel has been attending county commission meetings this year to see how things are done. He wants to help the county become more efficient, though he knows “things will change once you’re in the seat and understand and know all the facts that we [the general public] don’t. Things maybe can’t work as fast as you think.”

Thiel added later that, “I don’t want to come into the county and try to micromanage, by no means, but I want the departments to be accountable” when things aren’t

going the way they should. federal restrictions placed on the “I think we’re losing that in soci- Beartooth Ranch in Clark. Howety,” he said. ever, he said that had “absolutely Thiel already has nothing” to do with his runexperience as an ning for the office. elected official, havThiel said he seriously ing served as the considered a bid in the last president of the Benelection cycle and has been nett Butte Cemetery preparing to run since last District in Clark for fall.

16 years. During He and his wife Tammy that time, the district have three grown children went from effecand their youngest just tively being broke finished college; that’s one to having more than reason why he jumped into $100,000 in reserves the 2018 race.

LLOYD THIEL — all while nev“I just felt that I had the er taking the full time to do it now,” he said, amount of property taxes that it calling commissioner a full-time could levy, Thiel said. job.

A self-described outdoorsman, Longtime Commissioner Tim Thiel also served six years as a French, who is Thiel’s “uncle in volunteer on the Park County law,” recently announced that he Predator Board and he’s a retired/ would not be seeking re-election, reserve fireman with the Powell but Thiel had decided months earVolunteer Fire Department. lier that he would run, regardless Thiel went before the commis- of what French did. sioners in December to ask that Thiel is a Clark resident, but the county work with the State of “I’m not running to represent Wyoming and the state’s Congres- Clark,” he said. “I’m running for sional delegation to relax some the entire county.”

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

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Park County Commission

Profile Joe Tilden Tilden cites experience in run for re-election years on the board, the Cody area Republican would become the county’s most experienced comoe Tilden enjoys serving as a missioner if he is re-elected.

Park County commissioner In looking back at his time in and believes he’s doing an office to date, Tilden, 67, is most “excellent job.” Those are a couple pleased with the way the county of the reasons why he’s government weathseeking a third term on ered the recent lean the county board. years, making do with “We’ve done some fewer dollars. super things since I’ve “We basically have been on board and cut, cut and cut, and we’ve got some things we’ve cut roughly 20 in the mix I’d like to see percent out of our through,” Tilden said in budget without dimina recent interview. ishing services and He’d had some unwithout laying any certainty about running people off — and I’m again, but that was really proud of that,” JOE TILDEN erased when he learned Tilden said. that two of his fellow He believes the commissioners, Tim French and county has “bottomed out” and is Loren Grosskopf, would not be back on the upswing, noting estiseeking re-election. mates that the county’s property “I think it’s very important that tax base grew roughly 12 percent we have somebody on there with last year. experience,” said Tilden. He said Tilden said that’s one reason that’s particularly important in he and his fellow commissioners dealing with public lands issues approved raises for the county’s and the county budget. With eight elected officials (though not comBY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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missioners) starting next year.

“When it comes right down to it, ... they’re the ones that basically helped us cut the budget. I mean, we all pitched together as a team — all of the employees we have at the county, department heads and in particular the elected officials,” Tilden said. “We saw what we needed to do and we just got the job done.”

Other points of pride for Tilden include the county pulling together the money to build a new multi-purpose facility at the Park County Fairgrounds in Powell (now known as Heart Mountain Hall) and expanding its road and bridge shop in Cody. He’s particularly interested in seeing through a series of projects that, when finished, will amount to a rebuilding of nearly the entire South Fork Road.

Tilden helped represent the county as federal managers wrote new land use plans for the Shoshone National Forest and local Bureau of Land Management properties — and he wants to stay involved as area travel manage-

ment plans are developed and finalized in the coming years.

“When you’re dealing with the federal government, it’s not something you can just jump in there and do,” Tilden said. “You have to have a little bit of experience — and I’ve had a lot of experience.”

He said that experience predates his time as a commissioner, going back to when he was a permitted outfitter on federal lands and when he was president of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife.

Tilden’s past experience also includes service on the Cody school board and the Cody Medical Foundation board.

Though he’s still doing some work for the Trail Creek Ranch north of Cody, Tilden retired from his job managing the Big Hat Ranch on the South Fork last fall.

He said that will give him more time to devote to being a commissioner.

“If you’re going to do the job right and be a good commissioner it’s, I won’t say it’s full-time, but it’s damn near a full-time job,” he said.

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

City of Powell Mayor

Forum

Mayoral candidates highlight common ground, differences

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

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oth candidates running for Mayor of Powell emphasized economic development when they spoke at the Meet the Candidates Community Lunch Aug. 2 at Washington Park.

Incumbent Mayor John Wetzel told the audience that economic development happens “one brick at a time” by “steady work from the entire community.”

“I understand how state grant and loan programs benefit Powell and have partnered to seek opportunities, such as the proposed hotel and convention space in town,” Wetzel said. “The city also provides necessary infrastructure for private business to succeed.

An example is Powell having the foresight to develop high-speed internet — even when huge corporations were laughing at us — but

now putting the city in an [enviable] position among many Wyoming towns.”

Economic development is also a high priority of challenger Ryan Miller.

“I think that’s one of the top concerns that I’ll have going in here,” Miller said. “I want to become very, very friendly and intimate with the folks who are in all levels of government, so that they know of Powell. If there’s events to be held, if there’s out-of-state or instate businesses looking to expand or relocate, I want Powell to be in the conversation [and] be considered for those opportunities.”

Wetzel also highlighted the need for providing necessary community services and his record of doing so — first as a Powell city councilman and now as mayor.

“Providing necessary community services at a reasonable cost is the city’s greatest challenge,”

Wetzel said. “I have experience in balancing funding for current operations while maintaining strong reserve dollars for the future. We maintain a surprising number of roads, water lines, sewer lines and equipment.”’

Wetzel also emphasized his involvement in the community since moving to Powell in 1992.

“From cooking bratwurst at Octoberfest to building Habitat for Humanity homes, I have thoroughly immersed myself in activities to help Powell grow, and for its citizens to have a better life,” Wetzel said.

By contrast, Miller — who has not held elective office — said that Powell needs new blood at the top of city government.

“I feel that the people that are on city council, and our appointed mayor right now, are good people — I’ve nothing against them personally,” Miller said. “I feel that

quite a few of them have been there for a long time, and I just feel that Powell’s ready — and a change is necessary in leadership, and that’s primarily why I’m running.”

That matchup of experience vs. a fresh face is a central theme of the mayoral race this year.

“As mayor, I will continue working both at home and in Cheyenne so that Powell can remain a vibrant community,” Wetzel said.

Miller also said that he knows Powell well and that he would bring business-world experience if he becomes the city’s next mayor.

“I think the difference between myself and my opponent [is] my real-world business experience, me knowing the community very well and what I want to do for economic development to diversify Powell,” Miller said. “[Those are] probably the biggest differences.”

Incumbent John Wetzel and challenger Ryan Miller are each running to serve out the final two years of the late Don Hillman’s term as mayor. The winner will serve as mayor through 2020.

City of Powell residents will vote on the nonpartisan position during the Aug. 21 primary election, but it will essentially be a dry run, as both candidates will advance to the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

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City of Powell Mayor

Profile Ryan Miller Miller mounts challenge for mayor’s seat

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

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yan Miller is a relative newcomer to the political arena, but he believes that he has what’s needed to be the next mayor of Powell.

Miller is challenging incumbent John Wetzel in the race to fill the remainder of the late Don Hillman’s unexpired term as mayor.

“I am running for mayor because I have a deep concern for Powell and its future,” Miller said. “Powell is a great place to live, work, and raise a family and I would like to do my part to keep it this way. Having the opportunity to serve in this capacity is one way to contribute to moving Powell forward while preserving the good qualities Powell offers.”

While Miller does not have political experience per se, he does have some experience with city government. He served on the Powell Airport Board with Hillman under then-Mayor Scott Mangold and also holds a commercial pilot license and flight instructor license. Miller has also served

on the Park County Planning and maintain and improve the services Zoning Commission. Last, but not and infrastructure that the city least, Miller spent approximately provides is a major priority. a decade serving in law “This would be a colenforcement in the Las lective effort between Vegas and Salt Lake myself, the [city] counCity areas. cil, department heads “My family and I and rank and file in the have been invested in various departments,” Powell for many deMiller said. “We need to cades and hope to be see what we can do tofor many more,” Miller gether to streamline and said. “I will do my part improve these services to ensure Powell is as well as keep our inmoving forward and frastructure maintained not just settling for without any unnecesRYAN MILLER status quo. We have a sary burdens.” unique way of life here Miller cited economic and I want to preserve it and make development as another main priPowell an even better place to live, ority if he is elected. work and visit.”

“It is necessary to promote and Miller also believes that his ex- support our local businesses more perience as a business owner will so now than ever,” Miller said. “We help if he is elected mayor. need to help find a way to limit “As a local small business vacant buildings in downtown and owner, you wear many hats and around Powell and make Powell an gain knowledge and experience attractive place for businesses. … in a variety of areas,” Miller said. I want to raise Powell’s profile on “You face countless issues and find the county and state level. When solutions to work through those opportunities do present themissues.” selves, I would like Powell to be in Miller said that continuing to the conversation.”

Miller also considers fiscal responsibility to be important for city government.

“We have not recovered from the downturn in mineral revenue, which reduces our direct funding from the state,” Miller said. “Our sales tax revenue continues to be at reduced levels. I will do my part to see that we exercise fiscal discipline so we stay within our budget without adding unnecessary burdens.”

Miller graduated from Powell High School in 1992 and later received a bachelor’s degree from Bellevue University in Nebraska.

He is the president and owner of Dick Jones Trucking in Powell and before that, he was the general manager and partner in a familyowned and operated high voltage electrical contracting company in Powell.

Miller is married to the former Tasha Bjornestad of Powell. Together, the couple has nine children ranging in age from 5 to 18.

Page 16

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

City of Powell Mayor

Profile John Wetzel Wetzel seeks election as mayor in his own right

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

J

ohn Wetzel had served on the Powell City Council for more than 10 years when the death of Don Hillman led to Wetzel’s appointment as mayor in February 2017.

Now, Wetzel hopes to be elected mayor in his own right.

Wetzel is running to fill the remainder of Hillman’s unexpired term, a race in which he is being challenged by Ryan Miller.

Wetzel believes his experience in city government is a major asset, as is his involvement with the community. Over the last 25 years, he’s been involved with many community organizations, including the Kiwanis, Powell Chamber of Commerce, Park County Travel Council and Habitat for Humanity.

“My service as a council representative and mayor [has] allowed me to gain valuable institutional knowledge across the broad spectrum of city business functions,” Wetzel said. “The city operates a power company, sanitation company, water company, is a partner in

an internet company and provides balancing operations and maintemany other services for Powell, nance work while still maintainall of which require solid manage- ing strong reserve dollars for the ment skills I’ve garnered in pri- future,” Wetzel said. “This work vate business and as a has been an especially dedicated volunteer.” difficult with the recent Wetzel also believes economic downturn and his ability to comwhy collaborative work municate with the with other city governcitizens of Powell ments at the state level is is another of his necessary.” strengths, as are his Also high on the priorleadership abilities. ity list in the city is eco“I believe it’s imnomic development, with portant to keep the Wetzel adding that he is constituents informed excited about the upcomand involved in the ing Absaroka Street imJOHN WETZEL happenings at city provement project. hall,” Wetzel said. “I “Keeping Powell a also strive to listen to all sides of an vibrant, growing community is issue, take time to weigh the pros always one of the city’s goals,” he and cons and make the best deci- said. “City staff and council take sion possible given the knowledge their facilitation and oversight role they have at hand.” very seriously. Understanding how Wetzel said the city’s main con- state grant [and] loan programs cern is providing needed commu- can benefit Powell is paramount nity services at a reasonable cost, and creates opportunities for projmeaning his top priority is the city ects such as the proposed new hobudget. tel and convention space in town.”

“With so many different facets Along those lines, Wetzel said it’s difficult to put in simple terms, long-term planning and infrastrucbut the challenge remains [of] ture development is another major

wetzel MAYOR POWELL

priority.

“City leaders and staff take immense pride in making Powell a great place to live,” he said. “For planning purposes, gazing into the crystal ball must be employed regularly. We maintain a surprising number of miles of roads, water lines, sewer lines, and equipment, all of which have maintenance and replacements requirements. And of course, this feeds back into the budget aspect as well — keeping abreast of these needs allow the city to maintain steady services and positive budgets.”

Wetzel received a bachelor of arts degree in history from the University of Wyoming in 1985, then received his master’s degree in industrial education and graphic arts from Clemson the following year. He has been the general manager of the Buyer’s Guide in Cody since 1997 — a shopper coowned by the Cody Enterprise and Powell Tribune — and was the advertising manager at the Tribune for five years before that.

Wetzel and his wife, Shelby, have three children — Claire, 25, Quin, 23, and Ben, 21.

26 Years of dedicated service to make Powell the best it can be.

JOHN

for

of

CITY GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE ★ Powell City Council 2006–2017 & Mayor 2017–Present ★ Wyoming Association of Municipalities Board & Legislative Leadership Committee ★ Powell Planning and Zoning Committee ★ Countless hours of community service work

EXPERIENCE at WORK

PAID FOR BY THE CANDIDATE

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Ward I

Powell City Council

Incumbent Ward I City Councilman Eric Paul has decided to retire from the city council, so Steven Lensegrav and Ernest Phipps will face off in the Aug. 21 primary election. However, because they’re the only two candidates in the race, August’s election will likely be little more than a straw poll: Both candidates will advance to November’s general election, where the winner will be determined.

Page 17

Profile

Steven Lensegrav Lensegrav running for city council to ‘give back’

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

S

teven Lensegrav and his family fell in love with Powell when they moved here from South Dakota seven years ago.

Now, Lensegrav wants to “give back to the community that welcomed us so graciously” then, he said. That’s why he is running for the Ward I Powell City Council seat being vacated by outgoing Councilman Eric Paul. “[Powell] is an amazing city of hardworking and supportive people,” Lensegrav said. “I would love the opportunity to represent my ward on the city council and would work hard to help the city continue to improve and make responsible decisions.”

Lensegrav has taught chemistry and physics at Powell High School since moving here and has also coached football. He also helped

get fastpitch softball going for girls for Powell.” in Powell and coached the sports Lensegrav, like several other for the recreation department for city council candidates, lists wise three years. spending of city money as a top pri“I feel that I have a ority if he is elected to strong background of the Powell City Council. working with people in “The city has done a many facets,” Lenseterrific job and I would grav said. “I have a like to continue to move very broad educational the city forward by background and a very helping to make sure it broad work background remains fiscally responthat enables me to take sible with the voters’ a well-rounded view on money,” Lensegrav said. most issues.”

Lensegrav also would “I believe that I am like to work with the a very hard worker, Powell Recreation DeSTEVEN an honest person, and partment, aquatics cenLENSEGRAV that I go out of my way ter and similar places to help others when they need it, to find even more avenues to be whether that means staying after opened between the school district school to help a student or helping and those departments for the a friend frame a house,” he said. “I city’s children. am also a family man with strong Lensegrav also considers expanmorals and values and I’ll use those sion of Powell a top priority. attributes to make good decisions “Expansion of the city is impor-

tant for the city,” Lensegrav said.

“I would like to be able to help with those ideas but also help protect those who are already in an area so that all, or at least most, involved are satisfied and not adversely affected.”

Lensegrav graduated from Sturgis High School and Black Hills State University in South Dakota, majoring in biology and minoring in mathematics at the latter. He graduated from BHSU in 1999 with a bachelor of science in education and spent 11 years teaching and coaching at his old high school. He earned a master’s degree in educational administration from South Dakota State University in 2010.

Lensegrav met his wife, Melissa, while attending BHSU. They have two children, Brooke (a 2014 graduate of Powell High School and a 2018 graduate of the University of Wyoming) and Jasmyne, who will be a senior at Powell High School.

Ernest Phipps Phipps wants to keep Powell ‘a good place to live’ man as I was concerned no one was coming forward to run in my ward,” Phipps said. “I would like rnest Phipps to help keep Powell as is pleased with a good place to live and what he has seen raise a family.” in the city of Powell After 60 years living in during the three years Colorado, Phipps moved he’s lived here — and to Powell three years ago he wants to make sure to retire and spend time it stays that way. with his family that lives Phipps is running in the area. He is origifor the Ward I Powell nally from Illinois, but City Council seat curmoved to Colorado as a rently held by Eric teenager.

Paul, who chose not to Not only is Phipps ERNEST PHIPPS pleased with Powell as run for re-election.

With Paul’s decia place to live, he said sion not to run again, that he is also happy with Phipps was concerned no one else Powell’s city government. was going to run for the council, “ ... Overall, I’m pretty happy which led him to enter the race. with Powell’s city government,” “I am running for city council- Phipps said. “They’re doing a good

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

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job.”

Phipps also is pleased with the work ethic of the city’s employees.

“We are very, very fortunate to have the people we have working in the city government here,” Phipps said. “Most of them are pretty hard workers.”

However, if he is elected to the city council, Phipps would like to see a few changes in the city. One of those relates to zoning.

“I’d like to see a unified code where there [is] residential in residential and commercial where it belongs,” Phipps said. “I see a lot of mixed areas [in Powell right now].”

Phipps would also like to see the speed limit on Coulter Avenue in front of Shopko lowered from 45 miles per hour to 35, saying that 45 is “much too fast” for that area.

He added that it is a dangerous area for a 45 mile-per-hour speed limit and that he himself has been involved in near-accidents close to Shopko.

“About a year ago I voiced a concern and it didn’t go anywhere,” Phipps said Before retiring to Powell, Phipps was self-employed with a concrete business in Colorado for more than 40 years. The business made approximately 3,500-4,500 concrete parking blocks each year and installed them, he said. Phipps also was president of the board of the Philadelphia Church in Commerce City, Colorado, for 20 years. He’s also a lifetime member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars.

Phipps is married and has one son, Mark, who lives in Powell with his family.

Page 18

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Powell City Council

Ward II

Incumbent Ward II City Councilman Scott Mangold and challenger Michael Newton will face off in the Aug. 21 primary election. However, because they’re the only two candidates in the race, August’s election will likely be little more than a straw poll: Both candidates will advance to November’s general election, where the winner will be determined.

Profile

Scott Mangold Mangold runs to keep representing Ward II

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

S

cott Mangold has become a familiar face in Powell city government.

Mangold served two terms as mayor of Powell from 2004-2012, then was appointed to the city council in 2017 to fill the unexpired term of John Wetzel, who was appointed mayor after the death of Don Hillman. Now, Mangold is vying with Michael Newton (see separate story) for election to a full term on the city council.

Mangold sees his experience in city government — and his attendance record at meetings — as strengths.

“As a council candidate, most people know what I stand for,” Mangold said. “I was an active mayor and used the office to communicate to the citizens of Powell on the activities of the city. I updated the web page of the city right after I was elected and used a blog to help in that communication. While mayor, I

only missed one meeting.” That lone absence was because Powell High School had rescheduled a basketball game to a Monday evening in Worland.

A native of Great Falls, Montana, Mangold moved to Powell in 1980 and has a positive view of his hometown of 38 years.

“I believe that the city has some great leaders and that many communities in Wyoming look at Powell as a community that is well-run,” Mangold said. “Our internet is unmatched and our aquatic center is one of the best in the state. When my Montana relatives show up, I give them a tour of our town, including our alleys. They are always amazed.”

“I’m grateful that I found Powell in 1980, because it was a great place to raise a family,” he added.

Mangold names four items as his top priorities when it comes to city government. High on that list is the planned overhaul of Absaroka Street.

“I wasn’t on the council when

they decided the Absaroka Street finances and interacting with the project ... [but] I loved community, and making what happened to Bent Powell a destination for Street and so do the peoyoung families, retirees ple I talked to who live and businesses. there,” Mangold said.

Before moving to Pow“So if Absaroka turns out ell, Mangold graduated that way, I’m all for it.”

Great Falls High School Mangold also supin Montana and attended ports the proposed hotel Eastern Montana Coland convention center lege and Ron Baille that hotel developer Broadcasting School, Steve Wahrlich and Powwhere he obtained a ell Economic Partnerfirst class radio operator SCOTT ship Executive Director license and first class MANGOLD Christine Bekes are tryelectrical license. He has ing to bring to Powell. worked at KPOW radio in Powell “A destination point in the winter since 1980 and is part-owner of time would be a big boost for the MGR media. In addition, Mangold community [and] finally, a hotelier has been a member of Elks Club 33 with a strong background in hospi- years, the Powell Athletic Roundtality is interested,” Mangold said. table, Trapper Booster Club and “Hopefully, the state will agree to also was a past board member of the help us out. I hate the fact that when Park County Boys and Girls Club. we host regional wrestling and He is also a former vice president basketball that teams elect to stay of the Wyoming Association of Muin Cody.” nicipalities (WAM) and has been Mangold also cites the impor- inducted into the Wyoming Broadtance of continuing to monitor city casters Hall of Fame.

Michael Newton Newton seeks Ward II council seat While Newton is a newcomer to Powell, his roots in the area go deep. ichael Newton has lived in Newton was born in Cody and Powell for just a few years, moved to Basin in 1997. He gradubut has already gained an ated from Riverside High School appreciation for his in 2002 and spent the new hometown. next six years in the U.S. “I have lived in Air Force. Newton then Powell since 2016 and moved back to Basin and love living in this little went to work for J&M community,” Newton Enterprises, which he said. “I have been in now runs. emergency services In 2015, Newton and for almost 10 years the company decided to [and] I love helping diversify and started Big people and giving Horn Insulation, which back to the commuultimately led him to nity. I also have a love move to Powell with his MICHAEL of taking on new chalfamily.

NEWTON lenges — I want to get Newton’s only elected involved in Powell and position was when he was give what I can to make it even chosen captain of South Big Horn better for everyone who lives here County Search and Rescue by his or just comes to visit.” colleagues. However, that position Therefore, it should come as no brought him valuable experience. surprise that Newton is challeng“I headed all [search and resing Scott Mangold for the Ward cue] operations with help of my II city council seat (see separate team,” Newton said. “I had a close article). and great working relationship

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

M

with [Big Horn County] Sheriff Ken Blackburn and all county leadership.”

“Running an organization like that in a relatively low-income county teaches you that you need to know and understand how things work, as well as how to prioritize needs in a fiscally responsible manner,” he added. “You also need to know how to find available resources to accomplish what you set out to accomplish — whether it be money in the form of allotted funds, grants, etc., or in efficiency using current resources.”

Newton said it was difficult to single out the three most important issues in Powell, but he does believe it’s important how those issues are handled.

“First and foremost, it’s the people that live here. Local government is put into place and trusted with the responsibility of doing what is best for the majority of the people,” Newton said. “This means being fiscally responsible and open minded — meaning that you are not only willing to hear

both sides, but want to — and making decisions for the long-term good of the city.”

“I think every issue that comes up, big or small, is worthy of everyone’s consideration because we all have different views on what is ‘the most important,’” he added.

Newton has also been involved with the Basin Fire Department and the Big Horn County Local Emergency Planning Committee.

He is a certified EMT-Intermediate and worked as an EMT in Big Horn County.

Newton and his wife married in 2009 and have two children, Madyson and Jace. Because of his children and his business, Newton said he has a “vested interest” in seeing the city be successful.

“I have two young children that will grow up here, two businesses with [about] 10 employees and their families,” Newton said.

“I own property here and this is where I live and plan to continue to live. If elected, I will do my best to be the best advocate possible for the City of Powell.”

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Powell City Council

Ward III

Incumbent Ward III City Councilman Tim Sapp and challenger Tawnya Peterson will face off in the Aug. 21 primary election. However, because they’re the only two candidates in the race, August’s election will likely be little more than a straw poll: Both candidates will advance to November’s general election, where the winner will be determined.

Page 19

Profile

Tawnya Peterson Peterson offers ‘fresh young perspective’

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

T

awnya Peterson wants to bring a new perspective to Powell City Council and represent Ward III. “I am interested in serving on the city council because I am committed to the economic growth of Wyoming and specifically Powell,” Peterson said. “I can bring a fresh young perspective to the council that will help Powell move forward in the future.”

Peterson — who’s challenging incumbent Tim Sapp — is currently the Development Coordinator at the Northwest College Foundation.

Before moving to Powell, she was the grants specialist for the City of Gillette’s Finance Department.

Part of Peterson’s responsibilities at the City of Gillette included preparing the city budget and working closely with the Wyoming Business

Council and the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board, all of which she believes will be assets if she is elected to the city council.

“I have the time and dedication to serve as a valuable member of the city council,” Peterson said. “I have a passion for Wyoming and would love the opportunity to build upon the things that make Powell a great place to live and work. As a city councilwoman, I would work closely with the Powell Chamber and the Powell Economic Partnership on initiatives that benefit the economic growth of the community.”

Peterson said that she would focus on three main areas if elected: economic development, sustainable infrastructure, and a balanced budget.

“All of these issues go hand in hand,” she said.

Peterson said she can bring a fresh view on economic develop-

ment in Powell if she is elected to to spend taxpayer money wisely the city council. when it comes to the city budget.

“I think I can bring a new “I would also concentrate on enperspective on which suring the city’s budget economic developremains balanced withment endeavors Powell out dipping into reserves should support,” Peterand focus on putting the son said. “In order to taxpayer’s dollars to the attract new businesses, best use,” she said.

Powell needs to conPeterson was born and tinue to provide quality raised in Thermopolis infrastructure.” and earned a bachelor’s Peterson also said degree in business adthat economic develministration from the opment should not be University of Wyoming. passive when it comes Peterson has one son, TAWNYA to enticing new busiBlake, who will be atPETERSON nesses into the city. tending kindergarten at “Powell shouldn’t Parkside Elementary this wait for businesses to come to fall. us,” Peterson said. “We should “I look forward to serving the actively promote all the great citizens of Powell,” Peterson said. benefits we have, including fiber “I promise to do my best in repreoptic and business-ready industrial senting the people of Ward III and grounds.” help shape a better future for all Peterson said she also wants residents of Powell.”

Tim Sapp Sapp seeks fourth term on city council line if needed,” Sapp said. “I am very willing to listen and answer questions as they arise. I know and im Sapp brings a large understand the operation of the amount of experience to the council and also the economical table when it comes to Powell resources and expenditures that city government. the city has.”

Sapp, who is seeking a A lifelong resident fourth term representing of Powell, Sapp has Ward III on the Powell deep roots in the comCity Council, originally munity. served two terms on the “I am not a newcouncil from 2000-2008, comer,” Sapp said. “I then was elected again am a fourth-generafour years ago. Those tion member of the three terms also include a community, born and stint as city council presiraised here, and have dent. Sapp has also been a done my best to serve part of the Planning and the community. I have TIM SAPP Zoning committee since raised my children 2008 and served on the here and have taught Centennial Committee. them to love and appreciate the “I am experienced in the posi- community and to also give back tion and willing to take the hard to it.”

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

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My passion is to see Powell grow, to recruit jobs for the people of this community, to become a stable place for all to live here [and] also those that moved away and plan on coming back home,” he added.

Sapp lists economic development as his top priority should he be re-elected to the city council, followed by replacing city personnel as they retire and the city’s infrastructure and maintenance.

He said all of those priorities need “careful consideration, research, and an open mind.”

“I am very interested in Powell, the growth and quality it possesses and want to maintain a steady growth and stability for the community,” Sapp said. “I believe the community has room to grow and prosper for the benefit of all the citizens. Economical development is one of the goals I believe

in. I believe that all citizens have the right to be heard and represented.”

Sapp obtained an associate’s degree in education and vo-tech from Northwest College and has been a machinist for 46 years. He has been the president of the Heart Mountain Rod and Gun Club since 1986 and also helps with the Youth Shooting Sports program. Sapp was a hunter safety instructor until 2012. He was involved in the Boy Scouts from 1986 to about 2003 as a Cub Scout leader and also served a stint as a Scoutmaster. Sapp is a member of the Order of the Arrow and is also on the finance committee for the First United Methodist Church of Powell.

Sapp and his wife, Cindy, have been married for 44 years, and have two sons, Josh and James, and one grandson, Kalen.

Page 20

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

House District 24

Profile Richard Jones Former park ranger runs for Legislature cessible and analytical — someone who doesn’t get emotionally involved.

He said he’s also a collaborator who’s willing apiti resident Richard Jones says he to compromise if it’s needed. can be the advocate that northwest Jones said he’d particularly want to work Wyoming needs in the State House. together with Park County’s other state repreWith the various state issues that impact this sentatives, in House Districts 25 and 50, to reparea, “we need to have a voice in Cheyenne to resent the area and industries like agriculture protect us and have our voice heard,” Jones and tourism. said.

“I’m running for this seat because of the fact He says that House District 24 — that I am interested in the statewide which encompasses most of the City issues,” Jones said at the forum, citof Cody, Wapiti, Sunlight/Crandall and ing topics like state taxes, mineral the northern part of Yellowstone Naextraction rights and water rights. tional Park — “has unfortunately not He also described himself as been as well represented as it’s needed someone who doesn’t believe in to be in the last four years.” change for change’s sake.

“No judgment or blame there, but “I like to find a problem before I that is just fact,” Jones said at a recent start looking for solutions,” Jones forum in Powell. said.

Now retired, the 68-year-old’s past Asked at the forum about Wyowork experience includes serving as a ming’s recent budget crunch, Jones firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service, RICHARD JONES said that the state relied on taxes working as a ranger in national parks from mineral extraction to “float ranging from Bighorn Canyon to the them along for many, many years at Virgin Islands, as a casino regulator in Missis- a very comfortable rate.” sippi, a director of training in the Mississippi In the wake of a downturn in the minerDepartment of Corrections and as a psychome- als industry a few years ago, “I believe, and I trist and research assistant at a rehab center. can’t tell exactly, but I think we have more of a All told, he’s worked in federal, state and county spending issue than a revenue issue,” he said. government, private businesses and nonprofit Jones criticized Wyoming’s government for organizations. a lack of transparency, noting that the state has Jones describes himself a constitutional origi- ranked poorly by some national groups. nalist, a fiscal conservative, a good listener, ac“It’s hard to know where our money goes,

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

W

what piles it comes out of, what decisions are made,” he said.

As for economic development, Jones indicated that it should primarily be driven by local governments.

“The state should be the conduit for hearing from the county and the cities on what they need and how best they can be supported,” he said.

Jones is a staunch opponent of legalizing marijuana, calling it “a scam” and “Big Tobacco all over again.” His wife, Charlotte Carlton, has helped organize multiple summits in Cody about the drug.

Jones notes that the substance has been legalized in other states thanks to referenda — with direct voting by the public — rather than state legislatures.

“What medicine or substance have we ever had that we just vote on being good?” he asked, rhetorically.

Jones has lived in Park County for the last four years and for 13 years total.

Born in South Dakota, Jones’ family followed his father (also a park ranger) to posts around the United States; that included several years in the Yellowstone National Park, which is a part of House District 24.

“I don’t care where you’re from, where you’re born, if you’re not from Wyoming,” said Jones, whose ties to the area date back to the 1950s. “But you need to vote in Cheyenne as if you were from Wyoming. That’s the important thing.”

Sandy Newsome Cody businesswoman again running for Legislature my heart.”

Newsome said she also offers expertise in economic development, ody area residents may get a sitting on the board of the group chance to reconsider one of Forward Cody for the last 10 years. their votes in 2016.

“In that time, we’ve managed to Sandy Newsome, a Cody Repub- do some really remarkable things,” lican, plans to run again for House she said at a recent forum. For inDistrict 24. stance, Newsome said “I continue to think the group helped get that I can do a good job,” funding to reopen the Newsome said of her Sleeping Giant Ski Area, decision. “I continue funding for a warehouse to think that I could be for Cody Labs — “I valuable in representing know that’s somewhat House District 24.” up in the air right now,” She specifically cited she added, referring to her experience in tourrecent cutbacks at the ism, having served on company — and is now the Park County Travel working to help expand Council for a couple GunWerks’ facilities.

SANDY decades and on the Wyo“That’s the kind of NEWSOME ming Tourism Board diversification that we from 2011 to 2017. need — pharmaceutical manufacNewsome noted that the district turing, gun manufacturing,” she includes not only the west part of said. “Those are things that will the City of Cody, Wapiti and the straighten out [and] maybe make North and South Fork areas, but less boom and bust that we experialso the northern half of Yellow- ence in the energy industry.” stone National Park — a major desNewsome and her husband, Bob, tination for visitors. own several retail properties in “The tourism piece is a big deal,” dowtown Cody. They jointly owned Newsome said, adding that it’s Sunlight Sports from 1989 until its “something that’s near and dear to sale in 2010.

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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Beyond her tourism-related service, Newsome also serves on the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics, the board of the economic development group Forward Cody and is treasurer of the Park County Republican Women.

“I get out of bed [every day] to make Cody and Park County and Wyoming a better place to live and a better place to work and do business,” she said at a recent forum. “I think that’s important and sometimes that’s as simple as just picking up a piece of trash as it blows down Sheridan Avenue ... or spending days in Cheyenne with legislators, trying to get legislation passed that benefits us up here in Park County or sometimes it’s renovating a building ... so that we and our visitors can enoy the beauty of downtown Cody.”

She said the future for Wyoming is bright “and we need to capitalize on that.”

Asked for her thoughts on the performance of incumbent Rep. Scott Court, R-Cody — who ultimately decided not to seek reelection — Newsome said that’s not what her campaign is about.

“I’m not going to say anything

bad about Scott [Court]. He went and he served and I’m not just going to comment on any of my feelings about his service,” she said.

“I’m running because I think I can do a good job.”

Newsome has long been registered as a Republican, but — because she didn’t join the race until after the filing deadline for partisan candidates — she ran as an independent candidate in 2016.

Newsome decided to run in August 2016 after then-Rep. Sam Krone, R-Cody, was charged with embezzling money from the Park County Bar Association.

Court, who declared his candidacy during the filing period in May 2016, defeated Krone in a landslide in the August primary.

He then picked up 2,254 votes to trump Newsome (1,421 votes) and Democrat Paul Fees (1,196) in November’s general election.

Although she came up short, “I was very encouraged that I got that many votes kind of getting in later in the game,” Newsome said. “But this time I’ll run as a Republican — which has been my affiliation for the last 35 years — so I think that’s one of the keys to winning here.”

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

House District 24

Page 21

Profile

Denise Shirley Wapiti woman running for state House

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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f she’s elected to represent House District 24 in the Wyoming Legislature, Denise Shirley says she’ll work hard to bring jobs to the area.

Shirley says Cody’s seasonal tourism positions are not enough for families and she’d like to see more jobs in light manufacturing.

“Getting here and just looking from an outside perspective, you go down Sheridan [Avenue], there’s a lot of closed shops,” said Shirley, a Wapiti Republican who moved to the area in 2015.

She said rent in downtown Cody is unaffordable for businesses.

“We have a lot of trinket shops on Sheridan — and I’m not knocking our merchants — but there’s really not a lot for Cody residents to buy here,” Shirley said, adding that people shop in Billings for big items “because it really is expensive here.”

Shirley said the Cody area could be home to businesses that assemble furniture, electronics or other items.

Expanding the area’s transportation system would be key to any of those efforts, she said, specifically wondering if Cody’s Yellowstone Regional Airport could be enlarged to accommodate larger aircraft.

A stay-at-home mom, Shirley’s past experience includes working as a wellness coordinator and assisting at both legal and financial advising offices. Shirley and her husband moved to the area from California, wanting to raise their two girls in a place that shared their conservative values.

Shirley, 46, has been actively involved in the Park County Republican Party since arriving here and she currently holds the position of state committeewoman. She previously served on a school board in Texas and unsuccessfully ran for the Cody school board two years ago. Shirley is the team mom for Cody High School cheerleading team, where her two daughters, ages 16 and 17, are members; she also has a 26-year-old son.

In Wyoming’s education system, Shirley would like to see more of an opportunity for learning trades,

saying she’s long believed that system, she said. Shirley would not all students “fit in the box” of also like adoptions to be less difa traditional college education. ficult and expensive.

She’d like to see partnerships that As a state representative, allow Wyoming students to use Shirley said it will be important Hathaway scholarships to work with local oftoward trade schoolficials, vowing to attend type learning.

Cody City Council and “I think if we can Park County Commistrain our kids here, we sion meetings. can keep our kids here,” House District 24 she said. represents the westShirley, who is proern part of the City of life, also sees education Cody, the North and as a potential way to South forks of the support young women Shoshone River (inwho might consider an cluding Wapiti) and abortion. the northern part of DENISE “We continue to tell Yellowstone. The seat SHIRLEY girls, ‘Have your baby; is currently held by give your baby up for Rep. Scott Court, Radoption,’ but we don’t give them Cody, who is finishing up his first the tools to succeed,” she said. two-year term. Shirley noted that Shirley suggests aiding young Park County has only had one femothers through the time they male legislator in its history (Peg finish college, “because most of Shreve). the time, the fathers do not stick While not saying people should around.” Under that concept, the vote for her because she’s a government would provide sup- woman, “I think women have a lot port for six to eight years instead to give to the Legislature,” Shirley of the 18 to 20 that might be of- said. “I think they have a lot to fered under the current welfare give to the Republican party.”

Page 22

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Senate District 19

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Forum

Peterson, Kost differ on guns in schools TALK EDUCATION, REVENUE AT FORUM

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

S

tate Sen. Ray Peterson, R-Cowley, and his primary election challenger, Republican R.J. Kost of Powell, agree that individual school districts should be allowed to decide whether they want to arm trained staff.

But the candidates for Senate District 19 diverged on whether arming staffers is the right approach to school security.

“I’ve got to be honest: I am not in support of it,” Kost, a longtime Powell educator, said at a Tuesday evening forum in Cody. “But I think each district needs to make those decisions for themselves.”

The Cody school board voted earlier this year to adopt a policy that allows staff to carry a gun after completing hours of training and undergoing a psychological evaluation.

The Powell school board, meanwhile, decided to instead spend roughly a year drafting a comprehensive safety plan that’s intended to look at all aspects of school safety. Kost, who served as the Powell district’s curriculum coordinator until his June retirement, favored that approach.

“I feel that our district was honorable in saying, ‘We need to stop this before it gets to guns,’” Kost said. The state needs to meet the mental health needs of people who are struggling, he said, so perhaps a shooting can be prevented.

“To say, ‘OK, we’re going to throw a gun in there so we can help,’ the chaos of guns in schools if there’s a shooting is just beyond my belief,” Kost said. “I know that I would protect our kids any way I could, but it wouldn’t be with a gun, it would be with myself.”

Kost said he would never be able to forgive himself if he accidentally shot a kid.

Differing from Kost, Peterson said he “definitely” supports Cody’s decision to arm trained staff.

“Gun-free zones are an invitation for those people,” Peterson said, citing mass shootings at movie theaters and school campuses; Peterson, who manages an office supply company, said he had nieces and nephews attending Columbine

High School the day two students gunned down 13 fellow students and faculty members.

“If you put a sign out front that says this is a gun-free zone, I can’t think of anything worse of how to protect your children [than] by advertising that on a school campus,” Peterson said, adding, “I think the most effective deterrent would be to put that sign out in front of the Cody schools saying we do have guns on the premises.”

Peterson voted for the 2017 bill that gave individual school boards the ability to decide whether they want to arm staff.

“I think that [approach] was wise,” he said.

EDUCATION Another of the questions posed at the forum, hosted by the Park County Republican Women at the Holiday Inn, asked the candidates what changes they’d like to make to Wyoming’s education system.

Peterson said he’s “pretty content” with the state’s schools and the way they educate children.

“I think right now in Wyoming our education system could use a little help, but for the most part, what we’ve built over the last 10 years or so with teacher salaries, new schools, special education, those areas, we’ve done pretty well,” he said, saying it’s a system most states look at “with some jealousy.”

Peterson said he supports instructional facilitators — positions that are not directly funded under Wyoming’s current model — because he likes the concept of “helping our teachers become better teachers and better in their profession.”

The 13-year Senate veteran said he’d also like to see better, more effective evaluations of teachers; Peterson noted that he sponsored an unsuccessful bill in 2011 that would have put cameras in school classrooms for that purpose.

Kost said he didn’t think anyone in Wyoming would oppose good, honest evaluations of the state’s teachers, “but in the process of doing that, it needs to be fair and that’s the part that we’ve got to look at.”

He said Wyoming is fortunate to have “probably some of the best schools in the nation.”

Kost did say the state has focused too much on four-year college degrees and not enough on trades.

“We need to look at our CTE [career and technical education] programs … and how can we enhance our students’ [educations] to better meet their needs, their dreams in those areas,” he said. “You try to get a plumber or a carpenter right now and you’ll find out that it’s extremely difficult.”

Part of that, Kost said, involves supporting Wyoming’s community colleges.

REVENUE The candidates were also asked how the State of Wyoming can increase its revenue as tax dollars from the minerals industry has declined.

Kost said it starts “with trying to find out what we have that we can offer to others.”

“We need to talk to our constituents and say, what is it you see? What is it that we can do?

How can we look outside our natural focus and say, what can we do to make a difference?” he said. Kost suggested assessing whether the state has adequate infrastructure, such as reliable internet access and transportation.

Peterson, who chairs the Legislature’s revenue committee, indicated that he could support a statewide hospitality and leisure tax — assessed on establishments like hotels, restaurants and museums. He was surprised that a proposal to assess a 1 percent tax on those services was killed during the past legislative session.

“Money leaves our state faster than we can generate the benefit from it,” Peterson said.

“And so, in reality, getting some of that money back from some of our tourists, getting some money back into our state from outside of our state, I thought was a reasonable idea.”

He noted that he’s also been a vocal advocate for taxing online sales, to boost state revenue and “level up the playing field between Main Street business and those outside of our state that haven’t had to pay taxes.”

“So I’ve been right there on the front lines fighting the battle for increasing taxes in [those] aspects,” he said.

With no Democratic, independent or thirdparty candidates emerging so far, the winner of the Republican primary will likely be a lock to win the Senate seat. The district encompasses the Powell area plus northern Big Horn County — including Byron, Cowley, Lovell, Deaver, Frannie, Greybull and Shell.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Senate District 19

Page 23

Forum

Peterson burnishes credentials, Kost calls for change

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

S

tate Sen. Ray Peterson and challenger R.J. Kost wasted no time distinguishing themselves during a Thursday night forum.

In his opening statement, Peterson pitched his 13 years of service in the state Senate, saying he’s in line for some leadership positions.

Currently the sixth-most experienced Republican in the Senate, a member of the powerful management council and co-chair of the revenue committee, Peterson hinted that he plans to seek the chamber’s top post.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a president of the Senate from Park or Big Horn County,” Peterson told the audience.

Meanwhile, in his opening remarks, Kost said it was time for a change — and said he firmly believes the state should consider limiting the number of terms a lawmaker can serve in office.

“I think we have a tendency to become too ... for lack of a better word, complacent,” he said.

Kost said he sees a need “to come up with new ideas and new ways of making things happen” with new people.

Peterson, of Cowley, and Kost, of Powell, are lifelong Republicans who are set to face off in the Aug. 21 primary election. The winner will advance to the general election as the Republican Party’s nominee to represent Senate District 19. The district includes the Powell area and northern Big Horn County — including Lovell, Cowley, Deaver, Frannie and Greybull.

Peterson, vice president of the printer/copier/office supply store The Office Shop, is seeking his fourth full, four-year term in the Senate.

After being unopposed in 2010 and 2014, “I’m kind of excited to have an opponent,” Peterson said. The senator said he’s grateful for

an opportunity to talk about ideas, differences of opinions and solutions.

Peterson indicated he was particularly keen to talk about a bill he sponsored earlier this year, Senate File 117, that would have cut tens of millions of dollars from Wyoming’s education system in the coming years; Peterson said the facts of the bill, which died in the House, “were not reported properly” during last winter’s debate.

Kost — a longtime Powell educator who retired as Park County School District No. 1’s curriculum coordinator in June — indicated that he also wanted to discuss education funding.

“I think we need to stop using education as the chopping block for savings,” Kost said in his opening remarks. He said the state’s most prized resource is its children and that it’s essential to provide them with a quality education.

However, neither candidate got an opportunity to expand on their thoughts on education during their relatively brief portion of the multi-candidate forum, hosted by the Park County Republican Women. The Senate District 19 candidates were given about 15 minutes for questions and answers.

Both Peterson and Kost expressed reluctance about passing laws to restrict a woman’s ability to undergo an abortion.

“I really believe it’s a decision for the person involved, their church and their doctor,” Kost said, adding, “We are here to help all people of the state. We’re not here to make decisions in that [state] level and so I personally feel that that is a decision that’s not mine to be made.”

Peterson shared a similar take.

“I’m pro-life, I believe in the sanctity of life and I don’t agree with abortion, but it’s not my right to tell women what they can and can’t do with their own bodies and the birth of their

child, or non-birth,” Peterson said.

However, he said taxpayer dollars should not be used for abortions, saying there have to be “consequences.” “... the government subsidizing abortions, and running clinics on subsidies — tax dollars you and I pay — that’s completely wrong,” he said.

Both candidates said Wyoming needs to do something about its heavy dependence on natural resources.

Kost said it’s “necessary” for the state to bring in new industries to diversify the state’s economy and to level out the highs and lows of the minerals industry, helping ride out the rough times while saving money in the good times. Citing success Salt Lake City has had in bringing in tech companies, “why couldn’t we have some of that?” Kost asked, rhetorically.

“Through this leveling of resources, we can provide better healthcare for our children.

We can also provide better healthcare for our elderly,” he added.

Peterson, meanwhile, said the state needs to make changes so that the minerals industry is no longer providing 70 percent of the state’s tax dollars.

The incumbent said he has not signed a “no tax” pledge, “because I don’t know what’s going to happen in Wyoming.” But Peterson noted he also opposed a 2013 bill that raised the state’s fuel tax.

“So I’m anti-tax, but at the same time, we have a tax structure problem in Wyoming,” he said. “We have a spending problem, yup, but we have a tax problem, too.”

Barring a Democratic challenger being written in on the primary ballot or a bid from an independent or third-party contender, whichever Republican wins the Aug. 21 primary election will be unopposed in November’s general election.

Page 24

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Senate District 19

Profile

R.J. Kost Former educator Kost running for state Senate

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

R

.J. Kost recently retired from the Powell school district, but he won’t be taking it easy: the longtime educator is running for the state Senate.

Kost wants to change the tone in the Legislature’s upper chamber, which he says has developed at least a perception of being too confrontational and critical.

“I’m not saying that they’re right or wrong in what they’re thinking, but what I am saying is you don’t have to attack and be harsh about it,” Kost said of the Senate. “There’s ways of approaching these things in a more diplomatic way so that everybody is on the same side.”

The Powell Republican said he can bring a new perspective — and that he wants to help the state move into the changing 21st century.

Kost sees a need for Wyoming to become more adaptable in a globalized economy and less de-

pendent on the volatile minerals computer and looking at whatever industry; that could include find- the internet says,” he said. ing ways to boost tourism, bring Senate District 19 contains the in business or take advantage of Powell area and northern Big the internet, he said.

Horn County. It’s cur“Do I have the rently represented by answer? No. But I Sen. Ray Peterson, Rwould love to talk to Cowley. people, learn more Peterson, 59, has and see what people served in the Senate have as ideas,” Kost since 2005 and is seeking said. “I think it’s another four-year term. important to listen to That means Kost and your constituents and Peterson will face off in take all that in and the Aug. 21 primary elecweigh it and make tion, hoping to advance the best decision that to November’s general R.J. KOST you think is going to election as the party’s assist growth in Big nominee.

Horn County and In addition to his 43 Park County.” years in education as a teacher Kost, 65, said empty storefronts and administrator, Kost’s backin places like Basin, Lovell and ground includes service on the Powell raise the question of what boards of the Powell Valley Hoscan be done to keep the communi- pital District, Powell Economic ties going.

Partnership and the Park Coun“... Because in the long run, ty Coalition Against Substance people caring and helping each Abuse. Kost grew up in farming other is what’s going to help us be and worked at bentonite plants more successful than sitting on a in Greybull and Lovell as a young

I SUPPORT

Economic Diversity, Education, Healthcare, Term Limits

ABOUT ME Devoted Family Man Math teacher - 31 years Curriculum Coordinator - 12 years I have served on the Powell Hospital Board, Powell Schools Federal Credit Union Board, Powell Economic Partnership Advisory Board, and more!

PAID FOR BY THE CANDIDATE

adult. Outside of seven years in Dubois, he’s spent his entire life in the Big Horn Basin.

Kost says education is “definitely” his passion and that Wyoming has a problem if youth are not the state’s most prized possession. “... If we don’t make sure that we do justice to our youth, we certainly can’t make sure that we’re going to be successful in the future,” he said.

As an example of his concern with the critical tone taken by the Senate, Kost cited the recent sparring over education funding between senators and the state House of Representatives.

“The Senate was aggressive in what they were going after to the point of where collaboration and coming up with some kind of a joint agreement was almost impossible,” he said. “I would just like to see if we can’t find ways to alleviate that and work better to meet the needs of our state in a more, I guess, understanding or compatible way.”

VOTE

 FOR 

KOST

REPUBLICAN - SENATE DISTRICT 19

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Senate District 19

Page 25

Profile

Ray Peterson Peterson seeks fourth term in the Wyoming Senate Hoping to put his experience to work once council and county commission, Peterson again for the people of his district, state Sen. has been in public service for 27 years “and Ray Peterson, R-Cowley, is seeking a fourth I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. term in the Wyoming State Senate.

Coming up with a permanent way to fund “I enjoy public service,” Peterson education is one of Wyoming’s said during a recent presentation in primary challenges, he said, Powell. though he hopes the minerals Before becoming a state lawmakindustry will continue to reer, the manager of The Office Shop bound. served as a Cowley town councilman At the PEP event, Peterson for six years and as a Big Horn Counpledged to battle for setting aside ty commissioner for eight years. state money for municipal and Peterson, 59, began representcounty governments. ing Senate District 19 back in 2005, “I’ll fight for that $105 million when he was picked to fill the [appropriation],” he said. “There unexpired term of the late Laness are those legislators that are going Northrup of Powell.

RAY PETERSON to be after that, to do away with Peterson was elected in 2006, 2010 that and put that toward educaand 2014. He is currently serving as tion. But we need to keep that on chairman of the Senate Revenue Committee towns and counties.” and is a member of the Health, Labor and SoPeterson also noted that he championed a cial Services Committee. He is also a member bill that took $500 million out of the state’s of two select committees on natural resources investment portfolio and dedicated it to giving and investments and is co-chairman of the low-interest loans to infrastructure projects in Mental Health Providers committee.

Wyoming — primarily streets in small towns Peterson is also on the management council that wouldn’t be able to raise enough tax doland said he is thinking about running for a lars for the work on their own, he said. leadership position. He previously served on “We brought that money back home to Wyothe Senate Appropriations Committee, as well ming for their infrastructure needs,” he said. as the Agriculture and Transportation comPeterson said he is hoping to sponsor at mittees. least two bills during next year’s legislative Combining with his time on the Cowley session. The first bill would have Wyoming

join with other states to hold a constitutional convention to address issues such as a balanced federal budget and states’ rights via amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Another bill would set up a new way of funding capital construction projects for community colleges using a process with an assessment much like the current assessment for Wyoming K-12 schools via the Wyoming School Facilities Dept. The State Building Commission or the Community College Commission would prioritize the projects, Peterson said.

“We’re trying to take the politics out of it and provide consistency for long-term planning,” he said.

At a recent forum in Cody, Peterson said the Big Horn Basin’s three senators — himself, Sen. Hank Coe, R-Cody, Sen. Wyatt Agar, RThermopolis — are there for each other in the body of 30 lawmakers.

“We have to work that closely because we’re so outnumbered down there in the state Senate,” Peterson said, saying he works to represent people from across the Big Horn Basin.

Peterson said he still has the energy and willingness to serve his constituents.

“I still have the fire and the desire to serve,” he said.

(David Peck of the Lovell Chronicle contributed reporting.)

Vote

R. Ray Peterson

Senate District 19

A vote for: Conservative Values, Leadership, Experience, Knowledge, Honesty, Integrity Paid for by Peterson for Senate

Page 26

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

U.S. House

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Q&A

U.S. House candidates lay out positions Wyoming’s Republicans and Democrats have some choices to make in the 2018 for Wyoming’s lone seat for the U.S. House.

Two Republicans — Rod Miller of Cheyenne and Blake Stanley of Cheyenne — are each challenging incumbent Rep. Liz Cheney, who’s seeking a second two-year term in Congress.

Democrats, meanwhile, need to choose between a pair of Laramie residents, Greg Hunter and Travis Helm, in their party’s primary election.

Below is how the candidates responded to a questionnaire administered by the Wyoming League of Women Voters and the Laramie Daily Boomerang. No response was received from Stanley.

What experience, qualifications and interests do you have that would encourage voters to select you for this office?

Liz Cheney (R): As Wyoming’s lone voice in the U.S. House of Representatives, I have championed conservative reform to create jobs, cut taxes and regulation, expand America’s energy, mining and ag industries and restore the strength and power of our nation’s standing in the world. As a proud constitutional conservative, I have co-sponsored legislation that would crack down on illegal immigration, preserve the constitutional rights of gun owners across America by expanding concealed carry reciprocity and protect life with bills that expand the Hyde Amendment, defund Planned Parenthood, and ensure Obamacare doesn’t provide taxpayer funds for abortion.

Rod Miller (R): I am a Wyoming native from a family that has been in Wyoming for more than 150 years. I worked in the offices of two Wyoming governors, Ed Herschler and Mike Sullivan, primarily doing natural resources and federal lands work. I have a deep understanding of how good government should operate in the Cowboy State, as well as issues crucial to the state gained from that experience.

Travis Helm (D): Voters can be confident in me because I have solid Wyoming connections and credentials. I grew-up on a family ranch, pulling calves in spring snowstorms. I worked in residential and commercial construction and I cleaned, painted, and repaired cars, before going on to law school. I’m proud of my UW College of Law education and know it will serve us well in Congress. As a lawmaker, it’s important to have an understanding and awareness of the unforeseen consequences of passing a law. I believe we would be well served to spend every other year editing and erasing ineffective laws.

Greg Hunter (D): After 30+ years working for Federal Agencies and public lands, I have the skills and experience to protect our lands, navigate legislation, and save the taxpayer money while achieving the goals important to

Wyomingites. Progressive ideas have led to American accomplishments. Wyoming can be progressive and still maintain its Cowboy character. I will work to support Wyoming Energy, Tourism, Public Education and Agriculture.

Civil Rights, Bussing and Creation vs. Evolution issues have shaped my understanding of equality, life, democracy, and the American experience. I will strive to protect Universal Health Care, overturn Citizens United, and bring forth compassionate immigration reform.

How would you work through the contentiousness in the US House and Senate?

Liz Cheney (R): It’s critical that Wyoming’s representative in Congress has the knowledge, experience and proven track record to educate people outside Wyoming to gain support for our issues. During my time in Congress I have successfully built and led national coalitions to defeat the efforts of radical environmentalists who target our industry, our business and way of life. I also worked across the aisle with Democrats to introduce legislation that delists the gray wolf in Wyoming and the Great Lakes Region. At this critical moment, it’s essential that I have the strongest voice possible to build coalitions and get results in Washington.

Rod Miller (R): First and foremost, I will conduct myself in a civil manner both through this campaign and also in office if I’m elected.

I will not engage in partisan one-upsmanship, but will rather focus on the work at hand and how to accomplish it collaboratively. If I’m fortunate enough to be elected, I plan to host a big get-together for all freshman members of the House....informal, with beer and music....to give us all a chance to meet one another as people before the work starts on the floor.

Travis Helm (D): I would be an effective Representative because I choose my people over my party. I’m dedicated to Wyoming and Wyoming values, this will be a refreshing change in Washington and people will respect that. It will be effective because I will be looking out for Wyoming and not a national party and their priorities. Instead of being the first in line with whatever my party says, I will be someone that lawmakers want to meet with to build consensus. By being independent, I will make Wyoming’s vote actually worth something and we will be able to negotiate the best outcomes for our state.

Greg Hunter (D): I ask questions. I listen.

Discussion leads to learning. I will attempt to discover common ground and experience and then work on the parts of issues where I find agreement with the other side of the aisle. I will always put Wyoming first but I will not be rolled over by my party or the other for the sake of expediency just to obtain a “win” for the team. I try to imagine myself in the other per-

son’s shoes. Science, empathy, a culmination of my experiences with fellow human beings, and a genuine love of Wyoming inform me.

Within the last year, US clean air and clean water regulations have been relaxed. How would you balance the need for environmental protection with the call for less governmental regulation?

Liz Cheney (R): It’s our local citizens who are the best stewards of our resources and lands. My first bill signed into law by President Trump overturned Planning 2.0, a federal power grab that would have expanded the control exercised by environmental groups and bureaucrats over our land. We also used the Congressional Review Act to undo the National Wild Life Hunting and Fishing Rule, the Stream Buffer Rule and the OSHA Power Grab Rule. We must be vigilant in pursuing every opportunity to reduce federal overreach, streamline regulations and return as much authority as possible to our states and local communities.

Rod Miller (R): “Balance” is the operative word in your question. “Ecology” and “economy” both derive from the same Greek word, eikos, meaning “home”. So, making sure our collective home is both healthy and wealthy WILL require balance. Government regulation, of course, has its place in our civic life, but must be balanced against our need for a strong economy. It will require wisdom on a case-by-case basis to strike that balance. But acknowledging that balance is necessary is the first step.

Travis Helm (D): Clean air and water are life necessities that we must honor and respect. It can be easy to forget this in Wyoming where we are blessed with the some of the cleanest air and water in the country. It is not a balance of environment versus regulation, the regulations are intended to maintain our environment. We need to continue to evaluate and improve our regulations, making them easier to understand and assuring they are effective in their intended purposes. Electing individuals, such as myself, with experience in the working world will help to create smarter regulations.

Greg Hunter (D): I care about science and your health. My professional career has focused primarily on EPA-derived protections.

Many states do not adhere to Federal EPA because they feel these requirements are too burdensome. Think Flint, Michigan. EPA protections are not designed to kill business, they are proposed to save constituents from breathing or drinking contaminates which may impact their health. Many citizens are drinking contaminated water now but they do not know it. The EPA has been obstructed from looking at these chemicals, due to Congress’s capture

by Corporations. Choose science over corporate interests for Wyoming’s future. Vote.

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

U.S. Senate

Page 27

Q&A

Senate candidates lay out positions Republican voters will have five choices on the primary election ballot in 2018 for the U.S. Senate: incumbent John Barrasso or challengers Dave Dodson of Teton County, Charlie Hardy of Cheyenne, John Holtz of Laramie, Anthony Van Risseghem of Cheyenne and Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente of San Diego, California. The winner of the primary fight will advance to presumably face the Democrats’ lone candidate, Gary Trauner of Wilson, in November’s general election.

Below is how the candidates responded to a questionaire administered by the Wyoming League of Women Voters and the Laramie Daily Boomerang. No response was received from De La Fuente.

What experience, qualifications and interests do you have that would encourage voters to select you for this office?

Incumbent John Barrasso (R): Nothing has prepared me more for serving Wyoming than the years I spent as a medical doctor, a state legislator and volunteer in our state. These experiences and jobs prepared me to contribute conservative ideas to the broad set of issues and challenges we face. They taught me the important lessons of hard work and community that lead to solutions closest to the people. Most importantly, I learned why it is so critical that we guide our own future and not leave decisions about our lives, our resources, our freedoms to Washington.

Dave Dodson (R): Things are not getting done, and something must change. I am the only candidate for U.S. Senate from the private sector, where I helped create thousands of middle-class jobs in 22 states. I am the only candidate that operated in highly-regulated industries, and have worked side-by-side with labor unions. I have degrees in economics and business.

I am not a career politician, but instead a taxpayer who lived under the inaction and failure of Congress, and like Donald Trump had before running for office, I want change.

Charlie Hardy (R): I have dedicated my life to listening to others and accompanying them in their struggles. I was born in Cheyenne and have traveled over 1 million miles of Wyoming highways, visited all 50 states and over 30 foreign countries. I earned an M.A. in educational administration from UW, and was superintendent of the Catholic schools of Wyoming.

My core values are equality of opportunity, individual rights and liberty, and social justice. Being an active Wyoming Catholic priest for 29 years brought me in constant contact with suffering people, including eight years living in a cardboard shack in South America.

John Holtz (R): I am an Eagle Scout and a member of the Christian Legal Society since law school. I obtained the first double-digit firm fixed-price contract in the history of the Hughes Aircraft Company; and I was the head of the committee to redesign the fire control system; consisting of the laser range finder, ballistic computer and thermal imaging system of the Army’s main battle tank, the M60A3. I was in the Electro Optical and Space Division of the Hughes Aircraft Company. The Tomahawk missiles that recently hit Syria were once made by the Hughes Aircraft Company. ...

Anthony L. Van Risseghem (R): Far as experience goes, I have none. Qualifications well I meet the US Constitutional requirements. I’ve had some manager experience in the private sector along with understanding budgets and budgeting. Main reason why I’m running is to give Wyoming a voice while protecting our rights.

See U.S. Senate, Page 28

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Page 28

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

U.S. Senate U.S. Senate: Continued from Page 27 Within the last year, US clean air and clean water regulations have been relaxed. How would you balance the need for environmental protection with the need for less governmental regulation?

John Barrasso (R): Our goal should always be clean air, water, and to protect public lands for future generations to hunt, fish and recreate. Local communities, our farmers, ranchers, sportsmen, and state officials are the best stewards of our resources. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the federal bureaucracy grow too encompassing. We’ve seen Washington not listening.

Too often the government issues a one-size-fits all approach. We see this approach fail and our individual rights put at risk. I believe smaller government creates more jobs and interferes less with personal freedoms. I believe when we downsize the federal government, we are safer, more prosperous and free.

Dave Dodson (R): It’s not so hard, if you’ve

operated businesses in highly-regulated environments as I have. I know the balance between protecting business interests and our children’s environment. Business cannot be left un-checked; at the same time, government overreach raises prices and creates uneven playing field. Unlike Senator Barrasso who has never run a business, I operated as a CEO under regulations written by politicians and their lobbyists. I recognize environmental stewardship and regulatory overreach, and since I won’t be accepting contributions while in office, I will be guided by my business sense, and my love for our open space.

Charlie Hardy (R): I believe the scientific conclusion that there is global warming and that we must do everything possible to mitigate that for our children and our children’s children. We have benefited from the fossil-fuel industry, but we have been a colony of the industry and it is time for a declaration of independence. We must move forward toward more renewable energy. I will work for common sense regulations which

State Treasurer

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Q&A will support research and development in this area. I will also work to protect the quality of our clean water supply. Our priority must always be the health of our people.

John Holtz (R): Improve efficiency with less regulation.

Anthony L. Van Risseghem (R): There is a balance between protecting the environment and deregulating. Right now there are too many stupid illogical regulations that can be cut without any negative impacts in the environments.

Also it falls on everyone to do their fair share without government interventions. Recycle, don’t go driving when you can walk, pick up after yourself. In a free market economy the consumer drives the markets more than the government. So if you’re focusing on products that are environmentally friendly then more companies will naturally follow that trend.

More regulations mean more government bureaucracy leading to higher cost of the goods/ services. ...

Forum

Treasurer candidates focus on economic development

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

T

he theme of economic development was commonly mentioned when Republican State Treasurer candidates Leland Christensen and Curt Meier spoke at the Meet the Candidates Community Lunch Aug. 2 at Washington Park.

The two state senators, Christensen from Alta and Meier from La Grange, are facing off in this month’s Republican primary election, along with Ron Redo of Cheyenne, who was not present.

Christensen told the Powell audience that state dollars need to support Main Street, not Wall Street.

“We need to put up a little bit of our Wyoming assets into our local communities for infrastructure,” Christensen said. “There’s communities that can, depending on their time, can pay their own way pretty easily — but there are a lot of communities, because of population or the economic drivers in that community, they don’t necessarily have the means to take care of the needed improvements or upgrades on critical infrastructure.”

“Then you start to see communities that start to die because people know, ‘Our water’s not

right, our sewer isn’t right, our fire department isn’t where it should be’ — and they start moving on,” Christensen said. “It’s tougher to keep a town growing than dying, but with investment, with support from the state [and] support on Main Street ... we can give these communities a chance to thrive.”

Meier said economic development would be his first priority, should he be elected as the state’s next treasurer.

“That’s something that the state teasurer’s office has had an ancillary role in,” Meier said.

“I want to work with the Legislature and the legislative-designated investments. We’ve got a good young farmers’ program there [and] I want to make sure that everybody knows what those Legislature-designated investments are. And I want to find a way that we can make sure that our banking industry is always solvent, and partner with them as much as we can.”

At the Powell Economic Partnership event, both candidates also highlighted their experience.

Christensen talked of his background in small business and in the military and said he was asked to run by incumbent treasurer Mark Gordon (who is running for governor). Christensen also said that he wished to increase investment returns, not taxes.

“Our philosophy [and] our investment strategy has been very, very conservative for quite a few years,” Christensen said. “[In] the one-, three-, five- and 10-year measurements, we’re in the bottom quartile for performance compared to other sovereign wealth funds in the nation and internationally. With the change in the [Wyoming] Constitution [and] with the right teamwork for us, to be able to increase our investment returns up to just the median level — just the average line — can bring us another $300 million-plus a year without raising taxes.”

Meier has served 23 years in the Wyoming State Senate, including chairing the Transportation and Military Affairs committees. He also received the Patrick Henry Award from the National Guard, the civilian version to the National Guard of the United States’ Distinguished Service Medal.

Meier said he would do his duty to adhere to the state and federal constitutions if he is elected treasurer.

“I want everybody to know one thing: [When] I take my oath of office to protect, defend and support the Constitution of Wyoming and the United States, I’m going to do that,” Meier said.

The winner of the Aug. 21 primary is almost certain to be the state’s next treasurer, as there is no Democrat running for the position.

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

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State Auditor

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GOP auditor candidates highlight contrasts

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

T

he two Republican candidates for state auditor drew clear contrasts between themselves when they spoke at the Meet the Candidates Community Lunch Aug. 2 at Washington Park.

Kristi Racines highlighted her accounting experience, both as a Certified Public Accountant and in her current position as the chief financial officer for the Wyoming Supreme Court’s Office of Court Administration.

“The auditor is essentially the state’s bookkeeper — cuts every single check, oversees the accounting system [and] oversees the payroll system,” Racines said. “This is a critical job that no one really notices until it’s not done well. I firmly believe you need a strong financial background in order to do that.”

Nathan Winters brings a different experience to the auditor position, both as a three-term state representative and as the as-

sociate pastor of the First Baptist Church in Thermopolis. Winters is currently the Republican caucus chairman in the Wyoming House of Representatives, the vice-chairman of the Judiciary Committee and sits on the Legislative Management Audit Committee, the Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee and the Agriculture, State and Public Lands Committee.

“For me, the reason why I’m running for Wyoming state auditor is I have the opportunity to offer leadership, experience and policy experience,” Winters said.

“I understand the decision-making process that’s necessary to be the kind of leader [needed] for the state auditor’s office.”

Racines believes that a “Wyoming perspective” is also key to being the state auditor.

“The auditor sits on the State Loan and Investment Board — which is critical — [the State] Board of Land Commissioners and State Building Commission,” Racines said. “It’s about knowing

what makes Wyoming tick; it’s about looking 20 years in the future, not just today. I’m fully aware we’re in a critical budget crunch.

That being said, now is not the time to stop investing in our small communities, like Powell ... and our larger ones, too. ... If we pull out now, we’re really setting ourselves up for failure down the road.”

Winters describes the state auditor’s office as the best place in the state to promote transparency — a top priority should he be elected auditor.

“Wyoming is considered one of the three least transparent states in the union, primarily because we don’t have a web portal which will allow people to look at all of the information in one place,” Winters said. “Someone can look it up now, but you have to go from agency to agency all across the different places in state government to try to find the information — and then piece it together on your own,” which makes it hard for Wyomingites to see how the state is performing.

Racines added that she would have an open mind if elected treasurer.

“I’ve lived in five different communities, I’ve spent time in all 23 counties, but what is really important to know is that they’re all very different,” Racines said.

“What works for Powell doesn’t work for Riverton; what works for Riverton does not work for Lander; what works for Lander isn’t going to work in Shoshoni, period. That’s about showing up with open eyes and open ears to all of these communities. I know a lot about Wyoming, but I’m also smart enough to know that I don’t know everything.”

Winters said that he would lead by example as auditor.

“One must always model the behavior they desire to see,” Winters said. “I’ve tried to do that in my life. I’m not claiming that I’ve always been perfect in that, but I certainly try to do that — and I hope to bring that about in everything that I do.”

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Tuesday, August 14, 2018

State Auditor

Profile

Kristi Racines Racines brings accounting experience to auditor’s race be aware of how the decisions we make today will impact our state 10, 20 and 30 years from now.” risti Racines is confident that Racines said transparency will her experience as a certified be a top priority for her if she is public accountant and as the elected auditor. chief fiscal officer and director of “The state auditor is the corhuman resources of Wyoming’s nerstone of financial reporting judicial branch is a good match for for the state and is the official the Wyoming state auditor’s office. custodian of expenditure informaRacines and Thermopolis State tion,” Racines said. “This data is Rep. Nathan Winters are vying for not currently available to citizens the Republican nomination to be in an easily accessible format. As Wyoming’s next state auditor, with auditor, I would ensure that state the winner of the Aug. expenditure data is 21 primary facing preavailable. This is the sumptive Democratic auditor’s best tool to nominee Jeff Dockter in ensure wise spending of the November general our limited resources. election.

Wyoming citizens and “I understand aclawmakers must have counting principles, accurate and reliable business processes, and financial information internal controls that in order to make good are critical to the operadecisions and hold govtion of our state,” Raernment accountable — cines said. “My current KRISTI RACINES this is non-negotiable.” position has also proRacines also plans vided me with extensive to emphasize doing her interaction with and understand- job well if she is elected as Wyoing of both the auditor’s office and ming’s next state auditor. the state Legislature. The auditor “My priority for the auditor’s is also responsible for issuing the office is to do the job, discharging state’s Comprehensive Annual the statutory duties of the auditor Financial Report, which must be competently and effectively — evin compliance with Generally ery dollar, every line item, every Accepted Accounting Principles day — with excellence and without (GAAP). As a CPA, I am required compromise,” Racines said. “Safeto complete extensive continuing guarding Wyoming’s financial education in order to stay abreast assets is serious and it requires a of changes in accounting standards skilled elected official. This is a that affect the auditor’s duties.” job that goes unnoticed — and is Racines also said the auditor’s taken for granted — until it is not office needs a “Wyoming perspec- done well.” tive.”

Racines also said that support“Understanding the intersection ing the state’s agriculture and of energy, agriculture, travel and energy sectors is important. tourism, and outdoor recreation is “My family worked in both agan absolute must for the auditor’s riculture and oil and gas, and I apposition,” Racines said. “We must preciate what those jobs have done be pragmatic and have common and can do for our communities,” sense about our resources — and Racines said. “They bring vitalBY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

K

ity and the core strength for economic health. We must first foster an environment that supports and evolves energy, agriculture, and other traditional industries. Wyoming is already home to many successful businesses [and] we must work to grow and diversify into many sectors, but not without first spurring these existing businesses to expand and thrive.”

Racines is a fourth-generation

Wyomingite and a graduate of Riverton High School. She gradutated from the University of Wyoming with degrees in accounting and Spanish. Racines and her husband, Torey, live north of Cheyenne with their two children, Addie and Theo. Racines enjoys hunting antelope, deer, elk, bison and turkey, fishing, hiking, camping and “generally enjoying our state’s natural wonders.”

Pure Wyoming.

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Proud mother of two • Avid sportsman and hunter kristiracines.com

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Kristi Racines

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State Auditor

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Profile

Nathan Winters Desire for transparency drives Winters in run for auditor he isn’t representing his district in the state Legislature, Winters is the associate pastor of First Baphen Nathan Winters is tist Church in Thermopolis, where asked what his top prior- he has been on the pastoral staff ity will be if he is elected for 12 1/2 years. as Wyoming’s next state auditor, Winters sees that diverse comhe doesn’t hesitate to answer. bination of experience as an asset “We should aim, in the auditor’s race. first of all, for trans“For me, the reason why parency,” Winters I’m running for Wyoming said. state auditor is I have Winters, currently the opportunity to ofa state representafer leadership, experience tive from Thermopoand policy experience,” lis, is running against Winters said. “I underKristine Racines for stand the decision-making the Republican nomprocess that’s necessary ination to succeed to be the kind of leader Cynthia Cloud as the [needed] for the state austate auditor. The ditor’s office.”

NATHAN winner of the Aug. Winters also sees his WINTERS 21 primary between memberships on the LegWinters and Racines islature’s Minerals, Busiwill face Democrat Jeff Dockter, ness and Economic Development who is unopposed for the Demo- Committee and the Agriculture, cratic nomination.

State and Public Lands Committee Winters is finishing his third as another asset should he succeed term representing House District Cloud as auditor.

28 (which includes Meeteetse) in “Those two deal very directly the Wyoming Legislature. He’s with the same kinds of decisions the Republican caucus chairman, that the State Loan and Investthe vice-chairman of the Judiciary ment Board, with economic Committee and sits on the Legisla- development, and the state land tive Management Audit Commit- board deal with on a daily basis,” tee, the Minerals, Business and Winters said. “I have been given Economic Development Commit- the opportunity to develop the tee and the Agriculture, State and exact skills necessary for this ofPublic Lands Committee. When fice, both with leadership skills

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

W

and with the kind of policy-making decisions that are necessary for this job.”

Winters also views the auditor’s office as the best place in Wyoming to promote transparency.

He said the state is in the bottom three nationally when it comes to transparency, primarily because Wyoming does not have an online portal to allow citizens to easily look up information.

“Someone can look it up now, but you have to go from agency to agency all across the different places in state government to try to find the information — and then piece it together on your own, which makes it very difficult for someone at their home, in a different part of the state, to be able to see all together in one place how we’re actually performing as a state” Winters said. “Forty-seven states have a transparency portal that will allow their citizens to sit at a kitchen table [and easily access this information]. This is what I’ve been telling people — in Wyoming, we need this ability.”

Winters pointed to West Virginia Checkbook (www.transparencywv. org) as an example of what he would like to see here in Wyoming.

At West Virginia Checkbook, users can select several ways to view the data, including pie charts and other graphs, making finding and viewing state information easily

accessible.

“If we believe in government that is of, by and for the people — not of, by and for government — then the people deserve to know these kinds of details as to how their tax dollars are spent,” Winters said.

If he is elected auditor, Winters said he would begin with an assessment phase, which would include developing a team to see where improvements can be made, then start to implement those improvements.

Winters also said he would like to better serve the state’s vendors.

“When you have a contract with the State of Wyoming, we need a better turnaround time in how the state pays its bills,” Winters said.

“We can do better at that.”

Winters also wants to see better interaction between state agencies.

“We need to make sure that our state auditor’s office, who interacts with all of those other agencies, is training them in the way that they need to be trained,” Winters said.

Winters also has said he wants to lead by example if he is elected auditor.

“I want to instill a culture of what has been called servantleadership,” Winters said. “That is where one sees the need and takes the lead to try to help.”

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Governor

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Forum

GOP candidates more similar than not at governor forum

BY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

W

hile there were some differences between the six Wyoming Republican gubernatorial candidates, all generally espoused strong conservative views during a Aug. 2 forum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody.

More than 100 people packed the Coe Auditorium for the forum, which was sponsored by the Park County Republican Party.

Unlike the previous night’s debate in Casper, there were no personal attacks in Cody, as moderator Darin Dudrick forbade them at the beginning of the evening. In fact, all six candidates — Bill Dahlin, Foster Friess, Sam Galeotos, Mark Gordon, Harriet Hageman and Taylor Haynes — appeared to agree on more points than they didn’t at the Aug. 2 forum.

All of the candidates identified as pro-life on abortion, with Galeotos, Hageman and Haynes saying they were pro-life with no exceptions, and all supported marriage as being between one man and one woman. The candidates also unanimously voiced support for the Second Amendment, with Friess, Hageman and Haynes also voicing opposition to gun-free zones.

“Utah has had no gun-free zones for [about] 20 years,” Haynes said. “We are at least as civilized as they are.”

Friess said mass shootings always happen in gun-free zones, while Galeotos voiced support for right to carry in public venues and Gordon also said he is strongly in favor of gun rights.

“It is absolutely necessary to respect the rights we have,” Gordon said.

The candidates also were strongly in favor of improving the state’s mental health system.

Hageman pointed out that 70 percent of inmates at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington had mental health is-

sues. Hageman said she would convene a mental health summit of doctors, law enforcement officers, teachers and faith-based leaders if she is elected governor.

Dahlin also said that the state needs to develop “a better, stronger system of mental health.”

“It has to be a priority,” he said. “If we don’t do that, shame on us.”

Friess put an emphasis on faith-based answers and programs that work to prevent people from turning to violence — especially in school settings — when asked about mental health. He pointed to Rachel’s Challenge, an organization that works to reduce violence through kindness and compassion and was inspired by the late Rachel Scott, who was killed in the Columbine school shooting in 1999.

“Interwoven with mental health is inspirational health,” Friess said.

When the candidates were asked about how they would increase revenues and cut spending, both Friess and Hageman said Wyoming lacks transparency in government.

“Wyoming is No. 1 in the size of government per capita. Think about that,” Hageman said.

She added that Wyoming’s lack of transparency made reading government spending similar to a Rohrshach ink-blot test or a Jackson Pollock painting.

Friess pointed to a teachers’ conference paying $35,000 for a magician as entertainment as a glaring example of the state’s lack of transparency, while Dahlin and Haynes both criticized the Wyoming Business Council.

Dahlin said the Business Council had failed at economic diversification, while Haynes called both the Business Council and Gov. Matt Mead’s ENDOW initiative “ineffective.”

On the subject of improving school funding, Haynes supports a voucher system, where he said the money would follow students to the classroom, while Galeotos encouraged looking to the future to keep more Wyoming youth in

the state after graduating from high school.

“Here in Wyoming, we need to start living in the future a little bit,” Galeotos said.

On tourism, the candidates voiced support for promoting it as one of the state’s strengths.

Friess called it a “huge untapped resource for us,” while Haynes said Wyoming should emphasize its wildlife diversity.

“Tourism is essential and tourism doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” Haynes said.

Hageman called for rejuvenating downtown areas and Main Street to boost tourism and also voiced support for a hospitality program in one or more of the state’s community colleges. Galeotos echoed some of Hageman’s remarks on the importance of Main Street in boosting tourism. He also said tourism should be kept in the state’s general fund.

“When we [get that] vision here, we drive business on Main Street,” Galeotos said.

One area where the candidates differed some was on ENDOW, with Haynes promising to kill ENDOW his first month in office, saying that it kills free enterprise and is a “bad idea,” while Galeotos spoke more in favor of ENDOW and its “aspirational thinking.” Hageman took a position in between Haynes and Galeotos on ENDOW, saying that it needs a cost-benefit analysis.

On the subject of essential air service — a federal program that subsidizes flights at airports including Cody — Haynes said he thought it was important, while Hageman thought that the state’s highways and expansion of cell service and broadband were higher priorities.

The forum was the only one of its kind in northwest Wyoming ahead of the Aug. 21 gubernatorial primary. All six GOP candidates for governor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Throne made an appearance at a candidate meet-and-greet at Washington Park in Powell earlier on Aug. 2.

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Governor

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Profile

Kenneth Casner Former House candidate Casner makes bid for governor Kenneth Casner of Carbon County was the knowledge or experiences in business titles, for first Democrat to officially file his candidacy it is whether or not the people entrust the person for governor. to do the job, for their voices,” Casner said. “The It’s not Casner’s first run for office. In a letter governor is the representative of the people, published by the Casper Star-Tritheir spokesman, nothing more. After bune in 2016, Casner indicated he’d the election he or she is no longer a been involved in politics in both member of the party or party platform. major parties and as an indepenThey are bound to the law of the land dent in Wyoming since 2002. The by oath, which is the United States Elk Mountain resident’s last bid for Constitution and Wyoming’s State Conoffice was in 2016 as an unsuccessstitution. My resolve is steadfast and ful candidate for House District 47, my actions speak for themselves.” which covers portions of Albany, Question: Wyoming has a suicide Carbon and Sweetwater counties. rate that is in the top five in the nation.

He provided these responses to How would you use the influence of the a questionnaire sent by the League governor’s office to address this seriof Women Voters and the Laramie ous concern?

KENNETH Daily Boomerang.

Casner: “The governor’s influence CASNER Question: What experience, on suicides, is first to encourage selfqualifications and interests do you have that help by seeking professional help. Then, see would encourage voters to select you for this what the legislator intends to do on this matter office? for funding and resource are driven from these Casner: Qualifications for the governor’s branches... Returning their answers to the position isn’t based upon wealth, degrees in people, along with his staffs, recommendations

and possible solutions... The people will then have to get involved once again, for they will have to make the choice through the County’s representatives, or the governor, which by my standards is true representation.”

Question: Discuss the pros and cons of a privately operated, for-profit detention center for undocumented immigrants considered for Wyoming?

Casner: I personally feel there is no pro or con to a private prison... Wyoming already holds a history of a wrongful act within the incarceration known as Heart Mountain...

Therefore; I cannot seek or speak for Wyoming people on this issue or policies, until elected then hearing their voices... On the personal side, I will quote a line from the History Channel on the American Civil War... Any man who seeks to group people into a group is a Pee-Witt.

I will not become such a man that would be my recommendation to Wyoming’s people.

(Joel Funk of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle contributed reporting.)

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Governor

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Profile

Bill Dahlin Sheridan businessman running for governor Bill Dahlin, a Sheridan businessman, was said in response to a recent questionnaire. the first to announce his candidacy for govDahlin said one part of his diversification efernor in the 2018 election. The Republican fort involved converting a part of the old mine created the Dahlin for Governor committee into a landfill. in June 2017, though, like everyone else, he On his website, Dahlin said the state needs couldn’t officially file for office to promote and protect its energy and until earlier this year. mineral sectors “at all times.”

Dahlin says he feels more reg“Let us work on building additional ular people should be running revenue sources from our natural refor public office. sources,” he wrote.

“To be honest, I have never Dahlin told WyoFile that he does not voted the party lines. I am Rebelieve coal will come roaring back publican because my beliefs are anytime soon. He blamed coal’s decline conservative,” he says on his on market competition from natural gas campaign website. “I am a busiand renewables, not regulations. nessman. I am not, and never “No one regulation will change that,” have been, a politician nor an he told WyoFile. attorney. I do not want to be a Diversification of the state economy BILL DAHLIN career politician.” is the centerpiece of his campaign.

Dahlin began his career with “We’ve lost about 8,500 people out of Burlington Northern Railroad as a laborer, the state in the last year and a half,” he said in advancing to upper management before later Powell. “Our available workforce continues to starting his own railcar service corporation decline. What we need to do is seriously talk and a series of other ventures. He’s also a about diversification and do it — not just talk partner in a business called Gascoyne Material about it.”

Handling and Recycling LLC and part owner He noted that the energy sector accounts for of a banking chain in the Midwest through the majority of Wyoming’s economy and said Black Ridge Financial Group. current and past politicians from both parties “My background is energy, transportation, have made little progress on the challenge. logistics — the same as Wyoming,” Dahlin said “We can strengthen the existing energy secat a recent event in Powell. tor, existing businesses, and diversify the busiHe said he brings a unique perspective to ness base,” he said in a statement, adding that, the race. with voters’ support, “we can co-own a new “I am the only candidate that sells coal. I am direction for a more stable Wyoming.” the only candidate that bought a coal mine that Dahlin would like to abolish the Wyoming previously was out of business and turned it Business Council, which he said has failed to into a multilevel diversified business,” Dahlin achieve the goal it set 20 years ago of diversify-

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“Together we can strengthen Wyoming’s existing energy sector, existing businesses and diversify the business base. We can co-own a new direction for a more stable Wyoming.”

ing the state’s economy — and he’d also like to end Gov. Matt Mead’s diversification effort known as ENDOW. Instead, he’d consider taking their budgets and giving them to municipalities to pursue their own local diversification efforts, he said.

One of the things the businessman believes can boost the Powell community and many sectors of the state economy is industrial hemp.

“It’s one of these things that can act as a catalyst, just as a catalyst, to get our thinking different and help our small, rural communities,” he said of the crop. “That’s one thing that can grow in Powell.”

The candidate’s other ideas for diversification include starting up USDA-certified meat processing facilities in the state and being more aggressive in promoting Wyoming as a place for new businesses.

Dahlin also has cited a need for fiscal responsibility and has signed a no-new tax pledge.

But, Dahlin said at a recent forum, that didn’t mean he was opposed to giving local governments more options to tax themselves.

“I signed the [no tax] pledge because I don’t think taxes and increasing taxes are necessary,” Dahlin said, according to reporting from WyoFile. Still, if the Legislature brought him a tax proposal, that didn’t mean he would veto it outright, he said. “I’d have to know specifically why they were doing it and what the benefits were. I’m not going to be sticking my head in the sand and say this is totally impossible because I signed this pledge.”

(WyoFile.com contributed to this report.)

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Governor

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Profile

Foster Friess Friess brings business experience to governor’s race election.

Friess has stressed transparency in his run for governor, especially with the state ranked ince they are both wealthy businessmen among the bottom three in transparency in the and have strong conservative creden- nation. He cites examples of a teachers’ semitials, people often compare Wyoming nar using $35,000 in taxpayer money to hire a Republican gubernatorial candidate Foster magician as entertainment and $15,000 for a Friess to President Donald Trump. However, documentary on the Dutch hop dance.

Friess said there are a few differ“The money being spent while we ences between them. have a half-billion dollar deficit is “The wealth that we now enjoy treated like Monopoly money and did not really begin until I was apnot the hard-earned money of the proximately age 40,” Friess said. people I have encountered while “People often assess me as being campaigning,” Friess said. “One of Wyoming’s Trump with the small my highlights of my campaign was difference of 1) I don’t tweet and 2) visiting a welding facility, and at I’ve been married for 56 years.” the end they took a picture with my However, like President Trump, bright white shirt in the front and Friess’ experience in the business the eight welders reflecting a day’s world is one of his defining characwork of grime and dust and dirt on teristics in the governor’s race — FOSTER FRIESS themselves. It was a quite an emobut he does not take all the credit for tional moment when I suddenly rethat success. alized these are the people I’m going “In my prior life of managing $15 billion, I to be fighting for — the everyday taxpayer.” recognized it was not a one-man job and neiFriess has also spoken about diversification, ther is being a governor,” Friess said. “So the and has said Wyoming should enhance the things I learned on how to manage people and abilities of current companies in the state over manage information is a perfect match. While bringing in new industry.

I get the acclaim, I stand on the shoulders of “The diversification should come from the my team, my oil, airline, retail, drug, apparel bottom up,” Friess said. “Very little growth analysts. Similarly in the governor’s job, the occurs in our nation from a top-down decision. success will come not just from my wisdom The president of United States did not dictate and intellect, but from the people I can tap into the beginnings of the oil industry, railroad or in terms of their expertise.” steel industry, but rather individual entrepreFriess is one of six candidates vying for the neurs like Rockefeller, Carnegie and others.

Republican nomination to succeed Matt Mead The diversification that is best are those that in the governor’s mansion in Cheyenne. The can achieve growth on their own without subwinner of the Aug. 21 primary will face the sidies or government grants.”

Democratic nominee in the November general Friess has also stressed expansion of interBY MIKE BUHLER Tribune Community Editor

S

net access as part of diversification.

“One of the key emphasis of our diversification should be the expansion of internet so more homes are connected and people can begin to realize they can work remotely for a company in Denver, Salt Lake, New York, London or Singapore,” Friess said. “The internet will do to small Wyoming towns what air conditioning did for the South.”

Friess has also put an emphasis on strengthening the state’s educational system.

“Our education can be more realistic if we expanded the vocational aspect in the junior and senior years of high school where perhaps [for] half a day a student could be sent out in the community to be an apprentice in carpentry, plumbing, electrical work or operating a forklift in a warehouse,” Friess said. “He or she could then have the capacity to finance his advanced education and not be confronted with a nightmare of significant debt.”

Friess has promised to donate his governor’s salary to charity if he is elected Wyoming’s next governor.

“I offer only three promises — to care about you, to listen to you and to work hard for you,” Friess said. “On the listening notion, I’m committed to come back to every one of the 23 counties at least once every year. The unfortunate explosion of the $93 million to renovate the capital to over $300 million is another issue I believe I can avoid in the future and also scrutinize carefully the $770 million they have found so far of out-of-state contracts.”

Friess served in the United States Army, leaving with the rank of captain. He and his wife, Lynn, have two sons, two daughters and 15 grandchildren.

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Governor

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Profile

Sam Galeotos Gubernatorial candidate Galeotos touts business experience mits and that kind of thing.” He said the industry should be “unshackled.”

“They can produce more, which benefits us,” n a field of six Republican candidates for Galeotos said. governor, Sam Galeotos says Wyoming’s growing tourism inhis experience in leading busidustry needs to be promoted to keep nesses — from ranches in Wyoming bringing in people from out of state, he to multi-billion dollar international said, while he thinks the state should companies — sets him apart. be a leader in innovation in agricul“I think there’s a lot of things goture. ing in the right direction, but need Galeotos adds that while those three some leadership,” Galeotos said industries are a strength, it’s a weakduring a March 23 campaign stop in ness in the sense that the state relies Powell, adding, “That’s the differheavily on just that trio of industries. ence between myself and everybody He said the state has made great else that’s running: I have been in strides in getting into technology and business; I have experience running manufacturing. The question now is, SAM GALEOTOS “how do we take those opportunities, companies.”

“The governor’s position is our those toe-holds we have and … turn chief executive,” he said. “And I those into long-term sustainable ecohave a lot of background and skill being a chief nomic growth for the state?” Galeotos said. executive.”

He adds that access to the state — electroniGaleotos, 59, says his goals are to get Wyo- cally through broadband service and physical ming kids ready for Wyoming jobs and to drive access through air service — is “imperative” to economic growth by pushing government out growing tech and manufacturing here. of the way and letting free enterprise take over.

Galeotos has experience in both of those The Cheyenne-native’s interest in retaining sectors: He currently serves as the executive the state’s youth comes in part from personal chairman of the board for the Cheyenne-based experience: After graduating from the Univer- tech company Green House Data and previsity of Arizona decades ago, Galeotos wound up ously worked in the travel industry; he oversaw working for companies outside the state, “be- sales and service for Delta’s reservation syscause when I came back, there were no jobs,” tem, helped lead Cheaptickets.com and later he said. become CEO of Galileo International, a travel After working around the country, Galeotos reservation system that had more than $1.5 bilsays he wanted to return to Wyoming and did lion worth annual revenues and roughly 5,000 so around 2001-02. That’s when he met his wife; employees. the couple now has two girls, ages 8 and 11.

In dealing with air service, Galeotos said he Galeotos says Wyoming should shore up its would reach out to the airlines to discuss soluweaknesses and focus on its strengths — such as tions, also telling them, “we’re not going to subby supporting the state’s three traditional indus- sidize [flights] forever.” tries: energy, travel and tourism and agriculture.

“What we really need are enplanements [pasIn visiting with mineral companies, Galeotos sengers]. … But you’re never going to have the says he hears “there is still a lot of red tape at the enplanements unless you have more business,” state and federal level in regards to getting per- Galeotos said.

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Boosting air service (and broadband access) have been a couple of the priorities identified

by ENDOW, an economic development panel appointed by Gov. Matt Mead. Galeotos likes the “aspirational elements” of ENDOW, but says the state needs to be more clear about what it’s investing in each effort and the expectations.

“My concern is if we don’t do that then some of those may fail and then everybody’s going to say, ‘See, it doesn’t work’” and the opportunity will be ruined, he said.

Galeotos also wants to see the state work on eliminating inefficiencies — citing a recent legislative report that identified changes that could save a couple hundred million dollars — and to boost Wyoming’s returns on its investments. By that, Galeotos says he wants to not only increase the returns on the money the state puts into financial markets, but also into projects proposed by private businesses.

“We can definitely take what we’re investing in those initiatives and do better in those, too,” he said.

The State of Wyoming has invested in Green House Data — including a $2.25 million grant awarded in 2013, before Galeotos joined the company — and he says that’s “absolutely” proven to be a worthwhile investment. With the help of private capital raised in Wyoming and elsewhere, the hosting and IT services company now has facilities ranging from the East Coast to Dallas, Denver and the Pacific Northwest.

“And all of that is being run out of Cheyenne right now as a Wyoming company,” Galeotos said, estimating that it has around 80 employees with between 50 and 60 of them in Cheyenne.

Beyond his experience at larger companies, Galeotos said he’s developed multiple businesses in southeast Wyoming, mostly in real estate, farms, ranches, but also some foodservice and hospitality businesses.

He describes himself as a conservative who’s pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-family and a strong proponent of limited government.

Democrat Michael Allen Green of Rock Springs is also running for governor. He has not been active on the campaign trail and did not respond to a questionnaire sent by the League of Women Voters and the Laramie Daily Boomerang.

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Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Governor

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Profile

Mark Gordon Treasurer Gordon making bid for governor He specifically cited a need to prioritize “capital expenditures,” noting that new buildings come ondensing Mark Gordon’s with ongoing maintenance costs. campaign pitch into a single “We need to focus a bit more soundbite is tricky. on maintaining the assets that we The current state treasurer have and maybe not be quite so and a Republican contender for ambitious about adding a lot of governor, Gordon sees not one, new infrastructure in that sense,” but three main areas he said. where Wyoming must The state often proplace its focus in the vides low-interest loans coming years: He says to towns and counties the state needs to live as they build out and within its means, get improve things like wagovernment out of the ter or sewer systems. way so new and exWhen a big chunk of isting industries can Wyoming’s money is succeed and ensure invested in the state, its education system is that’s good, Gordon second-to-none. said, but he noted that “I think it’s incredthe low interest rates ibly important that the on those state loans next governor have MARK GORDON mean lower returns on really strong fiscal the government’s limconservative roots, that ited pool of dollars. that governor works hard to make “The way to get around that is sure that … those industries that to use the state’s very good credit Wyoming has already depended rating to allow towns and counties on have a good runway to take off to be able to go out into the market and diversify and grow, that we and get favorable rates,” Gordon provide great opportunities for said of infrastructure projects, new kinds of technology to come adding, “There’s just better ways and advanced manufacturing .... to do this.” and then just making sure we get As for Gordon’s vision for this education piece right,” Gor- Wyoming’s education system, he don said during a campaign stop wants to see it not only provide in Powell earlier this year. “phenomenal” education to stuA Buffalo resident, Gordon’s dents, but also continuing learnpast experience includes grow- ing opportunities at places like ing up in and continuing to this the Powell Makerspace and at the day in ranching, working at an oil state’s community colleges “so we and gas company, building up a have an adaptable workforce that bookshop in Sheridan and owning meets the needs of the future.” a movie theater in Buffalo.

The state is currently grappling He ran unsuccessfully for the with how to fund K-12 education, U.S. House in 2008, then was ap- as traditional funding sources pointed as state treasurer in 2012; such as coal leases have been Gordon was elected to a full four- on the decline. The Legislature year term as treasurer in 2014. recently approved cuts and made Gordon said he’s interested in some changes to how the system seeing the state diversify its reve- will be funded in the coming two nue streams, but not in new taxes; years — though the House and he also sees a need for the state to Senate couldn’t agree on a longcut back on its spending to deal term solution. with its current budget crunch.

“It’s a big enough problem that “We can use some of the buffer it can’t be solved in one year or [of savings] that we have estab- one session,” Gordon said, saying lished over the last several years that education funding will be to try to mitigate that,” Gordon “one of the biggest challenges for said. “But we’re still going to have the next governor.” to bring our expenses down in He added that, in dealing with time.” bills related to the treasurer’s ofBY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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fice, he’s shown leadership and an ability to work with the House and Senate.

“Perhaps another reason why I think I can do a good job [as governor] is that I’ve obviously worked very well with the Legislature to get things through and accomplished,” Gordon said.

One measure passed a couple years ago allowed towns and counties to invest in longer-term assets and some corporate bonds — boosting returns from the options that had previously been available. He’s also been helping with another proposed change that would allow local governments to invest some of their dollars — such as the City of Powell Aquatic Center’s trust fund — in stocks that carry even greater potential rewards (and risks). While Gordon decided not to push that measure during the busy 2018 Budget Session, “it’s very much on my list,” he said.

As treasurer, Gordon said he’s worked “really hard” to improve the way the state invests its money, boosting the state’s returns on its investments to the highest levels in a decade and creating a more transparent process.

Gordon’s campaign swing through the Big Horn Basin this spring included stops at the Meeteetse Conservation District, the Cody Auditorium and at WYOld West Brewing Company in Powell.

The candidate said he and his wife Jennie — who’s been running their Johnson County ranch while he’s in Cheyenne — have enjoyed getting around the state and learning from people.

“I do think that government is best when it’s closest to the people and when it’s responsive to the people,” Gordon said. “And if it’s Washington or if it’s Cheyenne, it needs to be distributed more out to the people.”

“My priorities are budget discipline, education and creating jobs. I have real experience saving taxpayers money, supporting small businesses and defending the Constitution. Join me in building a bright future for Wyoming.”

VOTE MARK GORDON ON AUGUST 21ST! PO Box 321 Buffalo, Wyoming 82834 (307) 514-3241 gordonforwyoming.com @markgordon4wyoming @Mark_Gordon_WY

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Governor

Profile

Harriet Hageman Candidate Hageman says she’ll fight for Wyoming advocating for unsafe streets,” she said. Rather, Hageman said states can be much more effective, citing fourth-generation Wyoming- the Wyoming Department of Enviite by birth and a lawyer by ronmental Quality as an example. trade, Harriet Hageman has “... The fact is, we’re better at spent the last couple of decades rep- doing them here,” she said. “We’re resenting the interests of the state better at making sure that happens government, municipalities, farm- here than they are in Washington, ers, ranchers, irrigation D.C., dictating it from on districts, counties, outfithigh.” ters, guides, small busiIn contrast, she pointness owners, students ed to damage dealt by a and others. pine beetle outbreak and “I’ve shown that I’m catastrophic wildfires as a fighter for Wyoming effects of bad policy and and Wyoming’s interests, land management deci[and] Wyoming’s citisions coming out of D.C. zens,” Hageman said in Although Hageman an interview earlier this has plenty of experience year. “And that is what I with litigation, that’s want to continue to do as not what she sees as the HARRIET governor of the state of solution.

HAGEMAN Wyoming.”

“Walking in [to the The Cheyenne attorney is one of governor’s office] and filing a slew six Republicans running for gover- of lawsuits, I don’t think that that’s nor this year — a group that will face necessarily what I’m thinking about off in the Aug. 21 primary election. doing,” Hageman said. “I think that Hageman sees a need for Wyo- really we’re going to have to work ming’s next governor to push back with the current administration … against the growing size of the fed- other governors and other legislaeral government and restore more tors to get real reform of that federpower to states while reducing the al-state relationship — and also the number of regulations. Burdensome real reform of the regulatory burden federal and even some state regula- that we see in this country.” tions amount to hidden taxes, she Still, she says Wyoming must be said, adding costs to everyday things ready to sue other states or the fedlike food, transportation and energy. eral government to make sure the “Nobody is advocating for ... state can export its coal to buyers in contaminated water; nobody is places like Japan. advocating for dirty air; nobody is “One state should not be able

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to block, if you will, the goods and resources of neighboring states,” she said, referencing some West Coast states’ resistance to having Wyoming coal shipped to and out of their ports.

“We need to support and defend and advocate for our legacy industries,” she said, adding, “Our coal industry, our oil and gas industry, our ag industry, our tourism, those are things that are really the foundation of Wyoming.”

Noting the minerals industry provides 70 percent of the state government’s revenue, Hageman said Wyoming needs to protect the industry and to “make sure that that is healthy and robust.”

As Wyoming looks to diversify and grow, Hageman said the state should bring in industries that are “symbiotic” to the businesses already here.

She also said the state needs to look at the purpose of its diversification efforts and promote accountability by coming up with ways to measure its success.

Hageman added that the state’s spending needs to be controlled.

Another issue near the top of Hageman’s priorities is mental health.

“We’ve got people who are really struggling, families that are struggling in our communities,” she said.

“And we don’t provide the kind of mental health services that I think we need to.”

The state’s funding model for education needs to be examined and

transparent and, from conversations with teachers, she suggested the curriculum in the lower grade levels should be changed.

“We’re not necessarily following a developmentally appropriate curriculum with our lower grades,” she said. “Things we’re doing in kindergarten now we used to do in second grade, and that sort of thing, creating some real anxiety and some real problems for our students.”

Hageman also said the state needs to work on aging and elder care issues, making sure services are provided to senior citizens. She suggested changes to the state’s licensing regulations for assisted living facilities could make it easier for seniors to delay their moves to more intensive nursing homes. Hageman would also like to see one of Wyoming’s community colleges create a geriatric care program to boost the number of home healthcare providers in the state.

Hageman grew up near Fort Laramie, then attended Casper College and the University of Wyoming, where she received her law degree in 1989.

She lived in both Michigan and Denver, Colorado, before coming back to Wyoming in 1997.

Beyond pitching her own credentials and platform, Hageman has also set up a website called wrongforwyoming.com that attacks the two apparent frontrunners in the race, Mark Gordon and Sam Galeotos.

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Governor

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Profile

Taylor Haynes Constitutional conservative Haynes runs again candidates in Wyoming today that embrace that message, Haynes said he sees the influence of his prior campaigns.

The rise of the tea party in 2010 and politiaylor Haynes, a constitutionalist con- cians such as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, servative from Albany County, for- helped spread awareness of the message he’s mally joined the race to be long propagated, Haynes said. He Wyoming’s next governor during a said 2018 seems like an election year Jan. 23 announcement in Riverton. he could seize on those increasingly Haynes previously ran in 2010 as popular tendencies. a write-in candidate and lost in the “This kind of imitation is flatter2014 primary when Gov. Matt Mead ing,” he said. “It’s a safe and popular ran for re-election. In 2014, Haynes thing to campaign on.” came in second behind Mead, gar“I don’t worry about other candinering just more than 32 percent of dates very much,” Haynes added. the vote, ahead of former Superin“What I’m stressing as being the tendent of Public Instruction Cindy original is that I’ve always been there Hill’s 12 percent. for that, but there are many other Amid a crowded field, Haynes pieces.”

TAYLOR doesn’t consider his candidacy a The Constitution-based principles HAYNES long shot. For years, the doctor said, Haynes embraces tells the voters he’s been cultivating a relationship with the exactly how he would lead, he said.

Legislature and citizenry of the state. Haynes “The Constitution is a fence for elected ofcites his life experience — from humble begin- ficials,” Haynes said. “You operate in these nings in Louisiana to his time as a medical prac- confines. It’s not your best opinion; it’s not what titioner in Cheyenne and his lifelong work as a you think.” rancher and businessman — as qualifications As with his competitors, Haynes stressed for the office. Haynes also points to his leader- state sovereignty and limited government as ship work on boards and commissions, includ- core values. In order to diversify Wyoming’s ing two terms on the University of Wyoming economic base, he said the state should take Board of Trustees. control of federally managed lands so it can re“This whole quest to be governor was not lease industry on its natural resources. a lark,” he said. “The encouragement from But Haynes said it wouldn’t happen in a way around the state has been very steady and very that would limit access. In his view, Haynes strong.” said opening up the lands to industries such In fact, Haynes credits himself as being the as lumber and mining would actually increase original constitutionalist candidate in Wyoming public access to lands popular with its secondgubernatorial races. Being a staunch consti- largest industrial sector: tourism. tutionalist in 2010 wasn’t as mainstream as it Haynes also emphasized his Judeo-Christian is now, he said. When looking at gubernatorial approach to governance, though he said it

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doesn’t mean a society exclusionary of nonChristians. It does, however, dictate his unwavering stance against abortion.

While Haynes would be the first AfricanAmerican person to serve in the governor’s office if elected, he said that’s not a factor he’s considered at all in his candidacy. Race, Haynes said, has never been a factor in his more than three decades living and working in Wyoming.

“Wyoming is not a place where race counts,” he said.

Ultimately, Haynes said his life in Wyoming has been an excellent fit, and he sees his constitutionalist message as the remedy for all the state’s woes. He points to a bumper sticker stating “Wyoming is what America was” as a mantra for his approach to governing.

“It’s not about me — it’s about this group of Wyomingites that want to see us return to that,” Haynes said. “It’s about the mission and the message.”

Haynes’ residency has been challenged by Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan and Attorney General Peter Michael, as a ranch house that Haynes claimed as his residence a few years ago lies in Colorado. (Wyoming’s Constitution requires that, to be eligible to become governor, someone must have resided within the state for the five years preceding the election.) However, a district court judge declined to remove Haynes’ name from the ballot or suspend his campaign, as Buchanan and Michael’s offices had requested; District Court Judge Thomas Campbell ruled that there was not enough time to fairly hear the dispute and determine Haynes’ eligibility before the election.

Haynes has called the dispute a “political attack” and dismissed it as “nonsense” meant to confuse voters.

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Governor

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Profile

Mary Throne Gubernatorial candidate Throne visits Northwest College islature. If you’re open-minded and if you don’t judge ideas by the label — I don’t care if the idea’s a Republican idea, a Democrat idea, a ipartisanship and the energy industry conservative idea or a liberal idea, you can pick were among the leading talking points your label, but I just want to know what’s going when Wyoming Democratto work.” ic gubernatorial candidate Mary Throne emphasized keeping the Throne visited Northwest College in energy industry strong in Wyoming, May. but she would also like to see the Throne, the former minority leadstate have other opportunities as the er of the Wyoming House of Reprenation’s energy needs change. sentatives, spoke to a gathering of “The energy industry has susabout 20 people at the Yellowstone tained Wyoming for a hundred Building on the Northwest campus. years, by and large,” Throne said.

One of the first things that Throne “It’s been our leading economic highlighted was a need to keep Wyodriver and I want to make sure its ming politics civil — especially as future is strong. But as the markets national politics become more toxic change for our leading products, MARY THRONE we have to make sure that we have and more partisan.

“I think it’s just so important in other opportunities as a state.”

Wyoming,” Throne said. “We’re so small. We Along those lines, Throne would like to see have a lot of overlapping relationships and we Wyoming less dependent on the fortunes of the can’t let the national discourse infect our local fossil fuel industry in the future politics. I feel strongly that when people come “In my mind, our major blessing in this state together and they talk about ideas, then they has also been our major challenge,” Throne can find solutions — but when you villify the said. “We rely on coal, oil and natural gas for other side, it’s a non-starter.” the revenue that funds everything in the state.

In a similar vein, Throne also emphasized a It’s 70-75 percent, depending on how you look history of bipartisanship from when she served at the numbers. We just can’t count on that in in the state Legislature. the future. Once you accept that reality, then “It’s really just about building relationships solutions start to flow from there.” and understanding the Legislature,” Throne Throne also fielded questions from those said. “I have a deep understanding of the Leg- in attendance at NWC. One subject that was

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brought up was opioid addiction.

“I think there’s a perception in Wyoming that we have more of perhaps a meth problem than an opioid problem, but both are issues,” Throne said. “We need to make sure that we have adequate treatment resources to bring people back into society and to keep them fully functioning.”

Throne also supports Medicaid expansion in Wyoming and said not doing so has cost the state money.

“Because Wyoming didn’t expand Medicaid, we’ve turned down hundreds of millions of federal dollars,” Throne said. “That means that Medicaid population, which doesn’t have access to quality healthcare, still gets healthcare, but it costs more and then those costs are shifted to the businesses and to the people who have insurance. Not taking Medicaid expansion actually increased the cost of healthcare for everyone else.”

Throne also heard concerns about cuts to education in the state and also heard concerns about how cuts to state programs affect students.

“The community colleges, the K-12 system and the university [are] all important pieces of what’s going to help us as we transition to a different economy,” Throne said. “Cutting resources to those facilities and not making sure that students have enough services to get through college ultimately is self-defeating and costs us more in the long run.”

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Governor

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Rex Wilde Democrat Rex Wilde enters governor’s race find appealing.

“I’m running because there are some issues that have not been brought by former governors and Democratic candidate to be those who are running,” Wilde Wyoming’s next governor said recently as he spoke from the has promised his front porch of his selfcampaign will be as described campaign wild as his name. headquarters, Alf ’s It’s not Rex Wilde’s Pub. “My platform is as first run for governor, wild as my last name. as he came in third This is going to be fun.” of five candidates on Wilde’s grassroots, the Democratic tickone-man-show camet in 2010. And the paign has a few key Cheyenne resident said issues he wants to focus he’s been talking about on. Right off the bat, another stab at the Wilde wants people to governor’s office afknow he’s a military REX WILDE ter Democrat Charles veteran and “staunch Hardy bested him in proponent of the Secthe 2014 U.S. Senate primary. ond Amendment.”

Wilde’s last run for public office In terms of what he could effect came in Cheyenne’s 2016 mayoral as Wyoming’s top executive, Wilde race. said he has three top priorities: This year, Wilde is one of four • Aggressively promoting WyoDemocrats to enter on the blue ming as a tourist destination party’s ticket. Democrat Mary • Emphasizing water developThrone of Cheyenne, a former ment issues lawmaker, is considered the front• Pushing “full-blown legalizarunner by many, but Wilde said he tion of recreational and medical brings another option to the ticket marijuana” he thinks many in the party will Wilde said it should be a top

BY JOEL FUNK Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange

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priority to increase those efforts and invest more public funds in promoting tourism across the nation and in the international community, especially in Europe and Japan.

“We need to bring that back,” Wilde said, referring to cuts to the Wyoming Office of Tourism. “That brings in revenue for the state, and we need to put a lot more into that.”

Water is his passion, Wilde said. He criticized the Wyoming Legislature for how it handled a proposed dam on the West Fork of Battle Creek in Carbon County.

Advocates called on lawmakers to appropriate $40 million to move the project forward, but the actual appropriation in the 2018 omnibus water bill was reduced to $4.69 million as they wait for more details to come together (the state funds for the project are still available, but not yet appropriated).

“They wanted $40 million to do this dam, and the Legislature gave them $4 million — might as well give them a plastic kiddie pool,” Wilde said. “Whenever you can hold water back in Wyoming or the West, it’s liquid gold.”

The elephant in the room, as Wilde sees it, is the marijuana issue. He said he’s convinced experts who paint a positive picture of the drug are correct.

Wyoming, he said, should follow the lead of other states that have gone beyond decriminalization to embrace marijuana and derived products, both medically and recreationally.

“We need to make it legal, which in this state is going to turn some heads, but I really don’t care,” he said.

Wilde wants the issue put in the voters’ hands with a ballot referendum.

“It’s time that comes up to the people for a vote,” he said.

Any revenue from a potential legalization of recreational marijuana sales would go toward education and water development in a Wilde administration, he said.

On economic diversification, Wilde said he’s confident his initiatives would push the state in the right direction. Mead’s ENDOW initiative — meant to move the needle on diversifying the economy through the next 20 years — is too slow-moving, Wilde said.

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

PRIMARY ELECTION

DISTRICT 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 6 7 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 11 16 21 23 24 24 24 25 25 If you are not registered to vote you can register the day of the election at the 25 polls, August 7th to 20th. You may go to the Courthouse in Cody to register and cast ALL

AUGUST 21, 2018

Polls Open: 7:00 a.m. • Polls Close: 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

PRECINCT 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 4 5 7 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 ALL

2018 POLLING PLACE ADDRESSES IN PARK COUNTY WYOMING COMMUNITY POLLING PLACE ADDRESS CLARK - SIRRINE CLARK/PIONEER RECREATION CENTER 321 RD 1AB CODY EAST & NORTH INSIDE CODY AUDITORIUM 1240 BECK AVE CODY EAST & SOUTH INSIDE CODY AUDITORIUM 1240 BECK AVE CODY EAST & NORTH OUTSIDE CODY RECREATION CENTER 1402 HEART MTN STREET CODY EAST & SOUTH OUTSIDE CODY RECREATION CENTER 1402 HEART MTN STREET CODY WEST & SOUTH OUTSIDE SOUTHFORK FIRE HALL #3 RD 6NQ CODY WEST & NORTH OUTSIDE CODY RECREATION CENTER 1402 HEART MTN STREET GARLAND GARLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH 900 SHERIDAN VALLEY SOUTHFORK FIRE HALL #3 RD 6NQ ABOVE MEETEETSE MEETEETSE SENIOR CENTER 1105 PARK AVE TOWN OF MEETEETSE MEETEETSE SENIOR CENTER 1105 PARK AVE BELOW MEETEETSE MEETEETSE SENIOR CENTER 1105 PARK AVE POWELL CENTER & WEST INSIDE POWELL FAIRGROUNDS 655 E 5TH ST POWELL CENTER & EAST INSIDE POWELL FAIRGROUNDS 655 E 5TH ST POWELL WEST & NORTH INSIDE POWELL FAIRGROUNDS 655 E 5TH ST POWELL WEST & SOUTH INSIDE POWELL FAIRGROUNDS 655 E 5TH ST POWELL SOUTH & EAST INSIDE POWELL FAIRGROUNDS 655 E 5TH ST POWELL NORTH OUTSIDE POWELL FAIRGROUNDS 655 E 5TH ST POWELL SOUTH OUTSIDE POWELL FAIRGROUNDS 655 E 5TH ST CRANDALL – PAINTER PARK COUNTY COURTHOUSE 1002 SHERIDAN AVE WAPITI WAPITI SCHOOL HOUSE 3167 NORTHFORK HWY RALSTON – RD 18/LN 10 MOUNTAIN VIEW CLUB 1001 ROAD 18 WILLWOOD POWELL FAIRGROUNDS 655 E 5TH ST CODY CENTER NORTH INSIDE CODY AUDITORIUM 1240 BECK AVE CODY CENTER SOUTH INSIDE CODY AUDITORIUM 1240 BECK AVE CODY CENTER INSIDE CODY AUDITORIUM 1240 BECK AVE CODY WEST & NORTH INSIDE CODY AUDITORIUM 1240 BECK AVE CODY WEST & SOUTH INSIDE CODY AUDITORIUM 1240 BECK AVE CODY WEST INSIDE CODY AUDITORIUM 1240 BECK AVE PARK COUNTY COURTHOUSE ABSENTEE POLLING PLACE 1002 SHERIDAN AVE

a ballot at that time. Absentee ballots may be requested up to August 20, 2018 at the US. REPRESENTATIVE Courthouse at 1002 Sheridan Ave., Cody, WY. Absentee requests are available online, TWO YEAR TERM www.parkcounty.us.pcelections or by phone 307-527-8620 or 1-800-786-2844 Ext #8620 Vote for one with proper identification.

Absentee ballots can be requested up to August 20th in person at the Courthouse. Dis- TRAVIS HELM abled voters may choose to use the AutoMark computer to complete their ballots at the GREG HUNTER poll sites. All polling sites are ADA compliant. The names of candidates will be rotated on _________________________ the official ballot and may not appear in the order indicated on the sample ballot.

REPUBLICAN

FEDERAL OFFICES U.S. SENATOR SIX YEAR TERM Vote for one

ROQUE “ROCKY” DE LA FUENTE DAVE DODSON CHARLIE HARDY JOHN HOLTZ ANTHONY L. VAN RISSEGHEM JOHN BARRASSO _________________________

ROD MILLER BLAKE E. STANLEY LIZ CHENEY _________________________

STATE OFFICES GOVERNOR FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

FOSTER FRIESS SAM E. GALEOTOS MARK GORDON HARRIET M. HAGEMAN TAYLOR HAYNES BILL DAHLIN _________________________ SECRETARY OF STATE FOUR Year Term Vote for one

EDWARD BUCHANAN _________________________ STATE AUDITOR FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

NATHAN WINTERS KRISTI RACINES _________________________ STATE TREASURER FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

CURT MEIER RON REDO LELAND CHRISTENSEN _________________________ STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

JILLIAN BALOW _________________________ STATE SENATOR SENATE DISTRICT 19 FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

R.J. KOST R. RAY PETERSON _________________________

Continued from Page 30

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 24 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

RICHARD B. JONES SANDY NEWSOME DENISE SHIRLEY _________________________ STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 25 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

DAN LAURSEN _________________________ STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 26 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one JAMIE FLITNER

_________________________

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 50 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

SECRETARY OF STATE TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

DAVID NORTHRUP _________________________

JEFF DOCKTER _________________________

DOSSIE OVERFIELD BOB STEVENS PAT STUART LLOYD E. THIEL JOE TILDEN BOB BERRY ZACH BOWMAN RICHARD GEORGE ANTON TONY LEHMAN CATHY MARINE _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

STATE TREASURER FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one _________________________ STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one _________________________

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 24 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

COUNTY ATTORNEY FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

PAUL FEES _________________________

BRYAN A. SKORIC _________________________

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 25 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

COUNTY SHERIFF FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one SCOTT A. STEWARD _________________________

_________________________ STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 26 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

COUNTY CLERK FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

_________________________

COLLEEN RENNER _________________________

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 28 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

COUNTY TREASURER FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one BARBARA A. POLEY _________________________ COUNTY ASSESSOR FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one PAT MEYER _________________________ CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one PATRA LINDENTHAL _________________________

DEMOCRATIC FEDERAL OFFICES US. SENATOR SIX YEAR TERM Vote for one GARY TRAUNER _________________________

COUNTY SHERIFF FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

_________________________ COUNTY CLERK FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

_________________________ COUNTY TREASURER FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

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TIM POWER _________________________

COUNTY ATTORNEY FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

COUNTY ASSESSOR FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

STATE SENATOR SENATE DISTRICT 19 FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

COUNTY CORONER FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

COUNTY CORONER FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

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STATE AUDITOR FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

COUNTY COMISSIONERS FOUR Year Term Vote for not more than THREE (3)

COUNTY COMISSIONERS FOUR Year Term Vote for not more than THREE (3) _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

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JAMES W. BYRD _________________________

COUNTY OFFICES

KENNETH R. CASNER MICHAEL ALLEN GREEN MARY THRONE REX WILDE _________________________

HOWIE SAMELSON _________________________

OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL BALLOT TOWN OF FRANNIE

MIKE SPECHT _________________________

COUNTY OFFICES

GOVERNOR FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

JOHN R. WINTER TIM MORRISON _________________________

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

STATE OFFICES

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 28 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 50 TWO YEAR TERM Vote for one

CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

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CITY OF CODY COUNCIL MEMBER CODY WARD 1 FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

JUSTIN BAILY _________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER CODY WARD 2 FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

ROBIN A. BERRY HEIDI RASMUSSEN _________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER CODY WARD 3 FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

DIANE BALLARD _________________________

CITY CLARK CODY CODY CODY CODY CODY CODY GARLAND CODY MEETEETSE MEETEETSE MEETEETSE POWELL POWELL POWELL POWELL POWELL POWELL POWELL CODY CODY POWELL POWELL CODY CODY CODY CODY CODY CODY CODY

MAYOR FRANNIE FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

R. VANCE PEREGOY _________________________ TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS FRANNIE FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for not more than TWO (2)

MARIE E. BRAMSON _________________________ _________________________

OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL BALLOT TOWN OF MEETEETSE MAYOR MEETEETSE FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

J.W. “BILL” YETTER _________________________ TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS MEETEETSE FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for not more than TWO (2)

SHERIDAN TRASK _________________________ _________________________ TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER MEETEETSE TWO YEAR UNEXPIRED TERM Vote for one

COREY GUTHRIE _________________________

OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL BALLOT CITY OF POWELL POWELL MAYOR TWO YEAR UNEXPIRED TERM Vote for one

JOHN F. WETZEL RYAN MILLER _________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL WARD 1 FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

ERNEST R. PHIPPS STEVEN MICHAEL LENSEGRAV _________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL WARD 2 FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

SCOTT MANGOLD MICHAEL D. NEWTON _________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL WARD 3 FOUR YEAR TERM Vote for one

TAWNYA PETERSON TIMOTHY A. SAPP _________________________

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