Powell Tribune | 2020 Primary Election Guide

2020

Available Online Only

PRIMARY

ELECTION

GUIDE

In an effort to be as useful as possible, this election guide features only the primary races that appear on local ballots.

Park County Commission ...............Pages 2-7 Senate District 18 ........................ Pages 8-13 House District 25 ........................Pages 14-15 House District 50 ............................. Page 16

Powell City Council ..................... Pages 17-19 City of Powell Mayor ........................ Page 20 U.S. Congress............................ Pages 21-28 Sample Ballot ...................................Page 29

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Park County Commission

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Forum

Park County Commission candidates make their cases at forums

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

A

t a pair of forums last week, candidates for the Park County Commission spoke about how they might cut the county budget or raise more revenue, but none formally endorsed the idea of a new 1% sales tax.

Voters will be asked to decide this fall whether they want to raise Park County’s sales tax rate and provide more money to the county, Powell, Cody and Meeteetse governments.

Some officials have said the tax is necessary to preserve existing public services amid tough economic times and tight budgets. But Republican commission candidates Scott Mangold of Powell, Ted Smith of Cody and incumbent Jake Fulkerson of Cody said they are leaving the decision up to voters. The fourth Republican candidate for the two available seats, Commissioner Lee Livingston of Wapiti, missed the two forums in Powell and Cody due to work. This story combines remarks made at both forums, which were hosted by the Park County Republican Women.

Mangold, a Powell city councilman, expressed the most skepticism about the new tax, saying that, “the town of Powell doesn’t need it.” He said the city has $4 million in reserves and a balanced budget, though he added that what will happen with next year’s budgets at the city and county level “is a huge question.”

“There’s going to be some sacrifices coming up,” Mangold said. “But we can get through without it [the tax].”

Fulkerson said he is not an advocate for the new tax, though he did note that the county’s annual revenues currently lag about $2 million behind expenditures. He suggested people read the county’s budget message and cautioned that the quality of life in Park County will be different in the coming years “if we continue on the same budget trajectory.”

“I would really encourage you to get educated,” Fulkerson said, “Because it’s really important for the future of the county.”

Smith, who works as a custodian for the county government, said he was staying neutral on the issue because “I don’t want to be seen as trying to line my own pockets.”

However, “nothing makes you a more astute businessman than an empty wallet,” he said.

As for what the candidates would cut from the budget, Fulkerson noted that the county has been “agonizing over that for two years.” He said there’s some room to cut expenses through efficiencies, but said “there is no fat in the county right now.”

Fulkerson also pointed to the commission’s ongoing hiring freeze and said that, although it’s been “really hard,” he’s been voting to block departments from filling positions when they become vacant.

Smith — who favors going to a three-member commission — said the first cut he’d make is to stop commissioners from receiving compensation for their mileage for their trips to and from the Park County Courthouse in Cody.

“That is unforgivable,” he said of the practice, only used by some commissioners over the years.

EMPLOYEE PAY Mangold talked about the possibility of employee furloughs and incentives for early retirement and said that during tough times, “you’ve got to stay pretty steady with no additional raises and even … no bonuses.” That was an apparent criticism of the commission’s recent decision to pay one-time bonuses — generally valued at 2% of employees’ annual salaries — plus raises for a handful of employees who have taken on new duties or performed exceptionally well.

In explaining his opposition to raising pay, Mangold said as a small business owner, he doesn’t get cost of living adjustments and said the county gets “a lot of applications” when it has openings for positions.

“There are a lot of people that would like to work for the county,” said Mangold, who co-owns the radio station KPOW, adding, “There’s some people there that are making some good money.”

For his part, Smith said he and other county employees are “very fortunate to have a job right now when other people are losing them.”

If people think they’re more valuable, they should go out into the marketplace and “you may find out you’re not worth what you think you are,” he said.

“When things return to a normal, we’ll take a COLA [cost of living adjustment] if it is available,” Smith said.

Fulkerson described himself as a fiscal conservative and noted that he opposed raises in three of the last four years. He said it was hard deciding what to do with employee compensation this year.

“It’s real easy to sit up here and say, ‘Yeah, I’m against a COLA,’” Fulkerson said, but amid a hiring freeze that’s decreased the number of county employees in several offices, “the ones that are left are working harder.” He also noted that the new one-time bonuses don’t commit any spending in the future — and he praised county employees for carefully managing their budgets last year.

REVENUE While offering ideas on what he would trim from the county’s budget, Mangold said he would want to look for ways to raise revenue before making cuts. Mangold suggested that finding a way to get the City of Powell to bring its trash to Cody instead of Billings could theoretically bring $370,000 to the county’s landfill fund. He also mentioned the idea of using vacant offices at the Park County Complex in Cody as an incubator space — helping new businesses get started in the short term while getting some money to help pay county bills.

Fulkerson noted that the county is currently exploring the idea of selling off part of the sprawling grounds that surround the complex to raise some money and is planning to sell off the property that now houses the Park County drug court program.

Smith said one solution for additional revenue is to simply “get more taxpayers — more people working, more people paying taxes.”

THE PANDEMIC Asked to weigh in on the COVID-19 pandemic and the county’s response, Smith said the disease “is a hard thing to describe: There’s so much information and misinformation out there.” He hasn’t been wearing a mask in his role as a custodian at the complex, “but if the county health department deems that it’s best that we should wear masks, then we will do it,” Smith said.

Mangold said that masks “have been turned into a political movement” with people being shamed for not wearing or even wearing masks.

He said businesses should be allowed to require patrons to wear masks if they want to protect their employees that way, but said he opposes rules from public health officials that carry criminal penalties.

“If you’re not elected to a position, and if it doesn’t go through the proper channels, I don’t believe that they should be able to levy fines to you or to actually threaten you with jail time,” Mangold said to applause in Powell.

Fulkerson said the county government’s COVID-19 plan allows its departments to create their policies, not requiring masks but encouraging social distancing. He noted it’s a difficult issue to manage when some people see the pandemic as really important and others don’t care.

“You have to treat each individual with respect, and that’s what we encourage our department heads and all of our employees [to do],” he said, adding that the biggest goal was to “make sure the public feels comfortable” at county facilities.

THE FUTURE Fulkerson said he’s “very optimistic” about how Park County will look in five years, but called it a “pollyanna view” to think that things will get better in a year or two.

“I think Park County and the State of Wyoming are really going to have to make some tough decisions in the next two years,” he said.

“I see us hitting rock bottom in the next two years and then coming out of it.”

Fulkerson said he’s willing to roll up his sleeves and continue working hard on the commission to get through the tough times.

Smith, who previously served in a county commission-like position in Ohio in the 1980s along with many different job experiences, said he could bring a fresh and outside-the-box perspective while making good, hard decisions.

Mangold cited the work he’s done as mayor and now as a city councilor in Powell and said he “could be a voice to let you know exactly what the Park County commissioners are doing.” He also urged the audience in Cody to not “be afraid of a Powell person” going on the commission.

Smith, Mangold, Fulkerson and Livingston will face off in the Aug. 18 Republican primary.

The top two candidates will advance to November’s general election where, as things currently stand, they’ll be unopposed. Video footage of the two forums are available on the Park County Republican Women Facebook page.

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Park County Commission

Page 3

Profile

Jake Fulkerson

Fulkerson seeking one more term as commissioner

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

A

lthough the Park County government is facing the prospect of some very lean years, Commissioner Jake Fulkerson says he’s ready to roll up his sleeves and continue to work.

Fulkerson announced last week that he will seek a second — and final — four-year term as a county commissioner.

“Based on what I’ve accomplished the first term, I’m excited,” said Fulkerson, 61. “I’m excited to do it again; I really am.”

The Cody Republican says he’s worked hard, encouraged a sense of teamwork among commissioners, county staff and the public, given the county a voice on state and national issues and developed a deep knowledge of the county budget.

The budget, Fulkerson said, “is the big deal.”

He’s proud of the ways the county has looked for savings and efficiencies. For instance, commissioners instituted a “hard hiring freeze” that has eliminated a few positions — and “that’s just going to get more interesting,” he

said. Commissioners and county not be the same next year as they staff have also pursued federal were last year.”

Fulkerson hopes voters take a and state dollars whenever possible. Fulkerson pointed to work hard look at the tax increase.

Teton County officials are preon the South Fork Road, where the county kicked in $2.36 million dicting a 39% drop in sales tax coland the federal government more lections related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fulkerson than $12 million. said. Without a new “I still hear people tax, a similar drop in say the county budget Park County would is bloated, and I really cost the county govencourage those people ernment around $1.6 to call me and let’s go million over the course over the budget,” he of a year — and it was said. “If people see already facing a potensome excess, sometial deficit. Meanwhile, where, they need to call the current crash in oil me. You really need to prices will mean a big hear from the people, revenue hit next year, because we are as lean JAKE unless things dramatias we can go.”

FULKERSON cally improve.

Fulkerson said the “There’s some pretty serious iscounty will balance its budget no matter what, but “we’re going sues facing the county in the next to have to consider new revenue four years,” Fulkerson said. He streams if we want to maintain the added in a statement that he has “the experience, perspective and quality of life.”

The best way to do that, he said, skills to provide the consistent is to ask voters for a new, 1% sales leadership Park County needs tax in November’s general elec- now more than ever.” tion. Fulkerson said it’s “a horFulkerson was elected to the rible time” to ask for a new tax, Park County Commission in 2016 but without a boost in revenue, after serving eight years on the “the services from the county will Cody school board. As for his work

Proven Leader

history, Fulkerson was in banking for 20 years — including time on Shoshone First Bank’s senior management team — and ran QM Appraisal from 2005 until 2019, when he sold the business. Fulkerson now works part-time, describing himself as “semi-retired with complete flexibility over my work hours” for commission business.

Fulkerson served as commission chairman in 2019 and is the board’s liaison to the Park County Library Board, the Park County drug court program and the Park County Health Coalition. He also serves on the board of the economic development group Forward Cody. At the state level, he served on a statewide task force that worked on a plan to replace Wyoming’s aging voting equipment and co-chaired a Wyoming County Commissioners Association committee on elections and land use.

Fulkerson said if he is re-elected to the commission in 2020, it will “definitely” be his last term.

“I’m just going to run one more time,” he said. “This is it.”

Fulkerson and his wife Marisa have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.

Republic an

Jake Fulkerson COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Elected to Park County Board of County Commissioners in 2016, and elected as Chair in 2018 Park County School District #6 Board of Trustees, three years Chair 20 year resident of Park County | Lifelong hunter on public lands

Paid for by committee to elect Jake Fulkerson Park County Commissioner

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Park County Commission

Profile

Lee Livingston

Livingston to seek third term on county commission

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

R

ather than deter him from seeking another term on the Park County Commission, Lee Livingston says the ongoing pandemic confirmed that he wanted to stick around in the role.

“In a weird way, this crisis kind of brings home why I’m wanting to be a commissioner: It’s helping the folks out here locally,” Livingston said.

The 54-year-old Wapiti outfitter and Republican announced last week that he will seek a third, fouryear term on the commission.

“I sure enjoyed the support from the last two elections, and I hope that the folks of Park County feel that I’ve been doing a good enough job that they want me to continue,” Livingston said.

He acknowledged that the county is facing some tough times.

The oil and gas industry — a major source of tax dollars for the county government — has taken a pummeling this year, setting the county up for a particularly tough budget process a year from now. And the county had already been looking for cuts after dipping into reserves

Re-Elect

price,” Livingston said. “And if our a year ago.

“There’s going to be some criti- revenues remain static and our excal decisions about how we move penses increase, something’s gotta forward,” said Livingston, but he happen.”

As for accomplishments from believes his years of service on the his first seven-and-a-half years, commission will help.

“We’ve been cutting the budget he mentioned the county-led Wyoever since the first year I got in ming Public Lands Initiative. Althere, so I’ve got a lot of experi- though that process ultimately did not result in a concrete ence there,” he said. recommendation for the Livingston added that, future management of “I figured the first four the county’s wilderness years [in office], a lot study areas, Livingston of that was learning, so said bringing together you’ve got to give some and gathering input of that back.” from a wide range of citThe county will balizens and stakeholders ance its budget regardwas an accomplishment less of what happens, he in itself. He also called noted, but if there are it a “pretty big deal” further reductions, resithat the county was able dents will start seeing LEE to rebuild a large porservices and, potentialLIVINGSTON tion of the upper South ly, personnel reduced.

Livingston supports asking vot- Fork Road with mostly federal ers for an additional 1% sales tax dollars (the county paid roughly to fund local government this year; $2.36 million and the federal govhe says more revenue is needed to ernment more than $12 million).

Then there’s the accomplishment continue the current services.

“I don’t know of a household out of “just keeping the county held there that hasn’t seen everything together with the revenues that they buy go up in price. And it’s we’ve had at our disposal,” he said.

Livingston said he’s also built up the same thing at the county level: Everything we buy goes up in relationships with the Wyoming

Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Forest Service and the Wyoming Legislature.

“I’ve really started doing a lot more work down in Cheyenne during the legislative session; I’ve developed some really good relationships down there,” he said.

“And I think that’s going to be key moving forward.”

Livingston spent a couple of weeks in the Capitol for last winter’s budget session, representing the interests of the county and, to a lesser degree, the outfitting industry.

He’s the owner of Livingston Outfitting, which offers guided hunts and horse pack trips.

“There’s many times that I will pack a trip in and either ride back out that night to make a meeting the next day or ride out the next day to make a meeting, and go back in and join the trip,” Livingston said, adding that, “I feel I’ve been able to balance it.”

On the five-member commission, the seats held by Livingston and fellow Republican Commissioner Jake Fulkerson are both up for election in 2020. Fulkerson has said that he, too, will seek reelection.

Lee Livingston

Your voice, your choice for Park County Commissioner I am a Park County native raising three Park County natives and am dedicated to ensuring that Park County continues to be the best place to raise and educate our children.

I will continue to work with local businesses and economic development organizations to help in creating jobs to keep our young men and women close to home.

Seven plus years experience as a Park County Commissioner has given me valuable insight that will be beneficial going forward.

livingston@tctwest.net  307.899.3057

I am for prudent, responsible, multiple use and access to our public lands, and am willing to work with all parties involved to ensure that.

As a Park County business owner and employer I understand the importance of working within a budget and believe that experience has served me well when it comes to balancing the Park County budget.

I believe my willingness to listen and learn makes me your best choice to continue to be your voice with the commissioners of Park County.

Paid for by Livingston Campaign

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Park County Commission Scott Mangold

Page 5

Profile

Mangold hopes to represent eastern Park County on commission

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

S

cott Mangold says it was the very last day of the candidate filing period that his phone began ringing off the hook.

“I had a lot of these Park County Republicans calling me up and saying, ‘Well, we only have a couple of incumbents [running for the county commission] and there’s nobody from eastern Park County that have put their name in,’” Mangold recalled.

It took some persuading, but the former Powell mayor and current city councilman decided to make a bid for the Park County Commission. He and fellow Republican Ted Smith of Cody are challenging incumbent commissioners Jake Fulkerson of Cody and Lee Livingston of Wapiti in the Aug. 18 primary election. The commission currently consists of three Cody area residents, with one from Wapiti and another from Clark.

“I think that, if we just have one from eastern Park County at least … it could help quite a bit — you know, open up the communications a little bit,” Mangold said. He’s felt that the municipalities of Powell, Cody and Meeteetse have been overlooked by the commission in the past.

Mangold knows communication, as the co-owner of the Powell radio station KPOW (1260 AM) and as an award-winning broadcaster best known as the voice of Powell’s athletic teams.

Mangold served as mayor

from 2004 to 2012, then rejoined coming in.” the city government as a councilThe county and Powell, Cody man in 2017; he’s in the middle and Meeteetse leaders are asking of a four-year term on the Powell voters to approve a 1% general City Council. purpose sales tax in November Mangold, 63, has also been in- to boost funding. Mangold said Park County may need volved with the Powell the money more than Elks Lodge, the Powell the municipalities.

Athletic Roundtable, “Powell has a balthe Trapper Booster anced budget where Club, the former Park we can run ours and County Boys and Girls we’ve learned how to Club board and local deal with the tough Jaycees. times and got through He sees the county it,” he said. budget as the big issue Mangold also would facing the commission. like to see if there’s a Between oil and gas way to have the City activity sinking (along SCOTT of Powell’s garbage with the associated tax MANGOLD return to the county’s revenue) and the COVID-19 pandemic “it’s a perfect landfill system. When the county stopped accepting large amounts storm,” he said.

“Money is going to be a big of household waste at the Powell issue in Park County,” Mangold landfill in 2012 — and after a said. “And how can Park County bitter disagreement with comitself survive or maybe not lose missioners over rates — the city so many services? I don’t want to built a transfer station and now see a lot of the law enforcement takes the trash to Billings, where cut, I don’t want to see them clos- rates are cheaper. The city says ing bridges and I don’t want to it’s saving roughly $120,000 a year versus Cody. see them cutting roads.”

However, “I’d like to see mayIn the newly approved budget, commissioners slashed fund- be opening up that conversation ing for local nonprofits and the again,” said Mangold. He wants county’s parks and recreation board, while several positions have been left vacant. And yet the 2020-21 budget still calls for dipping into reserves.

“What [is] the next part that’s going to be cut?” Mangold asked.

“I mean, they can’t keep going into reserve with their money.

They’re going to need something

to know if local leaders can find a way to bring the roughly $350,000 a year that the city now pays to Billings back to Park County — and potentially bring down rates for everyone.

He also wants to support events in eastern Park County.

For instance, the fair is “one of the big events in Powell; it’s one of the big events in Cody,” Mangold said, but during the commission’s recent budget discussions, he said “it seemed, ‘Wow, it’s a big party. It’s a big celebration. It’s something we can cut out.’”

To win, Mangold will need to at least hold his own in the more populous Cody area. He said he’s already visited with some business owners in downtown Cody, listening to their concerns and “just getting the message out who I am — and for them not to be afraid of a Powell person.”

The distrust between the two cities is one of the things “we’ve got to get rid of — except in football,” he quipped.

While the two areas are different, “we have the same idea, the same end goal in place to make Park County the best place to live,” he said.



FOR PARK COUNTY

COMMISSIONER 40-Year Resident Powell Mayor for 8 Years

Current Powell City Council Member

Believes in Term Limits

Paid for by Mangold for Park County Committee

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Park County Commission

Profile

Ted Smith County custodian with diverse background running for commission running, as Powell City Councilman Scott Mangold filed later in the final day.)

Smith previously was elected as a ed Smith has held a wide variety of jobs throughout his life, township trustee in Huron County, in construction, farming, agri- Ohio, in the 1980s, where he also cultural research, teaching, journal- served as a member of the local airism and as an elected official in Ohio. port and fair board. Other past work “I can relate to a lot of people,” included serving as a high school Smith said, “because I’ve been there vocational agriculture teacher, an airport maintenance and security and done that.”

The 63-year-old Cody resident is worker, an assistant manager at a now hoping to put his experience to crop research effort at Ohio State work for the public as a Park County University and more than 15 years commissioner, running for one of the in the tractor tire business, where he was self-employed two available spots on the and had as many as board. four employees. Smith is Smith, a Republican, now a part-time student has a unique perspective at Northwest College, on the county governwhere he’s studying agriment. He currently works cultural education. as a custodian in the As for his job, it’s been buildings and grounds an odd year to be a county department, helping custodian. At the urging clean the Park County of Commissioner Lloyd Complex.

Thiel, commissioners seBeing on the low end of riously discussed the TED SMITH the county’s pay scale, “I possibility of turning the know how to be frugal,” he said, and after some five years county’s custodial services over to a of working for the county, you “see private contractor before deciding a whole different view from the against it.

Smith noted that when Thiel ground what’s going on, versus from brought the idea to the board, a couthe commissioners on down.”

Smith, who came to Wyoming ple of commissioners indicated the seven years ago, said he’s not afraid discussion about privatization should to look at how other states handle have been held behind closed doors.

“It doesn’t give good transparproblems instead of doing things as ency,” Smith said. they’ve always been done.

He added that his run for comSmith already has some ideas for improving the county govern- mission is not tied to the customent. For instance, commissioners dial debate, though “it brought to the recently began livestreaming their forefront some of the things they [the meetings, but Smith says they should commissioners] do that doesn’t make also record and archive the videos sense,” Smith said. For instance, raising the county’s liquor license for convenient viewing.

He also wants to eventually con- fees upset some license holders, “but dense the board to three commis- it really didn’t add any money to cut sioners instead of five, something a deficit,” Smith said of the estimated that would take voter approval. $6,000 in added annual revenue.

Around Park County, Smith has Smith ticked off examples of larger counties in Wyoming and his na- volunteered with the Heart Mountive state of Ohio that have smaller tain Interpretive Center and is a lifeboards. For instance, Franklin time auxiliary member at the Cody County, Ohio, has a population of 1.3 VFW and a member of the Sons of million people and a more than $1.78 the American Legion in Powell. His billion budget, “and three people father and his four older brothers all get that job done,” Smith said. He served the U.S. military.

Smith dons military garb and considers five commissioners to be a waste, calculating that going back stands at the State of Wyoming Vetto three board members would save erans Memorial Park in Cody on many holidays as a way to honor vetmore than $122,000 a year.

“Less talk, more bridges,” Smith erans like his family members.

“It’s just to give back to the comsaid.

He filed for the commission on the munity,” Smith said. “And if more final day of the filing period, when people would be involved, we would only the two incumbents — Lee Liv- do better.”

If elected as a commissioner, ingston and Jake Fulkerson — had Smith will give up his job as a custoannounced their candidacies.

“I’m an idealist and people for dian. He sees commissioner as a fullpolitical office should not run unop- time job and said he plans to spend 30 hours a week at the courthouse if posed,” he said.

(Ultimately, Smith was not the elected, believing it’s important for a only one to throw his name into the commissioner to be there.



VOTE

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

TED

T

SMITH for Park County Commissioner



 Five years as a Park County Employee  Three commissioners as opposed to five  Pro economic development  Northwest College Ag. Ed. student  Four year elected official in Ohio  Former business owner for 15 years 



Fellow Park Countians — Today we face a myriad of challenges and opportunities. COVID-19, budgets, social distancing, employment and taxes are among the headlines today. We have always met these events and overcome them. I will bring a different, innovative approach based on our traditional values, to meet them head on. I will work full-time with the board to get us through these times. 

 Pro Second Amendment  Cody VFW and Powell American Legion Auxiliary Member  For County Transparency - record and archive commissioner meetings Paid for by the candidate.

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Park County Commission

Page 7

Forum

Commission candidates offer thoughts on economy

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

F

ast-tracking new businesses, promoting the local quality of life, supporting programs that keep youth in the area and sticking with economic development efforts were among the strategies pitched by Park County Commission candidates at a forum last week.

All four Republican contenders for two open seats on the board — incumbents Lee Livingston of Wapiti and Jake Fulkerson of Cody and challengers Scott Mangold of Powell and Ted Smith of Cody — made their cases at an Aug. 4 event at Washington Park, hosted

by Powell Economic Partnership (PEP)/Powell Chamber. Their remarks generally centered around economic development.

LEE LIVINGSTON Livingston said that if reelected, he’ll continue to “support programs that will keep kids here, support our colleges, support our schools” and to send funds to Forward Cody and PEP. He spoke about the importance of bringing up youth who understand that hard work pays off.

“One of the questions is, what do you do to keep the workforce here?

Well, I just had to raise them,” said Livingston, noting that two of his kids are in his outfitting busi-

JAKE FULKERSON Fulkerson, an appraiser, former banker and former Cody school board member, said it’s important to continue working at economic development and to chip away — even when things have slowed down economically.

“If I’m re-elected, I’m going to spend the next four years doing what I’ve done in the last four years, and that’s being very involved with the economic development in Powell, Wyoming,” Fulkerson said.

There’s a lot of good things going on in the Powell area, he said, specifically mentioning the hard work of PEP and the hemp growing alongside U.S. Highway 14-A. “I think that’s really neat that’s coming together,” Fulkerson said of the newly legalized crop.

owner of the radio station KPOW, said the area has some strong opportunities while the news is filled with COVID-19, riots, quarantines and people working from home.

“Right now we are sitting on gold here in Park County,” he said, referring to the quality of life here. Mangold said people used to think cities were the place to raise a family, but “it’s not that anymore — it’s a place like Powell, Wyoming, where you got kids over here that can take their bikes to the park.”

He called the county “the ultimate destination place.”

Keeping infrastructure maintained and attractive for businesses and families is important, Mangold added. He noted that, while mayor of Powell, the city led an effort to build a citywide fiber optic network to boost local businesses.

“They enjoy the highest speed you’re gonna find in the state today,” Mangold said.

He also continued to pitch the fact that, unlike the five current commissioners, he’s from the eastern part of Park County.

“That is sort of seeing Sasquatch riding a unicorn,” Mangold said. “You don’t see too many of those.”

SCOTT MANGOLD Mangold, a Powell city councilman and a broadcaster and co-

TED SMITH As for Smith, the Park County government custodian and non-

ness.

Since starting in the industry some 36 years ago, he said that times have changed.

“Our workforce is hard to find right now,” he said. “A lot of it is there’s a lot of folks who just don’t want to work. You give them $600 extra a week [in unemployment benefits], they’re not going to work. ... They need to have an incentive to work.”

traditional agricultural education major at Northwest College said that “a healthy business environment is necessary for our future here in Park County.”

Smith said he would support education, job training and quality of life. He praised the local school districts and said Northwest College “is really something that we all can take pride in and use it as a springboard to do greater things.”

He also mentioned specific learning opportunities available to local residents, ranging from NWC classes to the LinkedIn Learning offered through Wyoming libraries.

“Government does not provide free daycare, but we should not impede people from getting into it and then to help people to go to college and to work,” Smith added. “And we should facilitate whatever it takes to help people do better.”

For instance, Smith suggested that Park County could allow people to use county meeting rooms for credit counseling.

He also cited the importance of locally grown businesses, suggesting the county “fast track” businesses “in order to bring people in and get them started, and not cause any delays in that.”

The top two vote-getters in next week’s election will advance to the general election ballot in November.

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Senate District 18

Forum

In highly contested race, Senate candidates offer their views to voters

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

I

n the opening moments, it appeared that a forum featuring the four Republicans running for Senate District 18 — Stefanie Bell of Cody, Tim French of Heart Mountain, state Rep. David Northrup of Powell and Richard Jones of Wapiti — might get heated.

“I’m real tired of so-called good Republicans in this county getting elected and then going to Cheyenne and voting liberal or very liberal,” French said at the start of the July 28 event in Powell.

The conservative, longtime Park County commissioner said he doesn’t like the direction that lawmakers are taking the state.

“They’re leaning it left. … It’s wrong,” French said. “I mean, look what they bring: Antifa, defunding the police, abusing our police officers, Antifa beating the tar out of people. I mean, I don’t want Wyoming to go down that path and I will fight with everything I’ve got against something like that.”

The pointed remarks got the forum started with a bang, but they wound up being more of an outlier than setting the tone. While the candidates frequently differed, they generally avoided direct criticism during the Powell event and one the following day in Cody.

This story combines remarks made at the two forums, both hosted by the Park County Republican Women.

Rep. Northrup, who currently represents House District 50, made the case that he’s ready to step up to the Senate and hit the ground running; he cited his six years as the chairman of the House Education Committee and 12 years on the Powell school board, among other experience.

“Those skills I’ve learned in the House will make me part of the solution …,” Northrup said.

Stefanie Bell, who has served on the Cody school board for the last 20 years, said she has proven herself to be a determined leader and a hard worker for her constituents.

“I will fight for ... all the issues that impact us, from clean water to air service,” Bell said, referencing education, multiple use and access to public lands, among other topics. “We must return to what is precious, and we have to attract what is the best.”

Jones, whose range of experience includes serving as a park ranger and gaming regulator, said

he would go to Cheyenne with the intent to “keep them from doing stuff to us here.”

“I’ll work hard to prevent the liberal creep of raising taxes, increasing regulations that harm business, restricting access to public lands in general and restricting any of the freedoms that we’ve come to enjoy by tradition and are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights,” he said.

TAX TALK The state’s bleak-looking budget — and what to do about it — was a major theme during the forums.

Bell said she opposes most tax increases, but “I also believe in paying our bills.” She said some changes need to be made to the state’s tax structure and called for statewide support for Wyoming’s community colleges.

Bell was alone in indicating she would consider a proposed 7% corporate income tax on corporations with 100 or more shareholders.

She said Wyoming’s small and medium-sized businesses need to be protected, but differentiated them from big box stores. Bell said she’s open to a corporate tax as part of “making sure we watch out for our Wyoming businesses.”

She noted the argument that the bill would basically just take Wyoming’s share of taxes the companies already budget for.

“It’s very similar in my mind to the number of years that Amazon didn’t pay sales tax,” Bell said.

“How is it that something can be delivered to my door but really, really hurts our communities?”

Jones, however, said Wyoming’s current lack of corporate and income taxes represent “a tremendous incentive for people to come here without having to give them other handouts” that the state shouldn’t erase.

He added that, “taxes in general, to me, are a loser” and saying that, “you do better by letting people keep their own money and work with it.”

French, meanwhile, said he doesn’t support raising any taxes.

He also said lawmakers need to avoid panicking, because the economy may soon rebound.

“I think everybody down there at the Legislature, they need to calm down for a little bit and think this through,” he said. “We don’t need a whole bunch of taxes.

People are really suffering.”

Northrup countered that, “I didn’t think that there was a panic button on taxes yet,” and said the state has reserves that can help

cover expenses in the coming two years.

“The question is, what do we do after that?” he said. If the economy doesn’t rebound as is hoped, Northrup said the state will have to explore other options.

“We have to do the right thing for the people of Wyoming,” he said. “There’s more to this than the next two years. We have to get through many years, and depleting our resources may not be the best place to do that.”

Northrup specifically said he opposes a corporate income tax, saying the state needs “to be able to attract new business instead of having them penalized when they get here.”

All four candidates expressed opposition to a state income tax.

and the cities so that they don’t have to do these dramatic cuts.”

MAKING CUTS As far as what Wyoming should do for future budget cuts, Northrup said to expect another 10% cut — on top of a 10% cut just ordered by Gov. Mark Gordon.

Northrup also said state departments should be allowed to decide where to cut, because “they are the closest to their budget — they are the ones that understand what needs to happen.”

“As far as trying to do it [specific cuts] within a legislative body, it would be like trying to do surgery by telephone; it’s just not going to happen,” he said.

Jones agreed about generally letting agencies decide what to cut. But he also thinks things will get better. Wyoming, Jones said, is well-positioned to export its clean coal, with strong reserves of trona and money in savings.

“Take a deep breath and see what happens in the future,” he said. “I’m optimistic.”

French was also optimistic, but said “this COVID crisis has just exposed the fact that we’ve allowed the state of Wyoming’s government to get too big.” He said the state must look for efficiencies and move “to a smaller, better government that works for the people of this state.”

Bell agreed the state needs to get more efficient, but noted that some of those efficiencies — like updating databases and infrastructure — will require an initial investment. Without those changes, “we’re not going to get more efficient,” she said. “Things are just going to continue to break down.”

Bell also stressed the need for Wyoming to quickly get the state’s $1.25 billion share of federal CARES Act funding “into the hands of the agencies, the counties

MEDICAID EXPANSION It’s not in Wyoming’s best interest to increase the range of people eligible for Medicaid, French said, saying expansion has crippled the economies of other states. Jones made similar remarks, noting that states have to cover a portion of the cost of expansion.

“I think in this small state people have pretty good healthcare,” he added.

Northrup said he, too, does not favor expansion. However, the lawmaker noted his vote to look at using Medicaid to help cover the expense of services provided to special education students in public schools.

Differing from the field, Bell indicated some openness to a restricted expansion of Medicaid, describing it as a potential way to help those with low incomes who otherwise couldn’t afford health insurance while boosting rural hospitals.

SCHOOL CHOICE Both Jones and French expressed support for school choice, with Jones saying that public schools “have become a monopoly” and are “usually unaccountable.” Jones said the state constitution seems to have been interpreted as saying that K-12 education must get “a blank check,” but he said that’s incorrect.

Both Northrup and Bell said they support parents making the decision as to where their children attend school, but said there are constitutional prohibitions on the government funding private or religious schools.

GUNS IN SCHOOLS Both French and Jones said they support arming trained staff in schools and oppose gun-free zones. Jones called them “shooting zones” and French called them, “a big advertisement to anybody out there that has ill intent.”

Northrup and Bell said they support letting local school districts decide whether to arm staff. Bell also noted that gun free school zones come from federal law.

The four candidates will face off in the Aug. 18 Republican primary election, with only the winner advancing to November’s general election. Video recordings of the two forums are available on the Park County Republican Women’s Facebook page.

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Senate District 18

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Senate candidates offer solutions for state’s $1.5 billion deficit

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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he four Republican candidates for Senate District 18 have differing ideas about how the State of Wyoming should tackle its budget deficit, with one contender calling for new taxes.

Cody school board member Stefanie Bell — who faces former Park County Commissioner Tim French, state Rep. David Northrup, R-Powell, and former park ranger Richard Jones in the race — says the state needs more money.

Wyoming leaders have talked about cutting agencies, jobs and services amid a projected $1.5 billion biennial deficit, Bell noted at an Aug. 4 forum at Washington Park. However, with that shortfall being equal to the combined salaries of every state employee, “we are not cutting our way out of this,” she said.

More recent projections of oil and gas productions are better than once feared, Bell said, “but we must increase revenue.”

She proposes both “a statewide funding model for community colleges, and a corporate income tax for foreign entities that do not have real properties in our state.”

“We also must energize our economy and be business ready,” she added, specifically endorsing blockchain technology and its applications for selling Wyoming beef.

Bell also reiterated her call for the state government to speed up its distribution of the $1.25 billion awarded to the state under the federal CARES Act, noting the

COVID-19 relief must be spent by the end of the year.

“Wyoming needs to be agile. We need to be ready ... to accept the blessings,” she said. “We need to be ready to support opportunity.”

RICHARD JONES Meanwhile, Jones cautioned against pursuing some new resources of revenue amid the budget crunch.

“We’re talking about marijuana in Cheyenne; they’re saying, ‘Hey, the taxes for marijuana, let’s make the state a drug dealer,’” Jones said. He has a long background in substance abuse prevention and is an outspoken critic of marijuana and legalization efforts, pointing to problems the drug has caused in other states.

Jones also warned against legalizing additional gambling in the state, referencing the fact that Park County voters will soon consider authorizing parimutuel betting.

“These are slippery slopes; let me tell you,” said Jones, who once worked as a state gaming agent in Mississippi.

He also noted that current projected deficits represent only what may occur and said “Wyoming has a lot of strengths in it.”

While coal may be down 20-30% permanently, he noted the fossil fuel can be also used for the developing carbon fiber industry; the state also has a large amount of trona and uranium.

“I firmly believe that the power of the future is uranium,” Jones said. “And if that is indeed true and these regulations take off, this will be the future of Wyoming.”

In another 18 months, he predicted that the state could be “back on top again.”

TIM FRENCH French also sounded an optimistic note, suggesting that the state’s current budget struggle “has everything to do with COVID.” He noted that local barley contracts were initially cut in half because of decreased demand from shuttered bars, but have since been restored, while reduced travel has hit the many small businesses dependent on tourism. Minerals are also down, but “things are looking up” in more recent projections, he said.

French also noted that the state is only one month into a 24-month budget cycle and “a lot can change in the 23 months.”

“I’m optimistic,” he said “We’ll get through this. Wyoming people are proud, hardworking folks.”

As for what action he’d take, French said he wants to implement the recommendations from a recent state efficiency study that could save $230 million — which “would go a long way to helping our deficit.”

He also called for a general streamlining of state government.

“We need to be smarter, smaller, more efficient,” French said.

“This COVID thing has just made us all aware of how big we’ve allowed the state of Wyoming’s government to get. It’s too big.”

DAVID NORTHRUP Northrup also suggested that Wyoming’s current budget woes are tied to the pandemic and other temporary factors. He noted a

price war took a toll on oil prices, a glut of natural gas drove down that commodities’ price, the ag industry is off 25 to 30% and then tourism was hit by COVID-19.

The state, Northrup said, could use savings to address the current deficit.

“We can use our piggy bank, we’ll break the piggy bank and after the piggy bank goes away, then we’ll look at a pretty good balanced budget,” Northrup said.

“We’ll make cuts, we’ll look at efficiencies. We’ll look at all those things that are going to happen to make this budget work.”

“It’s the next biennium we have to worry about,” he added. “This budget, along with our savings and with optimism will be great. It’ll come through. But hope is not a strategy. We have to take decisive measures to make sure that we work this budget and get the state balanced.”

Northrup said the Legislature will need to find a way to refill the state’s saving accounts and reduce regulations for the oil and gas industry while helping it become more productive. He also said he’d like to see new slaughterhouses in the northern and southern parts of the state.

As for tourism, “we’re going to have to promote it, promote it, promote it” to get the industry back to pre-COVID levels, he said.

“We need these industries going and working so that people have jobs in Park County,” he said.

The four Republicans will face off in Tuesday’s primary election, with only the top vote-getter advancing to November’s general election.

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Senate District 18 Stefanie Bell

Thursday, August 13, 2020

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Cody school board member enters Senate race

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

S

tefanie Bell, a longtime member of the Cody school board, is joining the race to represent much of Park County in the Wyoming Senate.

“I am a leader with the determination, experience, and skills to represent Park County,” Bell said in a Monday statement announcing her candidacy for Senate District 18.

She’s the third Republican to run for the position, alongside former Park County Commissioner Tim French of Heart Mountain and state Rep. David Northrup of Powell.

They’re all seeking to replace retiring Sen. Hank Coe, R-Cody.

In many of her 20 years as a member of the Park County School District No. 6 Board of Trustees, Bell has served as a legislative liaison for the board, working closely with lawmakers and participating in all phases of the legislative process. She helped pass bills that expanded the use of the state’s Hathaway scholarships at Wyoming’s community colleges and helped boost worker’s compensation coverage for special education teachers, among others.

Bell said she’s thought about running for the Senate seat for the past four years, has spoken to Coe about the position for the last two years and has been “studying” for the position since September.

Bell said she would bring a strong work ethic to the job.

“Anybody who watches the legislative session just knows that it’s

Bell graduated from Powell High fast and furious. And unless you’re going to rely on someone else just to School and then Northwest College. tell you how to vote, you have to do She and her husband James then the work. And that requires early attended Pacific University in Formornings and late nights, and a lot est Grove, Oregon, where she studof reading,” Bell said. “And that’s ied English. After graduating, Bell taught for a couple years in Oregon, what I do.”

On the Cody school board, Bell until James earned his doctorate in has been through her fair share of optometry. They returned to Powell controversial issues, ranging from in 1991 and moved to Cody shortly after that. challenged reading ma“We just love both terials and library books communities,” she said. to arming school staff.

Since coming back to “I can work with anyPark County, Bell has body; I will work with been a mother for the anybody,” Bell said. “It couple’s 10 children, doesn’t mean that I don’t including a son who died have my values and that a few days after his birth I don’t feel firm about in 2006. what I believe, but … a “Life is precious, almajority of our perspecways,” Bell says on her tives are shared.”

She sees many benSTEFANIE BELL website.

The couple’s children efits in collaborating with others and listening — and she now range in age from 9 to 30, while Bell has remained active with loves honing policies and words.

“I have worked just as hard on the school board, her church and policy that I didn’t agree with, as various organizations, including a on policy that I advocated for,” Bell group that advocates for children’s said. “And I think that’s my idea of interests in court proceedings.

“People talk about minerals, representation, is that I’m not going to fold my arms to not help. I’m go- about all of the things that we have ing to do the best job I can to make of value in the state, and the most whatever is in front of me ... the valuable thing we have in the state best that it can possibly be. And I’m is not a thing. It’s our kids,” she said. “And I’m always going to be tenacious.”

A Sheridan native, Bell spent an advocate for quality schooling in parts of her youth in Laramie, Big the state of Wyoming.”

If elected, Bell said she will emHorn and Kemmerer, before arrivphasize local control, suggesting ing in Powell in seventh grade. “... The irrigation ditches were that the Legislature should look to flowing and it was green every- stay within its own lane.

“I’ve seen, through the years, the where. And I thought it was heavlegislative process descend into a en,” she recalled.

micromanagement of a lot of different entities,” she said. “And I’m not saying that all those things were right — and I’m not saying all those things are wrong. But you gotta do your job first.”

Specifically, Bell said that lawmakers should work to stay more focused on the state’s budget during the biennial budget session.

“During the budget sessions, it’s so crowded with other issues that it seems like the budget sometimes just happens because there’s so many competing interests,” she said.

Bell added that, from her experience, “I can tell you … there are so many ways that we can make it easier for people in the State of Wyoming to keep track of what’s happening in Cheyenne.”

Under the traditional setup, Bell said people must travel to the capitol and testify in front of a committee meeting in order to be effective — assuming the meeting isn’t delayed.

She thinks that the current social distancing precautions have opened up a lot of minds as to what’s possible for remote participation.

Bell said she can speak to people’s desires to offer valuable input during the legislative session and said serving as a lawmaker is sometimes “just being a portal, just having that open ear.”

Senate District 18 represents an area that includes Cody, Clark, the North and South Fork, Ralston, Clark, Heart Mountain, Crandall, Sunlight and the Willwood.

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Thursday, August 13, 2020

Senate District 18

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Profile

Tim French

Tim French running for Senate District 18

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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im French may have made the earliest campaign announcement in Park County history, when, back in 2018, he announced his intent to run for the state Senate in 2020.

Now, two years later, the former longtime county commissioner and Heart Mountain farmer is gearing up to run for Senate District 18 — seeking to replace retiring Sen. Hank Coe, R-Cody.

French, a Republican, described himself as a conservative who “will take conservative values down there” to the Legislature in Cheyenne; he said he’s pro-life, pro-second amendment and pro-property rights.

“We’re entering in a tough time,” French said of the situation facing the state and Park County.

“I think I’ve got the experience, the common sense … and I’ve

lowstone National Park might be been through a lot of it.”

He served on the county com- impacted this year.

“I’m nervous for the state mission for 18 years — being the longest-serving commissioner in and Park County,” French said the county’s history. That tenure in a March 20 phone call to the included some challenging times, Tribune, but he also called himself an “optimistic-type though the troubles person.” now facing Wyoming “We’ve just got to amid the new coronatalk and act in a posivirus appear to be on tive manner and stay another level. away from the doom French noted that and gloom thing,” he restaurants and other said, adding “We’ve got businesses are sufto do everything we can fering as citizens are to promote our main being urged to stay industries — ag, oil and at home to slow the gas, tourism, you name spread of COVID-19, it. We’ve got to really retirement accounts TIM FRENCH have the back of those and the State of Wyoming’s investments are suffering industries.”

French described himself as as the stock market has tanked, cattle prices have dropped and level-headed and said he’s “been oil field workers are being laid around long enough that I feel I off and the tax base is shrinking can add something to the converas the price of oil has plummeted. sation.”

While the soon-to-be-66-yearAnd there are fears of how visitation to local destinations like Yel- old knows he would have a lot to

Vote Tuesday, August 18

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• Proven leadership & Experience • Served 5 terms as Park County Commissioner • Common Sense & Conservative • Pro-life Endorsed by Wyoming Right to Life

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WYOMING SENATE DISTRICT 18 Paid for by Tim French, candidate for State Senate

absorb as a new state lawmaker, he called himself a quick learner.

“I’m very confident I can do it if the people put me in that position,” French said.

Senate District 18 covers a wide area, ranging from the Willwood south of Powell to the northern half of Yellowstone National Park, picking up Cody, Ralston, Clark and the North and South forks along the way. Coe has held the seat for 32 years, but recently reaffirmed that he will not seek re-election and will retire.

French is the first candidate to declare their candidacy for the position, though the official filing period doesn’t open until May 14.

“This year’s going to be strange,” French said, referring to the current restrictions on gatherings related to COVID-19, “because if it lasts the summer, nobody’s going to be campaigning other than on the phone.”

He’s hoping that won’t be the case.

Like me on Facebook:

TimFrenchForWYSenate

100% rating from the NRA and Wyoming Gun Owners

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Senate District 18 Richard Jones

Thursday, August 13, 2020

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Jones hopes to represent local residents in Senate

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

I

f you want to have an impact, sometimes you have to step up and do the job,” says Richard Jones of Wapiti.

Along those lines, Jones wants to step up to represent Senate District 18 in the Wyoming Legislature.

“I don’t see my representation of this area so much as for doing things for this district per se,” he said in a recent interview, “but being in Cheyenne to prevent the state from doing things to this district.”

Jones is a former U.S. park ranger, working a 25-year career that took him from Arizona to Virginia, the Virgin Islands, Mississippi and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. He later worked as a casino regulator in Mississippi and as a psychometrist and neuropsychology research assistant.

He spent time in Yellowstone National Park as a child — where his father served as a ranger — and has lived in Park County for roughly 15 years, including the last six years. Jones has been active in the community, serving on the City of Cody and Park County planning and zoning commissions, Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center board and being involved in multiple organizations. He also works for Bottle Tree Behavioral, a substance abuse educational and consulting

service owned by his wife, Char- who supported the bill — including Rep. David Northrup, R-Powell, lotte Carlton.

Jones described himself as big who’s also running for the Senate on communication, both in finding seat — for not explaining what was out what people want and letting happening.

“Nobody knew about it till peopeople know what’s going on. Serving as an elected representative, ple got a letter in the mail saying he added, can sometimes mean they’d no longer have the [membership] service and that this had setting aside his own views.

“I may have a different opinion, been passed by the Legislature,” but [if] most of my constituents Jones said.

He also criticized lawmakers for feel somewhere else, well, I feel passing a new statewide obligated ... to represent lodging tax in the past that view,” Jones said. session and contended People from the that the impact of tour“power centers” of ism is overblown.

Cheyenne, Casper and “As important as it is Teton County often psychologically and as a dominate the discuscaché, it’s not a revenue sion and hurt towns generator and driver” like Cody “where these for the State of Wyothings don’t fit us or cost ming, he said. us or something else but Jones said the state we never know about it,” Jones said.

RICHARD JONES has a spending problem that needs to be adThe self-described conservative said state officials dressed first.

“I’m not an anti-taxer; you’ve make decisions “without necessarily getting good input from the gotta have some services,” Jones said, “but on the other hand, taxing people being affected by it.”

Jones cited the example of 2019 is not the answer to your problegislation that required air ambu- lems.”

For instance, while he thinks the lance membership plans to comply with Wyoming Department of Wyoming Department of TransInsurance standards; that led the portation does an outstanding job, AirMedCare Network, which owns he said it didn’t make sense for the Guardian Flight, to stop offering department to install a new electronic/webcam outside of Cody memberships in Wyoming.

Jones said the Legislature took while the state is facing a budget the wrong approach with its regu- shortfall; the sign was included lations and faulted the lawmakers in a $1.4 million package of seven

signs and a relay tower.

Jones suggested cuts to Wyoming’s education system — which he called one of the best and bestfunded systems in the country — noting that many of the state’s highest paid officials are principals, superintendents and University of Wyoming officials.

“You chop two of those bigwigs down at the University of Wyoming [and] you fund half a dozen teachers throughout the state,” Jones said, also suggesting that some school districts be consolidated to reduce the number of administrators.

He said he opposes a personal income tax or corporate income tax, saying that Wyoming’s business-friendly environment is a draw for companies to locate here; that, he said, is a better way to recruit new business than offering subsidies through entities like the Wyoming Business Council.

In the Senate District 18 race, Jones will face off with Rep. Northrup, former Park County Commissioner Tim French and Cody school board member Stefanie Bell in the Aug. 18 Republican primary election.

The four candidates are vying to replace state Sen. Hank Coe, RCody, who is retiring after 32 years of service.

The district stretches from the Willwood to the South Fork, including Cody, Ralston, Heart Mountain, Clark and Wapiti.

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Senate District 18 David Northrup

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Profile

Rep. David Northrup to run for state Senate

BY DAVE BONNER Tribune Publisher

S

tate Rep. David Northrup, RPowell, will attempt to move to the Wyoming Senate next year, announcing Wednesday that he’ll seek to replace retiring Sen. Hank Coe, R-Cody.

Northrup, a Willwood farmer, said he will file his candidacy to represent Senate District 18.

The district is made up of House District 24 and HD 50, which Northrup has represented since 2012. The Senate district encompasses Cody, the North and South forks, Clark, Ralston, Heart Mountain, the northern part of Yellowstone National Park, Sunlight, Crandall and the Willwood.

Northrup’s entry into the Senate race sets up a Republican primary contest with Heart Mountain farmer and former Park County Commissioner Tim French, who earlier announced he would run for SD 18.

Northrup said last month that he was “90% certain” he would not seek re-election and might end his eight-year tenure in the

ELECT

He believes his legislative exLegislature, as he weighed farm and family considerations. But perience, including six years as Northrup said Wednesday that chairman of the House Education he’s working to resolve those con- Committee, are important proving ground. cerns.

“Experience and leadership are Northrup missed a considerable stretch of the general legislative needed now,” he said. “The revsession in 2019 when his mother enue shortfall coming to Wyoming is going to be a differwas battling cancer. ent look for this state.”

At the time, Northrup Northrup served on stressed that family the revenue and educacomes first. tion committees when “Things look good he was first elected in now,” he said of his 2012. He was appointed mother’s health, then acting chair of educaadded, “It can haption in 2015 and took pen to anybody at any over the full chairmantime.” ship of the Education Northrup said he has Committee in 2016. A been making changes former chairman of the in his family farming DAVID Park County Repuboperation.

NORTHRUP lican Party, Northrup “We’ve sold some land and are in the process of sell- also served for six years as chairing more,” he said. “The goal is to man of the school board in Powell trim down to where I can handle School District No. 1.

“Now is the time for Wyoming it with myself and one man rather than having to employ a whole leadership to rise up and help Wyoming recover from the pancrew.”

Of the SD 18 Republican prima- demic,” Northrup stressed. He ry race, Northrup acknowledged specially commended teachers and school district personnel for that “it’ll be a tough campaign.”

David Northrup

— Experienced and Ready to Lead —

More than ever, Experience and Leadership are needed now. The revenue shortfall coming to Wyoming is going to provide quite a different look for this state. A lifelong Republican who has served as chairman of the Park County Republican Party, David Northrup also chaired the Park County District #1 School Board of Trustees in Powell for six years and now serves as Chairman of the House Education Committee in the Legislature. Northrup has sponsored and passed many bills, including one that gets all the colleges on the same transcript.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR SENATE DISTRICT 18 www.facebook.com/DavidNorthrupForWyomingLegislature

their work and great innovation during the pandemic.

Northrup said he supported Gov. Mark Gordon in his belief that federal stimulus funding for Wyoming through the CARES Act should include assistance to small businesses that have suffered from the pandemic. Wyoming received a $1.25 billion appropriation from the federal government.

“There should be help for the small businesses, down to lawn care services and the like, who have been closed down by the pandemic and just about ruined,” he said.

Wyoming’s Legislature will convene in special session May 15-16 to determine how the $1.25 billion in stimulus money will be allocated.

The filing period for municipal and partisan offices — including the Wyoming Legislature — formally opens on Thursday, May 14 and runs through Friday, May 29.

Republican Rachel RodriguezWilliams of Cody has already announced her intent to run for Northrup’s current seat in House District 50.

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Thursday, August 13, 2020

House District 25

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Larsen challenges Laursen for House seat

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

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in the Aug. 18 primary election, in which the only way she can advance to November is by defeating Rep. Laursen.

“There’s part of me that just wants to kind of say it’s time for the Republican Party to be what it was when I was growing up, which was the party of moderation,” Larsen said. “Because it’s a party of extremes right now.”

oters in the Powell area again have a choice in the local race for the Wyoming House of Representatives.

It appeared as though state Rep. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, would be unopposed in his bid for a fourth term, when his Republican challenger, Powell businessman Chris CONSISTENTLY Good, had to drop out after his wife CONSERVATIVE suffered a serious injury.

Rep. Laursen is by many meaHowever, Justine Larsen, a para-educator and former business sures one of the most conservative owner, announced Friday that she members of the Wyoming Legislature, being honored for is mounting a write-in his voting record by the campaign for the House American Conservative District 25 seat.

Union earlier this year.

“My big thing is giving “When I vote I ask, people a choice,” Larsen ‘Does this bill follow our said in an interview. federal and state consti“I don’t think anyone tutions? Does it follow should just, by default, the Wyoming Republiget re-elected because can Party platform?” he they’re the only one runsaid at Tuesday’s forum, ning.” describing himself as a Larsen has plenty “constitutional RepubJUSTINE of disagreements with lican” who is pro-life, LARSEN Laursen. That includes pro-Second Amendment his opposition to expanding Medicaid coverage in Wyoming and pro-family.

Laursen received kudos from and what she sees as a lack of supPark County Republican Party port for education.

“I’m never gonna say Dan’s a bad Chairman Martin Kimmet earlier guy,” she said of Laursen. “But I’ve this year for doing a “great job” in had some serious irritations with Cheyenne, and this month he received the full-throated backing of some of the positions he’s taken.”

The two candidates agreed on Wyoming Gun Owners — the state’s little during a Tuesday night forum largest and most ardent gun rights organization. at Washington Park.

“Dan Laursen is one of those kind Rep. Laursen suggested the best approach to the state’s current of guys that you just never have budget woes is to ride it out, cut to worry about or wonder about spending further — including in where he stands on a gun rights isK-12 education — and ride the coat- sue,” Wyoming Gun Owners Policy tails of the “great job” being done Adviser Aaron Dorr said in a video,

by President Donald Trump, hoping adding, “he’s 100% with you all the the economy and minerals industry time, every time.”

Dorr described Laursen as a rebounds.

“I am not for new taxes or more champion for gun rights in Wyoming — though he said that’s led to the taxes,” he stressed.

Larsen, meanwhile, said the state Powell lawmaker being “hated” by needs to move away “from being moderates and “the left.”

To date, however, there have been cemented to the mineral boom and bust cycle” to create stability — few public signs of local discontent particularly for its schools — and with Laursen. When he faced a chalsaid the state will need to find both lenge from former state Rep. Dave efficiencies and expanded sources Blevins in the 2016 Republican primary, Laursen won by more than 15 of revenue.

“Talking about relying on some- percentage points; he then defeated thing coming back, I think that’s Democratic challenger Shane Tilvery short-sighted,” she said. “Cre- lotson by more than 57 points in the ativity and moving toward develop- general election.

During his six years in the Legment that is outside the extractions islature, Laursen has also gained industry is of vast importance.”

Larsen is registered as a Repub- traction. He’s a board member for lican, but describes herself as a the American Legislative Exchange “switch-hitter” with both conserva- Council and this past session, three tive and liberal views. She said she of the five bills he sponsored were considered switching parties to run signed into law: one setting up a way as a Democrat — where she would for Wyoming to eventually move need only 25 write-ins to reach the to permanent daylight saving time, general election ballot — and has another making female genital mutigiven some thought to running as lation a crime and another that genan independent (she would need to erally exempts crews from having gather about 64 signatures). But she to obtain locations of underground has opted to seek Republican votes facilities when performing routine

maintenance on county roads.

Larsen said she doesn’t want to feel like she has to take money or direction from out of state, because she intends to focus on what’s happening in this community and what can be done to help future generations.

A WRITE-IN CHALLENGE In challenging the three-term lawmaker, Larsen faces a steep uphill battle.

She plans to distribute some door hangers, create a social media presTHE FUTURE OF ence and go door-to-door, but has EDUCATION only about three weeks until the Like Rep. Laursen’s wife, Larsen election.

There is also the inherent difficul- works in the Powell school district. ty of a write-in campaign, including Larsen said she wants “to see somegetting voters to fill in a bubble and one in that [House] seat that is going spell your name close enough for to understand the value of educating election judges to understand. Lars- our children and striving to keep en may be at an added disadvantage, them in this community.”

“Wyoming’s educated because any voters looka lot of good kids that ing for an alternative to have gone on to live in Rep. Laursen will still other states,” she said. see Good’s name on the Rather than having youth ballot, as he withdrew leave, and then return well after they were and raise families or reprinted. tire here, “we need them Rep. Laursen also to stay here right now faced a last-minute oppoand solve the problems nent in the 2018 Republithat are presenting themcan primary, as the local selves,” Larsen said. group Wyoming Rising For his part, Rep. encouraged its members DAN LAURSEN Laursen sees budget cuts to write-in Ronn Smith of Powell. While willing to serve, as one of the solutions to the multiSmith didn’t do any campaigning or hundred million dollar deficit now even formally announce his run and facing K-12 schools in Wyoming. At only 89 people (about 5% of voters) Tuesday’s forum, he suggested they wrote in an alternative to Laursen; be cut 10-15% like other state agencies through measures like consolithe incumbent received 1,642 votes.

Those figures played into Lars- dating the administration of school en’s decision to run as a write-in, she districts. Laursen noted that, on a said. “I thought, ‘Can I not muster per-student basis, Wyoming funds its education system at a much 1,600 votes?’”

Larsen recalled telling her teen- higher rate than neighboring states. age daughter years ago that the Teachers like his wife are paid well, Legislature, which remains mostly he said, and although everybody made up of men, didn’t really rep- wants an increase in their wages, “at resent her interests as a child or a some point you have to hold the line for a while.” female.

“I’m gonna say it again: No taxes “And they’re not all that interested that you’re from Wyoming, be- yet. We have to cut first, because cause so many of the legislators and if we get [a] tax increase, we won’t our state Legislature are following cut,” Laursen said. “And we can’t afinterests from outside of Wyoming,” ford to pay the bills with the mineral Larsen said. “They’re following di- monies we’ve been getting until they rectives from Koch brothers, from [minerals] come back.”

Laursen said he hopes the inyou name it. They’re saying, ‘We’re going to let other people dictate dustry does rebound, though “I’m what goes on in the state,’ and I sure it won’t be at the level we had before.” think that’s absolutely wrong.”

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Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Thursday, August 13, 2020

House District 25

Page 15

Forum

Under or overfunded? HD 25 candidates disagree on education

BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor

S

tate Rep. Dan Laursen, RPowell, and write-in challenger Justine Larsen agree that Wyoming’s public education system is critically important and that the state has good teachers. But the two Republican candidates for House District 25 sharply differ on how much funding K-12 needs.

Laursen, whose wife is a longtime teacher in the Powell school district, believes the state can reduce budgets for local school districts while still protecting education.

“Our kids are well-educated.

We spend plenty of money in that,” the three-term representative said at a July 29 forum in Cody. “They can find some money savings and take a little cut. The rest of the agencies … in government have taken cuts, and the counties and the cities.”

Laursen added that administration might be one of the areas that needs to be cut.

“They get paid a heck of a lot of money,” he said of school administrators. While some argue that cutting pay would make it difficult to find qualified people, “I think there’s individuals out there that would come and could run a

school district just fine,” Laursen said.

In contrast, challenger Larsen, a Powell paraeducator, raised concerns about schools not receiving funding for mandates related to school security and safety.

“As we increase the need for safety in our schools, whether it be health safety, mental health safety or physical safety in protecting our children, that is not something that can go without funding,” Larsen said at the Cody forum.

She said local school administrators have spent “so much effort” to ensure the safety of children. She added that schools help youth with food and family security as well and sometimes provide aid after school.

“The schools provide so much in preparing our next generation,” Larsen said.

Further, after completing a Legislature-required accounting of every minute of her day, “It was absolutely enlightening to see how many minutes and hours of my week I donate and that go uncompensated,” Larsen said. “So in terms of cutting, that is going to be a tough road.”

Rep. Laursen and challenger Larsen have also shared widely divergent viewpoints on how the state should react to the current

have a lot of those and we can supply it to the rest of the country, we can supply it to the world.”

Laursen has also said the state needs to advocate for trona and natural gas, with opportunities for foreign markets for Wyoming’s minerals.

“I have hope,” he said. “I am optimistic that we’re going to come back. It won’t take very long.”

He predicted that the entire economy will rebound if President Donald Trump is re-elected and Wyoming’s tourism will bounce back if COVID-19 goes away. Laursen also is hoping to see some beef slaughter plants opened in the state.

The lawmaker has taken a no new tax pledge for the next two years and described his current aim in the Legislature as cutting expenses and reining in government.

Challenger Larsen said her focus would be “protecting our most valuable resources: our children’s education, our aging population, our beautiful lands and diversifying our economy.”

Another candidate, Chris Good of Powell, appears on the Aug. 18 Republican primary ballot as running against Laursen, but he has withdrawn from the race, leaving the incumbent and write-in challenger Larsen in the field.

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economic downturn.

Larsen says she wants to see more industry in Wyoming “that is stable that will not go through these boom-and-bust cycles” present with the extractive industries.

Expecting that oil and coal can support another generation like they have in the past “is wishful thinking,” she said at a forum in Powell last week.

“We need the stability those industries bring, but we must be mindful of the day they no longer can,” she said. “Our job is to make it a softer landing by diversifying.”

Larsen said she supports new transmission lines to bring in power from other states and potentially open up Wyoming to “energy-intensive industries that have looked at other locations in the past.”

“Wyoming needs to be ready for the next big thing in energy,” Larsen added, suggesting that could be “green nuclear” power.

Meanwhile, Rep. Laursen stressed the continuing importance of the state’s extractive industries and that he hopes to reduce regulations.

“We need oil and all the minerals to be able to do what they do.

That’s what Wyoming has,” he said at the Cody event. “And we

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Page 16

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Thursday, August 13, 2020

House District 50

Profile

Rachel Rodriguez-Williams

Cody businesswoman, nonprofit director runs for state House

BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor

R

achel Rodriguez-Williams of Cody has announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for House District 50.

She describes herself as a Republican “who believes dearly in Wyoming’s state motto, ‘Equal Rights.’”

She’s running on a platform of conservative values, including low taxes, pro-life values, gun rights, support for law enforcement, and resisting what she says is the encroachment of left-leaning politics seen in other states.

“Wyoming will not tread down the same misleading and dishonest paths well-undertaken by California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, and other states drowning in the murky swamps of far-left ideologies,” she said in a statement on her candidacy.

Rodriguez-Williams is from Northern California and moved to Wyoming 13 years ago. When her parents retired, they bought a house in Cody, and after regular visits, Rodriguez-Williams followed them to Park County.

“It’s a beautiful place to call home,” she said.

She co-owns, with her husband, a garage door business. She is also the executive director of Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center, which provides abortion-alternative counseling, pregnancy testing and ultrasounds.

“Human life —PRO-LIFE in all its many stages — has the right to grow and

“Every law-abiding citizen has a thrive,” she said.

She’s served on a number of divine and natural human right at boards in the community. Since self-preservation, self-protection,” 2014, she served on the Board of she said.

Rodriguez-Williams opposes Directors for the Park County Republican Women organization any across-the-board tax increasand since 2015, she has served on es, including an income tax. Adthe Powell Economic Partnership ditionally, she said she would have Advisory Board. She’s currently voted against increases to Wyoming’s fuel tax, tourism a Park County Repubtax, and tobacco tax. lican Party precinct The candidate said committeewoman. Adshe would support Wyoditionally, she’s a memming’s extraction indusber of her Wyoming tries and help facilitate Outdoorsmen and volmore access to coal unteered her time for exports.

4-H, local youth hockey, “I think eventually and the Yellowstone we will overcome,” she Quake Billet. said. “Wyominites are “My volunteerism strong and the indusand my work experitries we have here have ence aligns with my RACHEL the potential to thrive.” passions in different RODRIGUEZOn education, Roareas,” she said.

WILLIAMS driguez-Williams said Rodriguez-Williams has a master’s degree in criminal she is supportive of school choice, justice administration and spent which gives parents options for seven years as a law enforcement their children’s education beofficer in Marin County, Califor- yond the traditional public school nia. Her platform calls for com- model. She said that all choices, munity-based resources to address including homeschooling, should substance abuse and mental health adequately prepare students to be “career ready, trade ready, or militreatment.

“It’s a vicious circle, but it tary ready.” doesn’t have to be never-ending,” In the last legislative session, the candidate stated. the state faced a $200 million Rodriguez-Williams is opposed shortfall on K-12 education spendto legalizing marijuana and be- ing, which is covered with the lieves it increases drug use.

Legislative Stabilization Reserve She’s a member of the National Account. Concerns remain over Rifle Association and says she what to do when this “rainy day” “knows all too well that criminals fund isPRO-LIFE exhausted, and this is don’t follow laws.” likely to become a greater issue

following the economic turmoil of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rodriguez-Williams said she thinks there are ways the state could create more savings to address K-12 needs.

“I think there’s opportunities for change,” she said.

As an example, she pointed to the issue of “ghost teachers.” The Wyoming education system pays districts for a certain number of teachers based on a formula for what’s needed to adequately educate students, but it does not require that the district actually employ that number of teachers.

A Medicaid expansion bill failed to be introduced in the last session, and Rodriguez-Williams said she would, if elected, oppose any future efforts to enact the measure.

“I would expect it to come up again. I’m not in support of Medicaid expansion. I think you’re opening Pandora’s box,” she said.

House District 50 includes the eastern part of Cody, Clark, Ralston, Heart Mountain, Crandall, Sunlight and the Willwood area south of Powell.

Rep. David Northrup, R-Powell, has represented the district since 2013, but has stated he most likely will not run again. If he does, it would be the first time Northrup has had a challenge for the Republican nomination since 2014.

The official filing period for candidates runs from May 14-29.

Wyoming’s primary election is Aug. 18.

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Thursday, August 13, 2020

Ward I

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Powell City Council James Andrews

Page 17

Profile

Andrews wants to be a voice for business in council

BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor

W

hen James Andrews saw no one running for the Powell City Council Ward I position, he said he tried to find someone who could speak more eloquently or looked better than him. Several phone calls couldn’t get someone to do it, so he filed two days before the deadline.

Geoff Hovivian ultimately threw his name into the race as well, being someone Andrews has known since he was a kid.

“He’s a great guy,” Andrews said of Hovivian. “If I thought he’d do a better job than me, I’d back down. But I think we need a voice

opened the business seven years like mine in there.”

Andrews, 52, wants to bring to ago. Prior to that, he ran LaVina’s, the council a voice for business by where he said he and the owner had a disagreement someone with experiover how things should ence owning a business. be run.

He said that voice is “He said if you think lacking now. you can do better, buy “I think [the council your own effing bar. So, is] listening too much to I bought my own effing the [Powell] Chamber bar,” Andrews said. of Commerce. And I He said until Powell don’t think the Chamdoes more to bring in ber of Commerce necindustry, commerce is essarily has what’s best going to suffer. The for Powell in mind,” area has everything Andrews said. “They JAMES needed to make it haphave what’s best for the ANDREWS pen, Andrews said, chamber in mind.”

Andrews is the owner of Red including raw materials, low taxes Zone Sports Bar and Grill. He and a railroad. The only thing

lacking is people.

With high paying jobs, Andrews said Powell could draw people away from Billings or other cities.

Until we have that kind of industry, he said we’re just circulating the same dollars again, — and “you can only circulate money so long before it leaves.”

Industry, Andrews said, would bring the dollars into town.

This is not the first time he’s run for a city office. Two years ago, he ran for mayor, but he said he only did that because incumbent Mayor Don Hillman had told him he wasn’t going to run for re-election.

After Hillman jumped into the race, Andrews stayed on the ballot but stopped campaigning.

Geoff Hovivian

Hovivian wants to be fresh voice on city council

BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor

G

eoff Hovivian said he wants to bring “fresh” ideas to the city council. He’ll be 32 in September, and if elected, he would become the youngest person currently serving on the council.

As the deadline to file approached in May, no one had put their name in to run for the position. Hovivian got a call from a friend encouraging him to run, but while working two jobs and volunteering as a firefighter — he works construction for Greg Anderson Construction and is an EMT with Powell Valley Health-

“Bring your concerns to me. I’m care — he said he really didn’t all ears,” he said. have time.

He eventually got anHe also believes, other call from another since Powell is a colfriend who also encourlege town, it needs more aged him to run. He things to do, including decided to go ahead and more restaurants. file and later learned “I think Powell needs that James Andrews, a boost,” he said. owner of the Red Zone Hovivian is origiSports Bar and Grill, nally from Los Angeles, had also filed to run.

California. His mother Hovivian said he passed away when he doesn’t have any spewas 13, and his father GEOFF cific plans as to what found it difficult to HOVIVIAN he’d do should he win raise four kids. Hovivthe position. He said he’ll mainly ian was sent to Fort Shiloh Boys just listen to what constituents Home in Clark. tell him.

He took a first responder course

and showed a strong aptitude for that type of work. He was soon enrolled in an EMT course. He’s been working at PVHC for the past 13 years.

“I love helping people,” he said, adding, “The satisfaction of helping someone in their darkest times is pretty satisfactory.”

About five years ago, his friend Greg Anderson asked him if he wanted to spend a day off helping pour concrete. Hovivian needed to make some more money, so he agreed. Not long after, Anderson asked him to help put up trusses.

Five years later, Hovivian is still working full time with Greg Anderson Construction.

Page 18

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Powell City Council Floyd Young

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Profile

Powell City Councilor Floyd Young seeks fourth term

BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor

F

loyd Young is in his third term in Ward II, for a total of 12 years on the council, and he’s now running unopposed for a fourth term.

“I love serving the people as Powell,” Young said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Young said he tries to be knowledgeable on the issues and come to council meetings prepared.

Among the accomplishments he notes from his time on the council is helping to bring the Powell Aquatic Center to fruition. He was on the pool committee for three years before the center was built, and he helped with the fundraising efforts.

Young thought the pool would Powell first taking its garbage to be a vital asset for Powell, and he Cowley, which charged considerdidn’t think it was getting the sup- ably less. Then, after a fight over the location, the city port from the council built a transfer station he thought it deserved. in Powell. The station It was a big reason he compacts the garbage decided to run for his to be shipped to a landfirst term. fill in Billings, which He was also one of charges $36.11 per ton the advocates for the — about half of what transfer station. The Park County was going county had a landfill to charge. near Powell, but when “We save the city new regulations genermore than $250,000 a ally required landfills year rather than going to be lined, the county FLOYD YOUNG to the county,” Young commission found it was far more cost-effective to line said, referring to an estimation of only its site in Cody. And the coun- the original savings. Since then, ty proposed charging Powell about Billings has increased its fees and shipping costs have gone $72 per ton to use the facility.

This led to a lengthy battle, with up, resulting in savings closer to

$120,000.

Among the other projects he’s helped along are: getting the golf course out of debt and on track financially, raising the residential recycling fee to $2 per month to support Powell Valley Recycling and serving on the tree board.

Young was born and raised in Laramie. He began teaching math and coaching in Saratoga and later in Lusk, before taking another coaching job in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he lived for 13 years. In 1984, he took a job as a wrestling coach at Northwest College, “and I just stayed,” he said.

Young retired from NWC in 2015, after teaching for 51 years.

He said being retired gives him plenty of time to be a dedicated member of the council.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Ward III

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

Powell City Council Lesli Spencer

Page 19

Profile

Spencer ready for challenges ahead in next term

BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor

L

esli Spencer was appointed to the Powell City Council in 2015, elected to a full fouryear term the following year and is now seeking re-election for a second term. The Ward 3 council member is being challenged by Heath Streeter.

Spencer said there was never any doubt she’d run for reelection, and she’s happy to have someone else on the ballot for her ward; she said it’s good to have more community involvement from more Powell residents.

“I’m excited that I have someone running against me. I wish there were more people involved in wanting to be a part of the community,” Spencer said.

She was appointed to fill a seat that became vacant when thencouncilman Josh Shorb moved out

of Ward 3 and had to resign his any overly contentious issues to tackle during her time on the position.

Spencer said, when then-Mayor council. The COVID-19 pandemic Don Hillman approached her for is about the only crisis the couninterest in Shorb’s former posi- cil has had to contend with since she’s been serving, and tion, she didn’t have a Spencer said she and platform or anything the other councilors she wanted to change. have worked cordially She just saw it as a good on responses to the panway to get involved demic and other issues. with the community “I think that we’ve and learn more about worked well together how local government — not that we always works. Spencer became agreed,” she said. the first woman to serve Spencer expects on the Powell City some tough decisions Council since LuAnn Borders, who left the LESLI SPENCER lay ahead, as the council deals with financial council in 2004.

“I think I have brought a differ- difficulties stemming from the ent outlook on things,” Spencer pandemic, but she said previous council decisions have left Powell said.

She came in after controversies well positioned to deal with it, about the construction and fund- such as building up its reserves to ing of the Powell Aquatic Center, around $4 million.

Spencer said she’s very inand she said there haven’t been

volved in the community outside her work as a councilor. She previously served on the Pull for Powell Committee, a Chamber of Commerce initiative to boost retail sales. She also served on the non-profit Powell Athletic Round Table, an organization founded in 1950 to support athletics for youth in Powell. It is not associated with the Powell School District. She also serves on the American Legion Baseball board.

Spencer was born and raised in Powell and graduated with the Powell High School class of 1992.

She studied at Northwest College before transferring to Montana State University to get her degree in business management. Spencer has a son who is studying criminal justice at NWC. She works for Keele Sanitation and says she doesn’t really have a title. Spencer said she’s “the person that does it all.”

Heath Streeter

Heath Streeter supports ‘small, hometown values’

BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor

H

eath Streeter is challenging Powell City Councilwoman Lesli Spencer, but Streeter said he didn’t put his name in out of any dissatisfaction with her performance on the council.

“Quite honestly, I think Lesli [Spencer] is doing a great job,” he said.

Streeter said he thought Spencer had decided not to run when he filed. After he learned she was running for re-election to her seat, he figured he’d go ahead and finish what he started.

Streeter said he’s always wanted to get involved with the community, and serving on the council seemed a good way to do it. The economic decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, is going to require difficult

financial decisions in the future. he doesn’t expect riots and Antifa With coal and oil in decline, the marches to come to Powell, but state’s revenue issues will eventu- the national issues could affect the city. ally arrive in Powell.

“I think that there “I want to contribute are ways to bring to the community in a ourselves together on meaningful way,” he some of these issues,” said. he said.

He describes himself Streeter said Powell as a fiscal conservais welcoming to small tive but said he underbusinesses, but as a stands the need to find city councilor, he said a revenue source for he’d want to continue government operations, to foster that businessthough he said cuts are friendly atmosphere. still needed. He doesn’t HEATH He said he also wants think additional sales STREETER Powell to continue to taxes are the best way to go. Instead, he supports fuel be a great place for families with and lodging taxes, which capture “small, hometown values.”

“It’s where I’ve chosen to raise more out-of-state dollars and leave Wyomingites with more of my kids, and I want it to be an attractive place for other people to their own money.

He’s also concerned with the raise their kids — and where my social climate in America. He said kids will want to raise their kids,”

he said.

Streeter was born and raised on Heart Mountain. He graduated from Cody High School in 1997, but his family has connections to Powell. His parents graduated from Powell High School. His grandfather owned Guymon Electric, and his other grandfather owned the Standard Station downtown.

Streeter is married with five kids — three boys and two girls — ranging in age from 3 to 14 years.

He works as a propane delivery driver and a service technician, a job he’s done for about six years now. Streeter has had other customer service positions previously but finds the propane business suits him better, where he can get out and meet customers in their homes.

“I got tired of standing in the same two footprints all day,” he said.

Page 20

Powell Tribune Online Election Guide

City of Powell Mayor John Wetzel

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Profile

Seeking first full term, Mayor Wetzel runs unopposed

BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor

J

ohn Wetzel has served in the Powell city government since 2007, beginning as a councilman and being appointed as mayor in 2017 to replace the late Don Hillman.

In 2018, Wetzel won nearly 67% of the vote in the mayor race, which allowed him to serve out the remainder of Hillman’s term.

Now he’s running unopposed for a four-year term.

“I like serving the people of Powell, and I’m getting used to it after all these years,” Wetzel said.

As a council member, he was involved with a number of initiatives, including building the Powell Aquatic Center and transfer station and getting the Powell Golf Club on solid financial footing.

Wetzel said his role as mayor is to keep things running smoothly.

That means acting in a fiscally responsible way — maintaining reserve levels — and protecting

infrastructure: water, sewer, sage of the 1% sales tax measure, which voters will decide on in streets, electric and fiber.

“I think as mayor, your biggest November. Wetzel said it’s a concern is protecting and main- good way to “invest in the comtaining the assets of the city,” he munity.”

With the revenue it raises if said. “Infrastructure is so imporit passes, he thinks it tant, and people don’t should go to shore up realize it.” the town’s infrastrucWetzel also said he ture, including slurry appreciates that, for all seal on the streets. The he and the council have treatment extends the done together, it’s been life of the road, saving in a relatively cordial the cost of rebuilding atmosphere. roads. But the city “My best accomhasn’t had the funds to plishment, still, is keep up with the ideal keeping it running sealing schedule. smoothly,” he said. “I “If we don’t keep up don’t want to say it was JOHN WETZEL with that, it could be a without controversy, but there’s nothing wrong with disaster financially,” he said.

Another project Wetzel said good conversation and debate.”

In his next term, Wetzel ex- might be good would be widenpects one of the bigger challenges ing Division Street, which would he and the council will face is include replacing aging water the declining revenues from the and sewer lines beneath it. Last state. That will mean cuts to state year, the city completed a similar support and the need for more project on Absaroka Street.

“We certainly need to have a money on the local level.

He said he supports the pas- discussion with the residents on

Division Street, see what their vision is as well,” Wetzel said.

He also wants to keep the planned overhaul of the Vining Substation on track. In June 2019, the 30-year-old station caught fire, and the city has been pursuing a rebuild. The city plans to complete the project over the next two years.

Wetzel is originally from Ohio and after seeing a teacher’s slideshow of a hiking trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, he set his sights on living in the West after he graduated from high school.

“I picked the University of Wyoming and never looked back,” he said.

He moved to Powell in 1992 with his wife, Shelby, who is a Powell native and a part owner of the Powell Tribune. They have three adult children.

Since 1997, Wetzel has worked as the general manager of the Buyer’s Guide, a Cody-based shopper co-owned by the Tribune and Cody Enterprise.

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United States House of Representatives - Republican candidates Incumbent U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. is being challenged in the Aug. 18 primary election by Blake Stanley of Banner.

The League of Women Voters of Laramie and Laramie Boomerang sent questionnaires to both candidates for a 2020 Primary Election Voters’ Guide. However, Stanley did not respond to the survey.

Responses from Rep. Cheney are included below.

Question: What issues in our nation’s government are most in need of legislative attention and action? Please explain.

Liz Cheney: Our nation faces a number of critical challenges on both the domestic and international front that require congres-

sional action in order to protect Question: What do you think of the our country for future generations. financial relief measures taken by In terms of work that needs to be Congress so far, and what legislation done for Wyoming, I would you support to help believe we need to conthe nation now? tinue pursuing policies that President Trump Liz Cheney: Parts of has championed that the CARES Act have encourage de-regulabeen crucial to creattion, economic growth, ing a path towards energy development, economic recovery as and more independence well as provide lifefor the people of our saving resources for state at home. Abroad, healthcare workers and we need to continue to hospitals in Wyoming rebuild our military, and across the counLIZ CHENEY crack down on malign try. In particular, the actors like Iran, Russia, Paycheck Protection and China, and champion freedom Program saved jobs for small busiby maintaining peace through nesses in our state, the Provider strength.

Relief Fund provided key aid for providers that needed it, and

Economic Impact Payments gave resources to Americans during a time of economic uncertainty. I believe we should follow a measured approach moving forward as our country reopens and we take steps to defeat the virus.

Question: What few facts would you most like voters to know about you?

Liz Cheney: I am committed to working and fighting for Wyoming in Congress. I believe in strong conservative principles and have a track record of championing free markets, restoring our liberties, securing our country,and defending our constitutional rights. I will continue to do that as your Representative in Washington.

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United States House of Representatives - Democratic candidates with limited and/or low quality health care access, statistically impacting racial minorities and Indigenous Peoples populations.

A single payer Medicare for All, the sooner the better, will benefit everyone as a public health endeavor. George Floyd’s death, igniting worldwide outrage, has spurred action to address military style policing out of control.

Stopthe funding, overhaul the broken system toinstead invest in social services and education. A rehabilitative focus, not a prison pipeline instead of prisons/ services for shameless shareholder profits is CARL BEACH a win.

Three Democrats are running in this month’s primary election to represent the state of Wyoming in the U.S. House of Representatives: Carl Beach of Saratoga, Carol Hafner of Box Elder, South Dakota, and Lynette Grey Bull of Fort Washakie. The winner will face off against the Republican nominee in November’s general election.

Candidates responded to questions from the League of Women Voters of Laramie and Laramie Boomerang for a 2020 Primary Election Voters’ Guide.

Their responses follow below.

Question: What issues in our nation’s government are most in need of legislative attention and action? Please explain.

Lynette Grey Bull: I’m addressing issues of public lands, law and order, education, and LGBTQ, Carl Beach: Healthcare con- but with COVID-19 having laid tinues to be a major issue to focus bare structural inequities within healthcare, we can no on in the United States, longer hide from the but in rural communireality of our broken ties and states such as system. I support VP Wyoming, the need to Joe Biden’s pragmatic address a general lack approach to fixing our of access to healthcare health care crisis. A as well as lack of fundjust energy transition is ing for rural hospitals vital; an evolution leavand clinics is specificaling no-one behind, and ly important. Adopting we need food security a universal healthcare plans so no rancher/ system would provide farmer must destroy all citizens with more LYNNETTE produce or stock due to equitable access to GREY BULL pandemic-related devhealthcare and benefit rural areas. I support adopting a astation on the food industry. We single-payer healthcare system can imaginatively legislate to feed in the U.S. that would eliminate people, save the restaurant sector or minimize fees, deductibles and and support ranchers/farmers in copays for essential care and ser- one inclusive action. vices — including dental, vision, reproductive, long-term care and Question: What do you think of the financial relief measures taken by mental health.

Congress so far, and what legislation Carol Hafner: Economic health would you support to help the nation is an outgrowth of a healthy popu- now? lation. Coronavirus19 ravages Carl Beach: The financial relief those most financially insecure

measures were necessary but flawed. The lack of oversight and transparency, complicated loan forgiveness, an overreliance on banks that privileged established or large-scale customers, and finally, a minimal stimulus check did not provide enough relief for the small businesses and individuals who needed it most. Instead, a direct subsidization of payroll or work share program for all businesses and companies who needed to reduce working hours would be the most beneficial. Such a system is simpler, alleviating the two-step process of receiving unemployment benefits.

Combined with more robust stimulus checks, this program would stabilize the economy.

of our communities, they are sole traders, store and salon owners who employ fewer than 10 people.

Instead of bailing out multinationals in a stimulus package, we must offer an open hand to our neighbors so they can make it through this economic disaster, which is why I advocated for the Wyoming Business Relief Grants Program and am committed to monitoring its disbursement and results.

Question: What few facts would you most like voters to know about you?

Carl Beach: I was born in Rawlins and raised in a small community outside of Saratoga. I worked my way through college and ended up with two BAs, a MA, and a MS. I have been an international teacher for the past 15+ years and have lived in 7 different countries.

Carol Hafner: I support CARES monies to assist smallbusinesses bridge the current lockdown so they can survive the present. I am outraged to learn CAROL big businesses have HALFNER Carol Hafner: I come exploited loopholes to money grab these funds from to you with an open heart, eduthose who have legitimate need. cated mind, highest ethics, priThose caught doing this should oritizing democracy, health of immediately repay the monies our families, our environment. No with their names announced to “Big” money owns me. “United” the public. Prior to receiving States means allworking together, monies, names and identifying equal opportunity, treatment for information should be made pub- all including compliance with lic. No secrets. How monies are UN Declaration on the Rights of utilized should be reported to en- Indigenous Peoples. Much more: sure appropriate usage. Problem: carolhafner.com. businesses occupancy limitations.

Lynette Grey Bull: I’m a Native Full capacity is needed. Unsure if fact was lawmakers oversight is American woman running on inclusivity for all Americans, bringsignificant for profitability. ing respect and understanding Lynette Grey Bull: I was disap- into political discourse. I reach pointed with the federal govern- across aisles to achieve results; ment’s first coronavirus relief recently working with Governor package: Secretary Mnuchin may Gordon on the MMIW crisis. I’ve consider a small business to have worked at state and federal-level, 500 employees, but he clearly tribal government, and proudly hasn’t been to Wyoming. Our provided research/data to the small businesses are the lifeblood United Nations.

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United States Senate - Democratic candidates Candidates responded to questions from the League of Women Voters of Laramie and Laramie Boomerang for a 2020 Primary Election Voters’ Guide.

Democrats Kenneth R. Casner, Yana Ludwig, Merav Ben David, Nathan Wendt, James Kirk DeBrine and Rex Wilde are running as Democrats for the U.S. Senate. Wilde, of Cheyenne, did not respond to the questions.

1. What issues in our nation’s government are most in need of legislative attention and action?

Please explain.

emergencies are the main cause of bankruptcies, homelessness and hunger in the United States. This is but a preview of what the climate crisis will bring in the next few decades. Right now, we need to provide people with sufficient financial assistance during this crisis, and in the long term, we must reimagine and rebuild our economy, establish universal health care independent of job status, and pass laws that ensure equality for all our citizens.

Nathan Wendt (D, Jackson, WY): There are several national and Wyoming issues that need Kenneth R. Casner MERAV leadership from Wash(D, Elk Mountain, WY): BEN DAVID ington.First, our expenHealth care, education reform, minimum wage upgrades, sive, poor outcomes, healthcare. re-write on taxes on all levels, term We can drastically reduce costs and limits, removal of Citizens united, increase choice to patients through capping PAC inclinations. Then pro- Medicare-for-all-if-you-want it, and ceeding to the national debt levels other reforms.The nation and by removing subsides funding for Wyoming need to rebuild postcorporations and breaking up cor- COVID-19 with an economythat poration monopoly on fair economic works for all -raise the minimum wage, double the pay for growth. Furthermore as public school teachers, a nation we must all pay and create more threeour own dues, buy introday weekends.The nation ducing a two percent tax and Wyoming can create on services at all levels thousands of new jobs of the economy to inthrough clean energy clude congressional jobs investments -specifically and services. Finally: renewable energy and investments markets and carbon capture.I’ll fight banks place three perfor these reforms first cent of their profits for because they will directnational debt strictly on ly benefit Wyoming. all mortgages for new KENNETH infrastructures in the CASNER James Kirk DeBrine United States.

(D, Evansville, WY): American’s Yana Ludwig (D, Laramie, Right to Health Care Not tied to WY): Many issues stem from employment. That they Lose if seracism,capitalism, patriarchy, na- riously ill. Having Been a Federal tionalism and/or corporate power worker. USPS NALC Letter-Carrier, abuse. So I will consistently ask fortunate to pick an HMO in Ventura three questions: How does this af- County, back in early ‘90s. So able to get care for Discovered fect working class and Terminal Brain Tumor in poor people? How does Newly Wed Wife. Not go this affect civil and huBankrupt! Climate Crisis man rights? How does of less than 10 years to this affect the climate? stop. My six year term These generatepolicies to try! Prison Reform. like: a worker-focused All Mail Ballots, safe Green New Deal; endfrom Corona, weather ing immigration and dangers, unexpected private prisons; reparapersonal emergencies tions, tribal sovereignty, etc. Eliminate Citizens and rights to protest; United. Corps aren’t innovative communityJAMES KIRK People! Eliminate Voter based policing; disability DEBRINE Suppression of All Sorts! rights; $15+ minimum/ living wage; reducing military Save USPS! People First! presence overseas and military carbon emissions; abortion and birth 2. What do you think of the financial control access; worker ownership, relief measures taken by Congress so strong unions and public banks; far, and what legislation would you marijuana legalization; and student support to help the nation now? loan forgiveness.

Kenneth R. Casner (D): I feel it Merav Ben David (D, Laramie, was wasteful and poorly thought WY): The confluence of a global out in all areas. Taken the scope pandemic and economic reces- of the money spent it should have sion has left more than 44 million been placed on the table and divided American workers unemployed, and within the realm it was truly needed many of them uninsured. Medical for the working classes of America.

Adjusting such fundsbased on tax returns of 2018 and 2017 as over medium to average a one year installment for people making average medium wages. Excluding those making a wages in the top thirty percent of National wage scales. They in my opinion need no money, for they survive on investments and bonuses.

James Kirk DeBrine (D): The 1,200 C.A.R.E fund to Americans.

Was a GOOD THING! But lack of oversight to Make Sure small Businesses Received Help. Over the Money grabbed by Big Chains, etc.

Was a Boondoggle! Delayed their needed help. Also even those Small Business Entrusted to Pass on money to their Furloughed/ Laid Off Employees?

Another Boondoggle! No Americans should Lose Homes, Shelter, Bankruptcy, Medical Care.

Transparency & Number Crunching & Wisdom I will make sure done.

America Is Americans!

YANA LUDWIG

Yana Ludwig (D): There was far too much bailing out of big businesses, and not nearly enough direct aid to working and poor people.

Most offensive were bailouts to large companies (including at least one fossil fuel company) that took bailout money, then immediately filed for bankruptcy and requested that money go to executive bonuses, rather than supporting their employees. I support single payer healthcare; rent, utility and mortgage relief measures; releasing detained immigrants and non-violent offenders who are particularly vulnerable; aid to businesses working to change their business models to be more ecologically friendly and pandemic safe; and direct aid to hospitals.

3. What few facts would you most like voters to know about you?

Kenneth R. Casner (D): I bring to this election 20 years of experience in Wyoming politics, I learned in my first four outings that Representation is a myth. I learned all levels of Wyoming Government the promises and the responses which has led this States position today. I’m now ready for the National level.

Yana Ludwig (D): I came to Wyoming for Merav Ben David love and stayed for (D): The passage of the public schools and the CARES Act is an public lands. I am a loimportant first step in cal community builder, addressing the needs activist, award-winning of people and of small NATHAN author and policy geek. businesses.

UnfortuWENDT I unapologetically advonately, it is insufficient — Congress should approve the cate for working and poor people, HEROES act as well, as it will young people, and marginalized improve the situation for many populations, including the LGBTQAmerican households. Additional IA+ community (of which I’m part). laws may be needed if the resurMerav Ben David (D): I was gence of the pandemic continues to suppress economic recovery. raised on a small family farm, which I managed after Any legislation should my father passed away. include strict measures I’m a military veteran of oversight. Lessons and hold a Ph.D. in Wildlearned from current life Management. I have legislation can be used studied the impacts of to prepare our nation global change on ecofor the upcoming clisystems for 30+ years, mate crisis, by exand have taught wildlife panding renewable ecology at UWYO for energy sources, creat20+ years. ing job guarantee programs and investing in Nathan Wendt (D): science and technology.

REX WILDE My parents met while Nathan Wendt (D): To date, more working on a ranch in Jackson in than 110,000 Americans have lost the sixties.Wyoming has been core their lives because of the COVID-19 to my identity my entire life.I care Pandemic.These Americans left deeply about Wyoming’s future and before their time, and many were I’m ready and eager to lead a new unable to spend their final hours chapter. with family.The economic fallout is James Kirk DeBrine (D): I Swore dire.I give Congress positive marks for their bipartisan action taken to an Oath to the Constitution 3 times. provide financial relief for Ameri- As a USPS Letter Carrier. & Twice can families.I would go further and as a 2009 & 2010 U.S. Census Workfocus on ongoing direct payments to er in Johnson County. I’m Early reAmericans until the pandemic has tired. 100% Time to Be Run & Then ended and the economic recovery Being U.S. Senator for WY. 15 years a Wyomingite till Die. begins.

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United States Senate - Republican candidates Candidates responded to questions from the League of Women Voters of Laramie and Laramie Boomerang for a 2020 Primary Election Voters’ Guide.

Republicans R. Mark Armstrong of Centennial, Devon Cade of Philadelphia, John Holtz of Laramie, Michael Kemler, Cynthia Lummis of Cheyenne, Bryan E. Miller of Sheridan, Donna Rice of Casper, Star Roselli of Scottsdale, Arizona, Robert G. Short of Douglas and Josh Wheeler of Casper are running for the U.S. Senate. Kemler did not respond to questions.

and represent seniors, veterans including national guardsmen’s/ women, police, and most vulnerable. I will work with all my county party chairman to get needed resources they need.

R. Mark Armstrong: Spending and Debt. The current system of funding agencies the same as the previous budget cycle plus what the agencies believes it needs for the next cycle is typically known as Baseline budgeting.

Baseline budgeting has an inherent bias that grows government, and tends to cause government R. MARK waste. By modifying Question: What issues in ARMSTRONG the budgetary system our nation’s government are most in need of legislative atten- to a performance based zero sum budgetary system, waste and the tion and action? Please explain. debt should be reduced. Wasting Robert G. Short: The deficit, the peoples money is disrespecteconomic recovery and invest- ful. If Article 1 Section 10 of the ment. We must work to balance USA Constitution was followed the budgets, stop overspending due government would not be permitted to just print money, to government redunwhich may lead to hydancy, inefficiency and perinflation. bloat, while reducing our tax burden. WyoStar Roselli: The ming and our nation’s issues needed for legbleak financial outlook islative attention are improves greatly by ensuring there is a getting people back to cost of living increase work and producing for Social Security in goods, services and 2021 for all those in natural resources dothe program currently mestically. We must there is none. Also no re-establish our world DEVON CADE mandatory shots for leading economy through careful consideration of children in school if the parents our investments into American are against them they can cause infrastructure projects, while health problems of a serius nature. incentivizing private investments. Lastly all those companies who We must repatriate stranded capi- come into the state to drill from far tal and our critical manufacturing away staes like Texas, Washington sector, through investments into State, Colorado drill for natural our electrical systems, working to gas as well as oil and uranium, the increase raw materials develop- people of this state should each rement, consumer goods, agricultur- ceive a small check Wyoming resial production and transportation dents need a higher standard ... efficiencies.

Donna Rice: We must work Devon Cade: The national debt, in ongoing support of economic but also helping small businesses, recovery from the pandemic and individuals that are most in shutdown. Reviewing our supply need, as this pandemic has af- chain and easing overregulation fected everyone. We must end the along with providing incentive gridlock in Washington, and bring programs or tax relief to bring back congressional earmarks to manufacturing home is also imcreate massive infrastructure perative. Diligence with regard to projects to rebuild America. Hav- national security, support of boring a more open process to get- der security and legal immigrating bills introduced to protect tion and cybersecurity is critical.

Congress needs to look out for our nation’s best interests, safety, and the needs of the American people.

American jobs, opportunities to thrive in business and community life will help provide a strong future for our children and grandchildren.

emergency, it unfairly places the burden on future generations, and greatly increases the risk of a financial crisis. Not addressing it will eventually make it impossible to reverse.

Bryan E. Miller: In no particular order here are a few that need immediate John Holtz: I will attention: 1) Small busistrengthen America’s nesses and jurisdicdefense and reduce tion over our national the deficit.I obtained resources as these are the first double-digit critical to the recovery firm fixed-price conof our economy nationtract in the history of ally and here in Wyothe Hughes Aircraft ming; 2) Immigration, Company; and I was Education and Civil the head of a team to Rights as each of these redesign the Army’s are marred by federal main battle tank, the JOHN HOLTZ bureaucracy which inM60A3. Hughes made the fire control system; consisting hibits state and federal actions of the laser range finder, ballistic leading to our forming a more computer and thermal imaging perfect union as our US Constitusystem. I was a Space Systems Op- tion preamble reminds us is a goal; and 3) Control our nation’s debt erations Officer in the Air Force. by changing the way our governCynthia M. Lummis: In the ment works for us, eliminating the wake of COVID-19, it is more tendency of government to rule over us. important than ever that we enact PresiQuestion: What do you dent Trump’s ‘Amerithink of the financial ca First’ agenda. This relief measures taken by means bringing the Congress so far and what development and manlegislation would you ufacturing of essensupport to help the nation tial products back to now? the United States and to Wyoming, includRobert G. Short: ing critical health care The response to date supplies. It’s essential has been mixed in my we get businesses reCYNTHIA view. While I applaud opened, bolster doLUMMIS the effort and intent, mestic manufacturing and let people return to work. At the execution has been somewhat the same time, we must support disappointing. When we have the and promote energy production people who need help the most and ensure a fair and transparent being left without that critical regulatory framework. Lastly, aid, we have failed. When we load it is imperative we cut federal these kinds of programs with pork spending and reduce our stagger- that is directed to States which ing national debt which has direct have recklessly imperiled their and severe consequences for our own wellbeing through poor decision making and lackadaisical nation. financial concern, that indicates a Josh Wheeler: I believe that our selfish desire to garner votes for national debt is in urgent need of re-election rather than looking to attention. Yet, instead of address- help people feed families. We can ing our nation’s $26+trillion-dol- do much better without career lar debt; policymakers seem intent politicians in Washington. on making it worse. This will have Devon Cade: It hasn’t been grave consequences towards our nation’s budget as increased inter- enough for individuals, and direct est payments will crowd out other payments were great and needed. priorities. It will significantly Congress should act pay substanreduce our capability to respond tial payments to Americans, and to the next recession, or national have China pay for it. As the next

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United States Senate - Republican candidates cont.

Senator, my ranchers, teachers, veterans, seniors, will finally have a voice. I will work with Senator Barrasso and Governor Gordon to getting this done for our state. My office will maintain an open-door policy and open process to get bills introduced, passed and supported.

keep the American workforcefrom returning for work are not good practice nor are they in the best interests of the American people.

John Holtz: An ineffective attempt to solve a problem that requires a gyroscopic analysis, that may lead to hyperinflation. I was one of the youngest judges in Wyoming history and helped establish the Circuit Court system of today which gives me greater insight to solve the problems of today.

R. Mark Armstrong: The government shutting down the Trump economy is very concerning. The financial relief given to individuals of $1,200 was appropriate, the millions given to corporations Cynthia M. Lummis: is concerning. The adThe COVID-19 panditional riders placed on the relief bill was exBRYAN MILLER demic has had a devastating impact on our tortion. The increase of Trillions in the debt could lead to nation and state. While I have conhyperinflation. Unelected regula- cerns over the impact some relief tors promulgating rules that have measures are having on our stagthe force of Law is very concern- gering national debt, I recognize ing. Two legislative solutions to the pandemic sent industries into solve these problems are 1) be a freefall, forcing many Wyoming bill the requires legislation to be small businesses to close and our a single issue, and 2) remove the unemployment rate to skyrocket.

To get our economy power of regulators to back on track, we must right Law. I’ve made reduce overly burdenthis suggested change some regulations on to WY Title 35-4-101. business, bring manufacturing and producStar Roselli: All the tion of critical goods money the feds conand services back to tinue to print 3 to 4 trilthe United States and lion dollars since Jan continue pro-growth is going to cause hyper tax policies that enable inflation in the next few the private sector, and years the shadow bankthe critical jobs and ing system is bankrupt DONNA RICE revenues they provide, they are playing catch up by printing. Gold is the system to thrive. needed taxes must be lower to creJosh Wheeler: I think it is still ate wealth as well job incentives for advanced college learning for too early to make an accurate asanyone willing also remove the sessment of Congress’s relief meaestate tax! Any moneys that have sures and its overall effectiveness been taxed once should not be thus far. I was not against sending a lifeline to the American worker, taxed repetitively. and to small businesses due to the Donna Rice: In general, fi- impact it had on them caused by nancial relief has been handled the coronavirus, and any future well. Of concern is continuing legislation proposed should be relief that acts as a disincentive to targeted towards maintaining supbringing back American business port for the American worker and and getting workers back in the their families until we can get the workplace. We need to review un- economy back on track. employment insurance extensions Bryan E. Miller: The financial and adjust maximum amounts to no more than 80% of a worker’s relief measures taken by Congress normal pay. Tax relief or incentive have proven to be ineffective in programs to encourage employers helping US workers and bolsterto bring the workforce up to full ing our economy. I believe the speed quickly would also be good. COVID-19 issue is real as it has Continued relief packages that impacted many lives across our

nation and the world. However, it has been cast as a pandemic equal to that of the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic and has fallen short of even a nationwide pandemic. I proposed a different solution from day one based on loan and credit payment delays thus avoiding the additional nearly $10 Trillion added to our national debt; debt to be passed on to our children.

Question: What few facts would you most like voters to know about you?

vate property I want all residents of this state to enjoy cheaper energy! And for a choice in schooling of their children.

Donna Rice: I am a mother and grandmother concerned about the legacy we are creating for generations to follow. All of our children and grandchildren deserve to inherit a prosperous and free America. Wyoming values are the best of what this country has to offer. They need to be heard in Washington.

John Holtz: I am Robert G. Short: I an Eagle Scout and a have worked in many member of the Chrisindustries including, STAR ROSELLI tian Legal Society. I energy, health, materials science, manufacturing, elec- was president of the Delta Gamma trical design, defense, agriculture, chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraretail, hospitality, construction, ternity at the University of Wyocommunications, and others. I ming. speak Japanese. I am a devout Cynthia M. Lummis: husband and father.

I’m proud to be enI tirelessly support dorsed by U.S. Senators the 2nd Amendment, Mike Enzi and John defend all life, reliBarrasso, Gun Owners gious freedom, and free of America, Susan B. speech and am fiscally Anthony List, among conservative. many others. My statewide campaign comDevon Cade: I have mittee includes over worked as an executive 70 community leaders in construction, law enfrom all 23 Wyoming forcement, and a CEO. I love the great outdoors, ROBERT SHORT counties. My grandson, Gus (2), has also ofand my passion to serve our nation in the US Senate.Please ficially endorsed his Grandma for provide my campaign and I all the Senate. positive feedback and policy sugJosh Wheeler: I am a citizen, gestions at www.VoteDevonCade. not a politician. I will work for the com people, and by the people. I am a R. Mark Armstrong: Running a veteran who cares deeply about business since 1993 that interacts our state, and our nation. My allegiance is to the Wyowith government buming/American people; reaucrats daily, gives not a party. The people me a great understandare the rightful masters ing of the problem. over government.

I’ve attended Colorado School of Mines, UniBryan E. Miller: I’m versity of Wyoming and Wyoming raised with Stanford, and I know strong Conservative how to fix the problem.

Ethics and Republican To know more about Values. I’m a product of me and my family heriWyoming, ranch hand tage (Corbett Gym) see http//www.rmarkarmJOSH WHEELER turned hometown ranch owner, a small business strong4ussenate.com. owner, retired Air Force Lt. ColoStar Roselli: I will always be pro nel, combat pilot, and experienced life I am serious about raising the leader. I believe in God, the US standard of living for all Wyoming and Wyoming and will support residents and for protection of pri- and defend them, always!

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Senate, House hopefuls discuss energy

BY GREGORY HASMAN Gillette News Record Via Wyoming News Exchange

T

he COVID-19 pandemic, health care and the future of the energy industry were among the topics addressed at the first Campbell County League of Women Voters candidate forum of the local primary election season.

Most of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives hopefuls answered questions from a panel at the Gillette City Council chambers Friday.

There are 10 Senate candidates who want to replace U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyoming, who is not running for re-election this year. For the Democrats, they are Kenneth Casner, Mirav Ben David, Yana Ludwig and Nathan Wendt. Republican hopefuls are Mark Armstrong, John Holtz, Cynthia Lummis, Donna Rice, Robert Short and Josh Wheeler.

All the candidates attended the forum while only two U.S. House of Representatives candidates came, Democrats, Carl Beach of Saratoga and Lynnette Grey Bull of Fort Washakie. They, along with Republican Rod Miller, are challenging U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney,

R-Wyoming.

Most candidates agreed that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act the federal government enacted was necessary, especially the $1,200 direct payment to millions of people, but they didn’t agree on how much and how long the government should continue to spend on relief efforts.

Lummis, a former U.S. House rep for Wyoming, said she supports the CARES Act, but “I don’t support additional funding going forward into our economy until we allow the CARES Act to work for individuals, for business and for communities.”

The country needs to take a wait-and-see approach, she said.

The idea behind the CARES Act was well-thought-out, but it buried regulations that make it nearly impossible for small businesses to access the money in a way to allow them to use it to help employees who were impacted, Short said.

The $1,200 checks were a help, but the government needs to be careful with the national debt, Wheeler said.

“Continuing to hand out money is not an answer,” he said.

Other candidates, however, said there is more the federal government should do.

The country should issue direct payments to Americans until the economic crisis has passed because it will stimulate the economy, Wendt said.

Casner went a step further and proposed that people earning up to $80,000 a year should receive stimulus money based on their average tax returns over the prior two years.

Ben David offered a threepronged approach to addressing COVID-19: Rescue: The government should provide people with enough money to ensure they can still feed their families until the crisis is over.

Re-imagine: The country needs to think about the economy down the road and become creative.

Rebuild: How do we implement inactive new technologies? For example, President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented the Public Works Administration, which put people to work and helped get the country out of the Great Depression.

Improving the health care system was an issue most of the

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candidates agreed needs to happen. What they didn’t agree on was how to go about it.

Rural hospitals and health clinics run on razor-thin margins and use multiple funding sources to survive. A single-payer or universal system would provide them with the money and ability to supply equitable treatment for all people, Beach said.

Armstrong suggested government should defund Planned Parenthood and put that money toward rural health care.

Regardless of one’s background, health care is a necessity, not a privilege, Grey Bull said.

For the first time, renewable sources are outpacing fossil fuels for electricity production.

To address that, some candidates suggested diversifying, like carbon capture and renewable energy, while others said that for the near future it is important to stay the course with oil and coal.

To offer the high-paying jobs the state needs to attract industries and to do so, the state should improve its infrastructure, health care system and maintain its education system, Ben David said.

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Forum: Candidates agree it is important to find middle ground and work together Continued from Page 18 Rice agreed with diversifying.

We need to have some jobs for our young people,” she said. “Wyoming is gaining (and) we need our young people.”

The energy portfolio in the United States continues to evolve, but that does not mean “we should abandon our natural resources,” Short said.

The country should use current technologies and develop new to help use the abundant and economical resources we already have, he said.

The energy shift is something that will happen eventually, but until there is a viable source of renewable energy other than lumber, “and when I say viable I don’t mean wind,” Wheeler said.

“When we’re looking at Casper, Wyoming, our landfill is filled with blades from clean energy (that are) taking up about three years worth of landfill space because those cannot be recycled in any way,” he said. “So, come to me with renewable energy that is viable and I’m more than happy to look at it. Other than that, coal needs to go out to Asia. It needs to quit being blocked and we need

someone strong to say stop this and let it go through.”

Armstrong proposed the creation of two federal energy policies.

The first would use all fossil fuels cleanly and the other would stabilize the nation’s active rig count. For example, the country should start storing oil if the price dips below $40 a barrel and to start buying strategic reserves if prices go below $30.

“That will stabilize the rig count, keep families working and stop the boom and bust cycle that has plagued the oil and gas industry forever,” he said.

Lummis said she not only supports oil, gas and coal, but she wants to build a coal export terminal. She also wants to create small distributive nuclear power.

“Wyoming is the largest source or uranium and it needs to use that source of clean power,” she said.

Lummis added that the country needs to reduce the royalties on soda ash to compete with China, and she supports the Integrated Test Center near Gillette.

Ludwig said the well-being of coal miners is important.

“I believe that coal is essentially a beloved member of Wyoming

community that is in hospice, and it is not doing to us any good to be in denial about that,” she said. “I would like to see us diversify the Wyoming economy so that coal miners have really good options to be able to stay here, and I also really want us to make sure that we are protecting coal miners’ pensions and other retirement benefits, which is something that our electorates in Washington, D.C., have been terrible at.”

The shift in energy resources is happening, but the country needs to figure out a way to get miners and other blue-collar workers transitioned to 21st century jobs, Beach said.

Candidates offered mixed opinions as to what they think the role of the United States should be in the world.

“I believe in peace through strength, so I support a strong military, but I do not support using that military in endless wars,” Lummis said. “I believe a strong military with a presence that’s appropriate in the world is something we have to evaluate constantly.”

The United States should consider getting out of the United Nations if it continues to take more

money from the U.S. than anywhere else, Wheeler said.

Ben David, on the other hand, said she thinks the U.S. needs to rejoin the World Health Organization and collaborate with other countries to combat COVID-19 and other diseases.

The U.S. needs to stop being antagonistic, Beach said.

“That is not the traditional role of the U.S.,” he said. “That does not position us to again be the leader of the world. To withdraw from these difficult organizations is incredible faulty.

“We need to build alliances, and to be a good leader is to build alliances across countries, across cultures.”

Most candidates agreed it is important for politicians to find common ground and work together.

“Things don’t get done if you can’t agree on things,” Wheeler said. “We need to be able to talk to each other, work together and get things done. We represent the people and we represent our state.”

Bipartisanship is not accomplished when people from across the aisle bicker, Short said.

“Civility is something we must bring back into the national dialogue,” he said.

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Congressional candidates make cases in Powell

BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor

T

wo candidates for U.S. Senate and one candidate for Wyoming’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives spoke in Washington Park last week, at a forum organized by the Powell Economic Partnership.

Republican Senate candidates Robert Short and Bryan Miller and Democratic House candidate Carl Beach each got three minutes to address one question: What makes you uniquely qualified to cut through the political narratives in our nation’s capital, in order to support and protect our citizens?

ROBERT SHORT Short, a Converse County commissioner who grew up in Glenrock, said in his youth, he worked on a ranch for a dollar a day, which taught him the “value of hard work and the value of a dollar.”

Short said he supported diversifying the economy so that Wyoming could create opportunities for young people.

As a commissioner, he worked with Park County commissioners, and through that experience, Short said he became aware of the needs of agriculture, the outdoor recreational opportunities in the area, and the role of Northwest College in educating

the state’s young people.

He praised Park County Commissioner and current state Senate candidate Tim French, saying French taught him to not be afraid to speak your mind. He said French commanded a presence inside the Wyoming County Commissioners Association that made people “aware of the importance of having diligence, dignity, grit, and trust.”

Short also spoke to his support for the state’s energy industry, which he said was vital to the nation. If elected, he would work on the national level to get more investment in Wyoming and strengthen the energy sector.

BRYAN MILLER Miller described himself as a “lifelong Republican and constitutional conservative.”

“This document right here,” he said, holding up a copy of the U.S. Constitution, “is what I think needs to be considered in Washington, D.C. — and we’re not doing that right now.”

“We need people there who understand it and will live by it,” Miller said.

A retired lieutenant colonel, he flew KC-135 Stratotankers, which are midair refueling aircraft. He has two master’s degrees and worked around the world with 32 ministries of defense.

“I will bring bold, innovative leadership in Washington,” he

said.

He works as a consultant for government agencies that deal with aviation or radar assets.

Miler said he spent the last nine years working to protect radar systems, air defense, weather systems and ATC radar systems from wind turbines.

Miller said the federal government gives companies in the wind energy industry billions of dollars because they compete with oil, gas, and coal.

As a civilian, he said, he saved the American taxpayer more than $200 million.

“I know where all the waste is,” Miller said, adding, “I’ve been working with the people who know where the cuts need to be made.”

CARL BEACH Beach was born in Rawlins and raised outside Saratoga.

“I think it gives me insight and awareness of the issues of a rural community,” he said — including the need for healthcare access and the problems of overreliance on a single industry.

If elected, Beach said he would support infrastructure needed to “engage in a modern economy,” including broadband, healthcare access and affordable housing.

Beach said he would also work to diversify the economy; having worked all over the world as an educator for 15 years, he has

“a background to provide 21st century solutions to 21st century problems.”

As a leader, Beach said he would bring jobs to the state, which would help ensure young people want to stay in Wyoming, and that people would want to move here.

He said he’s often asked, as a Democratic candidate in a staunchly Republican state, why people should vote for him.

“Because we share common values and principles,” he said, “and I think I uphold those well.”

OTHER CANDIDATES Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., announced last year he would not seek reelection. There are currently eight other Republican primary candidates, besides Miller and Short, vying for the seat: Cynthia Lummis, Devon Cade, Donna Rice, John Holtz, Josh Wheeler, Michael Kemler, R. Mark Armstrong and Star Roselli. On the Democratic side, there are five contenders: James Kirk DeBrine, Kenneth Casner, Merav Ben David, Nathan Wendt, Rex Wilde and Yana Ludwig.

In the race for the U.S. House, Beach is opposed in the Democratic primary by Lynette Grey Bull and Carol Hafner while the Republican incumbent, Rep. Liz Cheney, has one challenger in Blake Stanley.

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POLLS CLOSE 7:00 PM 

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Tuesday, August 18, 2020 NOTICE: The Ballot shown is a composite of all races in Park County. The ballot you receive will include only the races within your specific district and precinct. The names of candidates will be rotated on the official ballot and will not always appear in the order indicated in the sample ballots.

REPUBLICAN

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 26 TWO (2) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

FEDERAL OFFICES U.S. SENATOR SIX (6) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

JAMIE FLITNER _________________________

R. MARK ARMSTRONG DEVON CADE JOHN HOLTZ MICHAEL KEMLER CYNTHIA M. LUMMIS BRYAN E. MILLER DONNA RICE STAR ROSELLI ROBERT G.SHORT JOSH WHEELER _________________________

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 28 TWO (2) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1) DAVID BAYERT JOHN R. WINTER _________________________ STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 50 TWO (2) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TWO (2) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

RACHEL RODRIGUEZ-WILLIAMS _________________________

LIZ CHENEY BLAKE STANLEY _________________________

STATE SENATOR SENATE DISTRICT 20 FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

STATE OFFICES

STATE SENATOR SENATE DISTRICT 18 FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

STEFANIE BELL TIM FRENCH RICHARD B. JONES DAVID NORTHRUP _________________________

COUNTY OFFICES

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 24 TWO (2) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

SANDY NEWSOME NINA WEBBER SCOTT B. COURT _________________________

FEDERAL OFFICES U.S. SENATOR SIX (6) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

CHRIS GOOD DAN LAURSEN _________________________

Chris Good has withdrawn his name from the House District 25 Republican race.

Some polling locations have been consolidated for the 2020 election cycle. Southfork Fire Hall and Wapiti School polls have been moved to the Cody Recreation Center. The Clark Community Center, Heart Mountain Clubhouse (Ralston), and Garland Community Church polls have been moved to the Powell Fairgrounds Heart Mountain Hall.

COUNTY COMISSIONERS FOUR (4) Year Term Vote for not more than two (2) JAKE FULKERSON LEE LIVINGSTON SCOTT MANGOLD TED SMITH _________________________ _________________________

DEMOCRATIC

STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 25 TWO (2) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

Please note

ROLAND LUEHNE LINDA WEEKS ED COOPER _________________________

MERAV BEN DAVID KENNETH R. CASNER JAMES KIRK DEBRINE YANA LUDWIG NATHAN WENDT REX WILDE _________________________

CARL BEACH LYNNETTE GREY BULL CAROL HAFNER _________________________

JAMES ANDREWS GEOFF HOVIVIAN _________________________

STATE OFFICES STATE SENATOR SENATE DISTRICT 20 FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

THERESA LIVINGSTON _________________________ STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 28 TWO (2) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

LEVI J. SHINKLE _________________________

COUNCIL MEMBER CITY OF POWELL WARD 2 FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

FLOYD E. YOUNG _________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER CITY OF POWELL WARD 3 FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

LESLI SPENCER HEATH STREETER _________________________

NONPARTISAN MUNICIPAL OFFICES MAYOR CITY OF CODY FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

MATT HALL _________________________

COUNCIL MEMBER CITY OF CODY WARD 1 FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

ANDREW QUICK _________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER CITY OF CODY WARD 2 FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

JERRY FRITZ _________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER CITY OF CODY WARD 3 FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

EMILY SWETT _________________________ MAYOR CITY OF POWELL FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

JOHN WETZEL _________________________

To request an Absentee Ballot you must be a current registered voter and may call the Elections Office at 307-527-8620 or stop by the office in the Courthouse at 1002 Sheridan Ave., Cody, WY 82414. Voters may also Vote Early at the Courthouse now through August 17. Absentee Ballots must be returned to the Elections Office by August 18 at 7:00 p.m.

COUNCIL MEMBER CITY OF POWELL WARD 1 FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TWO (2) YEAR TERM Vote for one (1)

Voters may register at the polling locations (with proper identification) on election day. Voters with disabilities may choose to use the ES&S Expressvote to complete their ballot. All polling locations are ADA compliant for your convenience.

COUNCIL MEMBER TOWN OF MEETEETSE FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for not more than two (2)

JOSH BLAKE COREY GUTHRIE _________________________ _________________________

COUNCIL MEMBER TOWN OF FRANNIE FOUR (4) YEAR TERM Vote for not more than two (2)

STEVEN D. RICHARDSON _________________________ _________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER TOWN OF FRANNIE TWO (2) YEAR UNEXPIRED TERM Vote for one (1)

KEARA POOLE _________________________

COUNTY OFFICES PROPOSED CODY CONSERVATION DISTRICT TAX

Shall the Park County Commissioners impose a conservation district tax, not to exceed one (1) mill, on all property within the Cody Conservation District, Park County, Wyoming, for the purpose of providing natural resource programs directed by the Cody Conservation District?

FOR THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT TAX AGAINST THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT TAX

REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE MEN AND WOMEN

Precinct Committeeman 1-1------------------------------------------------------- Tracy A. Lewis Precinct Committeewoman 1-1 ---------------------------------------------------Susan Hoffert Precinct Committeeman 2-1------------------------------------------------------- Landon Greer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vincent Vanata Precinct Committeewoman 2-1 -------------------------------------------------- Wendy Kindel --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jona K. Vanata Precinct Committeeman 2-2--------------------------------------------------------- Tim Lasseter Precinct Committeeman 4-1----------------------------------------------------- Tim Hockhalter Precinct Committeewoman 4-1 --------------------------------------------------- Cherie Fisher --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Geri Hockhalter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sheila Leach Precinct Committeewoman 9-7 ----------------------------------------------------Dona Becker Precinct Committeeman 10-2 --------------------------------------- Jacob A. “Jake” Dillinger Precinct Committeeman 16-1 -------------------------------------------------- Richard B. Jones Precinct Committeeman 21-1 ------------------------------------------------ Anthony Spiering --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eugene D. Spiering Precinct Committeewoman 21-1 ------------------------------------------ Elizabeth Spiering ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Susan Spiering Precinct Committeeman 23-1 -----------------------------------------------------Larry J. French Precinct Committeewoman 23-1 --------------------------------------------------- Toni French Precinct Committeewoman 24-1 ------------------------------------------ Carol J. Armstrong Precinct Committeeman 24-3 ----------------------------------------------------------- Bob Berry Precinct Committeewoman 24-3 ------------------------------------------------ Robin A. Berry Precinct Committeeman 25-1 ---------------------------------------------------------Al Simpson Precinct Committeewoman 25-1 -------------------------------------------------Ann Simpson --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lelani R. Snyder Precinct Committeeman 25-2 -------------------------------------------Hank H.R. “Hank” Coe Precinct Committeeman 25-3 ------------------------------------------------ Colin M. Simpson Precinct Committeewoman 25-3 -------------------------------------------------- Dawn Odasz

DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE MEN AND WOMEN

Precinct Committeeman 23-1 -------------------------------------------- Frederick A. Renaud Precinct Committeewoman 23-1 --------------------------- Sharea Lindae Moan Renaud Precinct Committeeman 24-1 ------------------------------------------------- Greg Blenkinsop

DIST -- PRCT ----------------- COMMUNITY --------------------------------------------- POLLING PLACE ----------------------------------------------------------- ADDRESS 1 --------1 ------------------------- CLARK ---------------------------------------------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 2 --------1 ------------------------- CODY EAST & NORTH INSIDE --------------------------- CODY AUDITORIUM ---------------------------------------------------------- 1240 BECK AVE, CODY 2 --------2 ------------------------- CODY EAST & SOUTH INSIDE --------------------------- CODY AUDITORIUM ---------------------------------------------------------- 1240 BECK AVE, CODY 3 --------1 ------------------------- CODY EAST & NORTH OUTSIDE ------------------------ CODY RECREATION CENTER ----------------------------------------------- 1402 HEART MTN. ST, CODY 3 --------2 ------------------------- CODY EAST & SOUTH OUTSIDE ------------------------ CODY RECREATION CENTER ----------------------------------------------- 1402 HEART MTN. ST, CODY 4 --------1 ------------------------- CODY WEST & SOUTH OUTSIDE ------------------------ CODY RECREATION CENTER ----------------------------------------------- 1402 HEART MTN. ST, CODY 4 --------2 ------------------------- CODY WEST & NORTH OUTSIDE ----------------------- CODY RECREATION CENTER ----------------------------------------------- 1402 HEART MTN. ST, CODY 6 --------1 ------------------------- GARLAND - FRANNIE -------------------------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 7 --------2 ------------------------- VALLEY -------------------------------------------------------- CODY RECREATION CENTER ----------------------------------------------- 1402 HEART MTN. ST, CODY 8 --------1 ------------------------- ABOVE MEETEETSE ---------------------------------------- MEETEETSE SENIOR CENTER ----------------------------------------------- 1105 PARK AVE, MEETEETSE 8 --------2 ------------------------- TOWN OF MEETEETSE ------------------------------------ MEETEETSE SENIOR CENTER ----------------------------------------------- 1105 PARK AVE, MEETEETSE 8 --------3 ------------------------- BELOW MEETEETSE ---------------------------------------- MEETEETSE SENIOR CENTER ----------------------------------------------- 1105 PARK AVE, MEETEETSE 9 --------1 ------------------------- POWELL CENTER & WEST INSIDE ---------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 9 --------2 ------------------------- POWELL CENTER & EAST INSIDE ----------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 9 --------4 ------------------------- POWELL WEST & NORTH INSIDE ----------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 9 --------5 ------------------------- POWELL WEST & SOUTH INSIDE ----------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 9 --------7 ------------------------- POWELL SOUTH & EAST INSIDE ------------------------ POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 10 ------1 ------------------------- POWELL NORTH OUTSIDE ------------------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 10 ------2 ------------------------- POWELL SOUTH OUTSIDE ------------------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 11 ------2 ------------------------- CRANDALL - PAINTER ------------------------------------- PARK COUNTY COURTHOUSE --------------------------------------------- 1002 SHERIDAN AVE, CODY 16 ------1 ------------------------- WAPITI --------------------------------------------------------- CODY RECREATION CENTER ----------------------------------------------- 1402 HEART MTN. ST, CODY 21 ------1 ------------------------- RALSTON – RD 18/LN 10 --------------------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 23 ------1 ------------------------- WILLWOOD--------------------------------------------------- POWELL FAIRGROUNDS Heart Mountain Bldg --------------------------------- 655 EAST 5TH ST, POWELL 24 ------1 ------------------------- CODY CENTER NORTH INSIDE -------------------------- CODY AUDITORIUM ---------------------------------------------------------- 1240 BECK AVE, CODY 24 ------2 ------------------------- CODY CENTER SOUTH INSIDE -------------------------- CODY AUDITORIUM ---------------------------------------------------------- 1240 BECK AVE, CODY 24 ------3 ------------------------- CODY CENTER INSIDE ------------------------------------- CODY AUDITORIUM ---------------------------------------------------------- 1240 BECK AVE, CODY 25 ------1 ------------------------- CODY WEST & NORTH INSIDE--------------------------- CODY AUDITORIUM ---------------------------------------------------------- 1240 BECK AVE, CODY 25 ------2 ------------------------- CODY WEST & SOUTH INSIDE --------------------------- CODY AUDITORIUM ---------------------------------------------------------- 1240 BECK AVE, CODY 25 ------3 ------------------------- CODY WEST INSIDE ---------------------------------------- CODY AUDITORIUM ---------------------------------------------------------- 1240 BECK AVE, CODY ALL ----ALL --------------------- PARK COUNTY COURTHOUSE -------------------------- ABSENTEE POLLING PLACE ------------------------------------------------ 1002 SHERIDAN AVE, CODY