General Election 2018

A special supplement to the

GENERAL ELECTION Nov. 6, 2018

Voters Guide #jhvotes

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Editor’s Note

This special section provides a handy guide with information about local, state and federal candidates and their positions. What do Town Council candidates think about paid parking? Which aspiring county commissioners support the lodging tax? Our new design makes it easy to find out who shares your point of view on the issues. Be sure to browse before you head to the polls and follow the results on Nov. 6 and 7 at JHNewsAndGuide.com. — Allie Gross

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

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Editor: Johanna Love Managing Editor: Rebecca Huntington Deputy Editor: Melissa Cassutt Election Section Editors: Cody Cottier, Allie Gross, Rebecca Huntington Layout and Design: Andy Edwards, Samantha Nock Photographers: Bradly J. Boner, Ryan Dorgan, Amber Baesler Copy Editors: Jennifer Dorsey, Mark Huffman, Tom Hallberg Reporters: Cody Cottier, Allie Gross, Mike Koshmrl, Emily Mieure, Kylie Mohr Advertising Sales: Karen Brennan, Tom Hall, Chad Repinski, Megan LaTorre, Oliver O’Connor Advertising Coordinator: Maggie Gabruk Creative Director: Sarah Wilson Advertising Design: Lydia Redzich, Luis F. Ortiz, Taylor-Ann Smith Production Manager: Chuck Pate Pre-press: Jeff Young Post Press Supervisor: Charles R. Pate Pressmen: Dale Fjeldsted, Steve Livingston, Dayton Fjeldsted Office Manager: Kathleen Godines Customer Service Managers: Lucia Perez, Rudy Perez Circulation Manager: Kyra Griffin Circulation: Hank Smith, Jeff Young ©2018 Teton Media Works Jackson Hole News&Guide P.O. Box 7445, 1225 Maple Way Jackson, WY 83002

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GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 3

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO VOTE House District Number 16

Voting Centers Shown on map

Race: Allen (R) and Yin (D) Precincts in House District 16 include: 1-2 Mid East Jackson 1-5 Mid West Jackson 1-6 Cottonwood Park 1-8 East Jackson 1-9 West Jackson

Not shown on map

1 Teton County/Jackson Recreation Center 155 E. Gill Ave. 2 Teton County Library 125 Virginian Lane

Teton County Weed & Pest 7575 Highway 89 Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center 5655 Main St., Wilson

1

Elk Refuge Rd.

Alta Branch Library 50 Alta School Road, Alta

1-9

Cache St.

2

1-8 Glenwood St.

1-11

Broadway Ave.

1-5

Virginian Ln.

1-3

1-4

1-2

House District Number 23

House District Number 22

Race: Halverson (R) and Roscoe (I) Precincts in House District 22 include: 1-10 South Hoback 4-1 Wilson South 4-3 4-3 Wilson North

1-6

Wilson Jackson

4-1 1-10 Hoback Jct.

Race: Muromcew (R) and Schwartz (D) Precincts in House District 23 include: 1-1 South of Jackson 1-3 Skyline/Hi-Country/Gros Ventre Butte 1-4 North Jackson 1-11 Indian Trails 1-7 Rafter J 2-1 Kelly/Moose/Airport 3-1 Moran 4-2 Moose/Wilson Road 4-4 Teton Village/Moose/Wilson Road 5-1 Alta

1-1

ANDY EDWARDS / NEWS&GUIDE

By Allie Gross Voters can cast their ballots at any of five polling places on Election Day. These vote centers (see above map) will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: • Teton County Library • Teton County/Jackson Rec Center • Old Wilson Schoolhouse • Teton County Weed and Pest • Alta Branch Library Teton County Clerk Sherry Daigle decided to close polling places at elementary schools this year, due to school safety concerns.

Voters can no longer cast a ballot at Alta and Moran elementary schools.

Instead, Alta voters can cast their ballot at the Teton County Library’s Alta branch. Moran voters will have to go to polling stations elsewhere in the county.

Voters can register to vote on Election Day. If you haven’t regis-

tered in advance, be sure to bring a form of identification. A Wyoming driver’s license will do the trick, but if you don’t have one you can use another official photo ID and the last four numbers of your social security number, Daigle said.

Early and absentee voting is open now through Nov. 5. Anyone can vote early, but it’s especially recommended for those who may be out of town or otherwise unable to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Early voting is available at the Teton County clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you want to vote early or absentee and you haven’t yet registered, you can still register before Election Day, but you must cast your ballot the same day you register.

To register and vote in Teton County, people must be 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen and a bona fide resident of Teton County. They must

Información de las elecciones La votación temprana y ausente está abierta desde ahora hasta el 5 de noviembre.

Cualquiera puede votar temprano, pero se recomienda para aquellos que pueden estar fuera de la ciudad o no pueden votar el día de las elecciones el martes, 6 de noviembre.

Usted puede votar temprano en la oficina del Secretario del Condado de Teton de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m. de lunes a viernes, o solicitando una boleta de correo llamando a la oficina del Secretario del Condado al 733-4430.

El día de las elecciones es el martes 6 de noviembre. Puede votar desde las 7 a.m. hasta las 7 p.m. en cualquier lugar de votación en el Condado de Teton. Eso incluye la biblioteca del Condado de Teton (125 Virginian LN.), el Centro de Recreación del Condado de Teton/Jackson (155 E. Gill Ave.), el viejo Centro Comunitario de la escuela Wilson (5655 Main St.), el edificio de Malezas y Plagas del Condado de Teton (7575 US 89), y en la Biblioteca con sede en Alta (50 Alta School Rd).

Puede registrarse para votar el mismo día de las elecciones. Usted debe tener 18 años, ser un ciudadano de los EE.UU. y un residente de buena fe del Condado de Teton.

Traiga una licencia de conducir de Wyoming si tiene una, u otra forma de identificación, como un pasaporte de Estados Unidos o una licencia de otro estado. Si ya haya registrado antes, no es necesario traer la identificación al votar.

— Traducción por Pati Rocha de la Biblioteca del Condado de Teton withdraw voter registration from other jurisdictions and cannot be a

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4 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Jackson Town Council: 4 candidates, vote for 2 Jessica Sell Chambers Jessica Sell Chambers is a stay-athome mom and legal guardian, preschool teacher, writer and community organizer.

She’s the national committeewoman for the Democratic National Committee and chairwoman of the progressive caucus in the Wyoming Democratic Party.

She is running to “represent the needs of the working people of Jackson, the people who make our town run and give it soul; to represent the most vulnerable; to make Jackson more livable for the nonmillionaires/billionaires.”

Her primary issues are affordable housing, expanding the economy and increasing government funding for public transportation and social services. Her first priority, she said, is stabilizing town revenue to fund additional services and new affordable housing projects. She suggested the council consider enacting property taxes, raising the minimum wage and potentially increasing the lodging tax.

“Now is not the time to be rejecting revenue opportunities,” she said. “These are sacrifices for the entire community, instead of just a small group of the community. And, ultimately, it’s beneficial for everybody: The community gets stronger; the economy gets stronger. It’s a win-win.”

How should the town distribute density?

Concentrate heavy development in already dense areas (downtown, commercial corridor) to preserve neighborhood character and wildlife.

4-year term

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Affordable housing shortage 2. Human services funding 3. Wildlife (protecting habitat, preventing collisions, etc.)

Lodging tax Support or Oppose?

Paid Parking Support or Oppose?

Further hotel development Support or Oppose?

Support: It’s a net gain for our community by funding: START, Fire/EMS, Parks and Rec, pathways; visitor education, events benefiting locals, like SHIFT, Firefighter’s Ball; it contributes to other intangibles like year-round employment.

Support: It gets people out of their cars: better for environment, traffic, etc. Its revenue could make Jackson more livable through better-funded human services or free and affordable preschool and childcare for all families.

Oppose: More hotels equal more visitors and jobs and burdens on the community. Voters don’t want more visitors, and if there are no hotel vacancies travelers must move on; nor do voters want landmarks destroyed for more hotel beds.

What will you do as councilor to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

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

What would be your strategy to manage growth in Jackson Hole?

Acknowledge there is a global housing crisis resulting from concentrated wealth and power and a bulging lower class.

Affordable housing is needed from Auckland, New Zealand to Jackson — it doesn’t pencil for the private sector anywhere. The public sector is there to manage what the private sector cannot. Some ignorantly caution against building housing “projects” — a real issue for some cities where social support and employment are not readily available — not the case here. We need bolder decisions to add deed-restricted housing, especially rental units, and to use zoning as one of many tools. We need to raise and utilize public funds while welcoming private support/philanthropy — and couple all this with other community supports such as expanded human services, making Jackson livable, especially for the most vulnerable.

Clearly, we don’t lack the means.

Paid parking will get people out of their cars while simultaneously generating significant amounts of revenue — finding a workaround for older residents would be helpful, as would better senior shuttling options. Any measure must be done in tandem with the expansion of public transportation — for commuters and even into the parks — and smarter, denser housing development around public transportation and services such as grocery stores, post offices and schools (hopefully to include community-wide, affordable, waitlist-free childcare/early-ed options in the future). Minimizing parking requirements on new developments and building a long-term residential parking area would also help, with shuttling of course, and incentivized ride-sharing. All of these options work for community members who can’t afford cars, plus it’s better for wildlife, the environment and insulating the community we presently have.

“Not everyone can live here” must be replaced with, “We value the working people in this valley and if you don’t, please don’t come here.” Jackson will always be a tourist destination, a gateway to the national parks. We can’t diversify (in terms of the economy) our way out of paying workers a livable wage or building housing. It is imperative we insulate the current community by preserving existing housing and building smarter, denser housing and deedrestricting both for workers and local retirees.

New construction must be concentrated near public transportation, services and jobs. We must keep our workforce local and enable them to do more than survive; the workforce must have time to be politically engaged to ensure Jackson isn’t hijacked by the uber-wealthy or other special interests. When we achieve a sustainable community we will curb growth in all forms.

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GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 5

4-year term

Jackson Town Council: 4 candidates, vote for 2 Don Frank Incumbent Don Frank is a partner in and former president of Dembergh Construction.

In that role he acquired skills like team building, communication and accountability that he said transfer into public service.

“A civil, fact-driven process of study, discussion, direct public input is essential and fulfilling,” Frank said. “I am here to understand the concerns and dreams of our neighbors and to participate in considerate, helpful and kind, centrist solutions.”

He said his building know-how has helped the council vet development proposals to ensure the best use of taxpayer dollars and fair, equal treatment under the land development regulations.

However, he said he also considers decisions from a broader perspective.

“As Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity,’” he said. “With a few years of experience on the council I’m at a place where I feel I can be efficient and effective.”

He’s guided by three main tenets: Help your neighbor, face challenges with practical optimism and actions today shape the future for our children. If re-elected he plans to focus on implementing the community’s vision in the Comprehensive Plan.

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Mitigating human impacts on the environment 2. Affordable housing shortage 3. Traffic

Lodging tax Support or oppose?

Paid Parking Support or oppose?

Further hotel development Support or oppose?

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Support: We should utilize lodging taxes more imaginatively.

Neither: The pending parking study will begin to inform possible next steps.

Neither: At present newer hotel stock has replaced obsolete beds that have been demolished or repurposed for workforce housing.

What will you do as councilor to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

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

What would be your strategy to manage growth in Jackson Hole?

Housing successes since joining the council in 2012 include public-private partnerships like Redmond Hall, private rental development like Hidden Hollow and strategic density deployment like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort employee housing. We are moving the needle through imaginative land use like accessory residential units, innovative financing like 174 King St. and direct housing stock like town employee housing for critical service providers. The creation of a joint town and county housing department streamlines the process of defining goals and delivering safe housing.

I went to Washington, D.C., to help Jackson compete for a Build America grant to expand our START bus facility and increase rolling bus stock and commuter capacity. I support wider use of alternative transportation by optimizing our multimodal pathway systems like e-bikes and safer cycle lanes. The town is implementing complete streets, alleys and safer pathways crossings. We can help by leaving cars at home whenever possible.

Growth is natural in a human colony and each one of us is a part of that organic growth.

We are actively adopting land use regulations that reflect the guideline principles of the Comprehensive Plan. We are moving density into complete neighborhoods and working to protect wildlife habitat in concert with the foundational needs and services of our human community. We are fortunate to have preserved 97 percent of Teton County. We must learn to be careful while sharing the environmental blessings we all revere.

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How should the town distribute density?

We will need to absorb density in several manners to achieve housing goals.

WHAT WE STAND TO LOSE $7.3 MILLION GENERATED

BY VISITORS IN 2017

ELIZABETH MASEK Hospital Trustee

40%

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6 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

4-year term

Jackson Town Council: 4 candidates, vote for 2 Arne Jorgensen Arne Jorgensen has worked as an architect with Hawtin Jorgensen Architects for 30 years. He’s also served on various local boards, including the Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust.

Growing up in Jackson, he said his parents instilled in him a deep appreciation of the environment.

He recognizes the singularity of the Jackson community.

“I have come to recognize the uniqueness of our community and that many of our community members’ interests are not represented in our political discourse,” Jorgensen said. “We are an incredible community of people living together in an incredible place. To retain an understanding of and desire to protect both our people and our place, we need to remember how we all are interrelated so that no one or no natural value becomes marginalized.”

Jorgensen believes his experience with Jackson’s land use regulations, knowledge of modern architecture and experience working with diverse stakeholder groups can help the town develop policy to manage growth in a way that protects the surrounding environment and develops housing.

How should the town distribute density?

Concentrate heavy development in already dense areas (downtown, commercial corridor) to preserve neighborhood character and wildlife. This is essentially what the recently approved regulations attempt to promote.

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Mitigating human impacts on the environment 2. Affordable housing shortage 3. Traffic

Lodging tax Support or Oppose?

Paid Parking Support or Oppose?

Further hotel development Support or Oppose?

Support: Public budgets benefit from 40 percent, and elected officials should clearly set policy directing the use of the 60 percent within the construct of current law. In parallel, work to revise the law to provide a better fit to our community.

Support: Based on finalizing a review of the use of revenues and goals of program.

Support: Not black or white; very dependent on scale of use, location and priorities of uses. This question reflects a larger community frustration that will not be addressed by overly narrow focus.

What will you do as councilor to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

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

What would be your strategy to manage growth in Jackson Hole?

There is no silver bullet. For nearly 30 years my efforts with affordable housing have been based on four unwavering guiding principles: 1. Provide opportunities to those who are committed to our community.

2. Develop and support efforts that deliver housing security and stability.

3. Protect all of the public and community investment that ensures the levels of affordability.

4. Be respectful.

I support the three-pronged approach our community is pursuing: 1. Shift density to appropriate locations.

2. Mitigate for impacts of our development actions.

3. Wide community-based efforts such as private donors and public tax investment.

While I support this policy direction I have caveats with each that serve to improve the fairness and effectiveness of these efforts.

Our road and parking infrastructure has essentially remained unchanged for decades, but it is being used by a much larger number of people, thus the congestion. Possibly more so than other challenges facing our town, we can all make an impact on traffic congestion with our personal choices. As a community we should consider the ways in which we incentivize fewer single-occupancy vehicles, utilize the roadway width we have, expand START options, expand alternative means of transportation and address redundancy (particularly related to public safety).

Our first Comprehensive Plan was adopted in the late 1970s and, along with subsequent land development regulations, has been updated to reflect our community goals in managing change in Teton County and Jackson.

These documents, along with town and county budgets, serve as foundational documents that should be reflective of our community priorities and should promote our community vision. They should not be static and do require ongoing review and work to ensure that our path forward achieves the goals we have set for ourselves.

It is critical that LDRs be designed to achieve clearly articulated goals. We should engage in constant assessment of growth management results and revise regulations that are not achieving expected outcomes.

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gardnerforcommissioner.com Wanna help me out? Stop by Teton Toys for yard signs, bumper stickers, and tee shirts!

TRAFFIC:

If elected Commissioner, I pledge to reduce traffic on WY22 and beyond. My focus will be on creating a more effective START bus system for our residents, our commuters, and our tourists.

SCHEDULING: I support revising our bus schedules so that they serve the areas of greatest density around the turn of each hour. This will provide more effective service for the thousands of employees who work in and around the Downtown area.

STILSON: We must develop Stilson as a Park and Ride option to Town (in addition to the Village). If we ensure consistent and efficient bus service from Stilson to Town, commuters from Wilson, Victor, and beyond will have the option to park and ride to town instead of being stuck in traffic and overcrowding downtown parking.

SOUTH OF TOWN: I support the development of a Park and Ride option south of town as well. For starters, we should use the massive lots at JHHS to provide options for summertime commuters. If this service gains traction, I would consider putting some kind of south of town Park and Ride initiative on the SPET ballot for 2020.

AIRPORT: I support expanding our bus service to the airport. If we give our visitors the option to access public transit from their point of entry, they will be less likely to rent cars which add to our congestion. We already have adequate bus inventory to begin this service in the summer months.

HOUSING:

MENTAL HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES:

COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOOD: I support zoning for the development of a new complete neighborhood south of town. This development would consist of mixed-use and mixed density housing. We must ensure not only that any development avoid critical wildlife corridors, but also that properties be retained for folks who live and work in Teton County.

FUNDING: In the spring of 2017, the Wyoming legislature removed millions of state and matching federal dollars from Mental Health and Human Services funding. In order to offset these dramatic losses, I recommend that Teton County pursue the creation of a ONE MILL LEVY which will provide a consistent revenue stream for organizations like Teton Youth and Family Services, the Community Safety Network, the Senior Center,The Counseling Center, Curran-Seeley, CLC, CES, Climb Wyoming, Teton Literacy, The Senior Center and One-22. A full mill generates around $1.7 million in revenue- this will offer some relieve to organization s who have seen budgets slashed and services denied as state funding has diminished.

COUNTY EMPLOYEES: The County must set a higher standard in providing housing for its own employees.

We should continue working with the Town to develop housing for our own workforces as well as for non-profit, health services, and educational staffs.

LOW INCOME WORKFORCE HOUSING: The vast majority of affordable and deed-restricted housing developed in the County services our middle class residents. We must develop a housing strategy that addresses the needs of our lower-income residents, specifically in the Hispanic community. As land values continue to soar, reasonably priced housing options are disappearing from the rental market. I recommend we explore the development of a large-scale, low-rent apartment building dedicated to housing the lower-income residents of our community. If the Town and County control the rents in a large apartment complex, we will be able to set a new floor for the rental market for our working families.

PAID FOR BY WES GARDNER

HOUSING: Whether I’m talking with mental health professionals, educators, or the Director of START, one need arises time and again- Housing. They all recognize that if they could provide housing for their workers, they would be much more competitive employers in a very tight job market. I would support the proposal of multiple SPET initiatives dedicated to creating housing for these important sectors of our local economy. If these measures failed to pass, I would consider using capital from the General Fund to finance housing solutions for those who care for the most vulnerable among us.

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GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 7

4-year term

Jackson Town Council: 4 candidates, vote for 2 Jonathan Schechter Having analyzed Jackson’s economy and similar economies for decades, Jonathan Schechter said he would bring a broad, trend-based perspective to the council with hopes of refocusing attention on the root cause of Jackson’s problems, rather than the symptomatic issues that arise as a result.

“When you have constricted supply as we do, because of the nature of Teton County, the fundamental business model of tourism becomes increasingly challenging,” he said. “That’s why Jackson Hole has an affordable housing problem. It’s why Vail, Aspen, Nantucket, you name it, all these places where tourism is an important sector of the economy, they all share the same fundamental problems.”

He strongly supports the Comprehensive Plan’s vision and, in particular, the goal to “preserve and protect the area’s ecosystem.”

Schechter said he would serve the town by considering not only the town but also its role in the greater Jackson Hole community that spans two states and three counties.

Schechter launched Jackson Hole Compass magazine and the 22 in 21 conferences. He has written the News&Guide’s economy column for 25 years, co-founded Silicon Couloir and served as a St. John’s Medical Center trustee.

How should the town distribute density?

Concentrate heavy development in already dense areas (downtown, commercial corridor) to preserve neighborhood character and wildlife.

Top 3 most pressing issues

No ranking. Jackson Hole’s combination of healthy ecosystem, vibrant community and thriving economy is unique on Earth. Our greatest challenge is sustaining this interrelated “Holy Trinity”: No issue stands alone. There’s no blueprint to follow, but we have the resources to solve it.

Lodging tax Support or Oppose?

Paid Parking Support or oppose?

Further hotel development Support or oppose?

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Support: It divides us — that’s wrong. It should be 100 percent local control and a higher rate.

We need to actively lobby for this. I reluctantly support it because it funds necessities like picking up trash in the Town Square three times per day during summer.

Neither: This question oversimplifies a complex issue. Paid parking where? When? For whom?

Paid parking may be part of addressing our larger transportation issues but needs to be considered in that context, not stand-alone.

What are the unintended consequences?

Neither: Again, this question oversimplifies a complex issue. Tourists need places to stay.

Landowners have rights. Much of our lodging stock is aging. But we ignore issues like labor, housing and traffic at our peril, not to mention factors like AirBnB.

What will you do as councilor to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

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

What would be your strategy to manage growth in Jackson Hole?

1. The Town Council is a team. As a team member I want to support and help further the work of the Affordable Housing Department, Housing Trust, and Habitat, as well as the incentives and innovations being explored by staff and the private sector.

2. Every desirable community in the world has an affordable housing shortage.

We need to explore other communities’ best practices, including finance.

3. Jackson Hole is one community spanning two states and three counties. I will draw on my deep relationships with leaders in the Teton and Star valleys to develop regional approaches to this regional issue.

4. After six years of work the town and county have recently adopted workforce housing land development regulations. Before launching any major new regulatory initiatives we need to see how well these LDRs work.

1. We need to be clear-eyed about traffic: Because of our economy and geography, Jackson has big-city traffic problems with a small-town population and budget.

2. As a councilor I can do nothing on my own. The fundamental question we need to answer — not as a council, but as a community — is what level of traffic congestion we are willing to tolerate. Further, since none of the issues facing the community works in isolation, how will addressing transportation affect the environment? Housing? Community character?

How important is traffic compared with these other critical issues?

3. As with housing, every desirable community in America is dealing with increasing traffic problems. As councilor I will push to learn from others.

4. Simply building new roads does not solve traffic problems.

In the 2017 Jackson Hole Compass, I presented a four-step process regarding how we should grow: 1. Ensure that critical wildlife habitat and corridors are identified and protected.

2. Determine how much traffic the valley’s current and potential transportation systems can reasonably handle and what level of traffic congestion we can live with.

3. Once the first two steps are taken, estimate how many more people the community can handle while maintaining its essential character.

4. With that figure in mind, do all we can to encourage workforce and other affordable housing on the remaining developable land.

Critical to any “manage growth” effort will be working closely with the communities in Teton Valley, Idaho, and Star Valley for what we do in Jackson affects the entire region.

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Healthcare Experience That Matters in making the changes you'd like to see at St. John's

EDUCATION BA Psychology, University of Michigan Honors College Doctor of Osteopathy, Des Moines University Residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Masters in Business Administration, St. Joseph's University Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Philadelphia's first all female OBGYN practice - Four offices and seven practitioners in four years Initiated and co-founded Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Chairman Gynecology Dept. Presbyterian Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania Faculty, Univ. of Maryland School of Medicine, Center for Integrative Medicine Medical Staff, Philadelphia City Health Dept. STD Clinic CERTIFIED American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Quality Improvement Facilitator American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine Faculty, Mind-Body Medicine

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Fresh boots on the ground at St. John’s Paid for by Joyce Frye

8 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

4-year term

County Commission: 8 candidates, vote for 3 Mark Barron

Party: Republican Years in Teton County: 42 Job: Business owner Lives in: Town of Jackson

Mark Barron served as Jackson’s mayor for 12 years, beginning in 2003.

He won re-election five times.

He started working at Teton Laundry in 1975, then purchased the company and evolved it into his current business, High Country Linen Service, in 1981.

He also helped found Snake River Roasting. He said his experience owning a business has taught him the value of goal setting, getting the job done, organizational development and leadership.

“I really feel like we need some leadership in local government,” Barron said, “and I have some experience that I can put to good use for the people of Jackson Hole.”

Barron’s focus is accountability in the county budget, private-sector housing solutions, government transparency and reducing the property tax burden.

He said that as commissioner he would bring spending under control and ensure the tax base is not “treated as the county credit card.”

“I love this valley, as we all do, and value the pristine wilderness that surrounds us,” Barron said. “But it was the people who kept me here, who taught me the value of hard work and self-sufficiency, helping your neighbor and giving back. I want to represent these people who care so deeply and work so hard.”

Andrew Byron

Party: Republican Years in Teton County: 33 Job: Fishing outfitter, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort employee, real estate agent Lives in: Hoback A Teton County native, Andrew Byron sees a need for members of the community to work together toward bipartisan solutions, and he wants to make a difference for his community.

“I really think the list is long with the work that needs to get done, and the issues are mounting every day,” he said.

“It’s important that we take a levelheaded approach in terms of tackling the issues and working across party lines to come up with solutions.”

Byron is a fishing guide, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort employee and real estate agent.

“Owning a small business in Jackson Hole has prepared me to be a county commissioner because I work side by side with the residents,” Byron said. “I see the challenges of finding housing for the workforce and know firsthand how hard it is to find employees to fill jobs. I understand the issues we face in day-to-day life and can work toward solutions.”

He served on the Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation board, which prompted his interest in how citizens can make a difference in local politics.

For Byron top priorities for Teton County include conservation and private-property rights, maintaining a balanced budget and working toward the goal of housing 65 percent of the workforce locally. He opposes new taxes and believes in collaboration between the private sector and local government to find housing solutions.

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Traffic

2. Privately built rental housing

Lodging tax Support or oppose?

3. Wildlife (protecting habitat, preventing collisions, etc.)

Tribal Trail Connector Support or oppose?

Support: “Revenue for START, pathways, Fire/EMS and Parks and Rec, and we don’t pay it.”

?

Support.

What will you do as commissioner to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

I worked hard for 12 years as mayor to support projects that would yield workforce housing, to partner with the private sector and build affordable housing, and to zone for the density that’s key to achieving private sector affordable rental and workforce housing.

I will pursue private sector solutions working with fellow commissioners and the Town Council that will result in the rental housing that is so badly needed.

Government can’t and shouldn’t develop housing; the private sector can and should with proper zoning.

?

65% local workforce housing goal Agree or disagree?

Disagree: “The 65 percent figure was and is arbitrary, and tracking it is suspect.”

?

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

I would encourage the county commissioners to engage the Wyoming Department of Transportation to make Highway 22, between Highway 191 at Albertons and Highway 390/Teton Village Road, four lanes; add another two lanes to the Snake River bridge and make the 22/390 intersection a roundabout.

That may be unpopular to some, but our workforce is not going to stop commuting over the pass anytime soon, and efficiently moving these vehicles over Highway 22 will help all of us. While the planning for that occurs I would encourage the investment of four compressed natural gas commuter buses for Teton Pass and Snake River canyon commuters, scheduled for early and late workers.

Priority in upcoming rezones of the county’s complete neighborhoods, like Wilson, The Aspens or Hog Island?

Adding density for workforce housing.

What is the most important conservation issue facing Teton County?

Open space.

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Human services funding

Lodging tax Support or oppose?

Support: “The lodging tax is vital to the general fund and is a revenue source Teton County needs.”

?

2. Wildlife (protecting habitat, preventing collisions, etc.)

Tribal Trail Connector Support or oppose?

65% local workforce housing goal Agree or disagree?

Support.

Agree.

What will you do as commissioner to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

We must continue the work that we are already doing as a county. Additionally we need to work with the private sector to find solutions. There are great examples of the private sector stepping up to take care of their employees. We need to learn from this and allow the private sector opportunity to help with affordable housing.

?

?

3. Traffic

Priority in upcoming rezones of the county’s complete neighborhoods, like Wilson, The Aspens or Hog Island?

Maintaining rural character and room for wildlife.

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

What is the most important conservation issue facing Teton County?

I would like to see Tribal Trail get completed in a timely matter.

Open space, which correlates with protecting our wildlife resources and natural beauty.

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 9

4-year term

County Commission: 8 candidates, vote for 3 Mary Martin

Party: Republican Years in Teton County: 43 Job: Community development educator at University of Wyoming Extension Lives in: Town of Jackson As a community development education specialist for the University of Wyoming Extension, Mary Martin has had a hand in helping start projects such as the Senior Center of Jackson Hole and what are now the Children’s Learning Center and One22. She has been involved in community projects from Teton County hazardous fuels reduction to restaurant sanitation.

“I’ve been part of creating a lot of the fiber that makes Jackson what it is,” she said.

Martin teaches leadership, meeting management, strategic planning, facilitation, and board governance. As an expert in engaging groups of people and problem solving, she believes her experience as a community development specialist has prepared her for problem-solving in the county and making county meetings efficient.

As commissioner she would focus on “the people,” including looking out for children and seniors. She wants to support developing an adequate workforce housing supply, boosting morale among government employees and ensuring a vibrant business community.

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Affordable housing shortage

Lodging tax Support or oppose?

2. Traffic

3. Human services funding

Tribal Trail Connector Support or oppose?

Support: “It allows for mitigation of tourism impacts and ensures a year-round economy.”

?

Support: “We need redundancy in our transportation system.”

What will you do as commissioner to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

The outcome that will be truly successful is one where our county houses a majority of our workforce to minimize commuter miles, creates a positive financial and personal commitment to the community and provides safe and adequate housing.

Our housing department is working diligently to do its part in addressing the issue. There’s no one solution to this issue. It requires a multifaceted approach and collaboration between public and private parties. The county government should support efforts to enhance housing inventory and effectively work to remove roadblocks. We also should include regional stakeholders in creating housing strategies that work.

?

65% local workforce housing goal Agree or disagree?

Agree: “People are integral to having a sustainable economy.”

?

Priority in upcoming rezones of the county’s complete neighborhoods, like Wilson, The Aspens or Hog Island?

Adding density for workforce housing: “Housing employees close to jobs can help traffic issues.”

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

What is the most important conservation issue facing Teton County?

There needs to be several initiatives happening concurrently. What is causing the congestion? I believe a public discussion of our driving habits, why we are on the roads and how better trip planning on each of our parts could reduce the number of vehicles on roadways. I will recommend that with the consultation of our county engineer and the Wyoming Department of Transportation that we 1. Assess the level of service on existing roadways.

2. Determine the quickest, least costly method to raise the level of service on our roadways; redundancy is an important safety need in our road system.

3. Explore opportunities to acquire real estate in strategic locations for park ’n ride facilities to improve ridership on START.

There are several: water quality, our carbon footprint and human impact on the public lands surrounding our county.

Please Join Your Friends and Neighbors in Supporting

Jonathan Schechter forJackson Town Council

Armond Acri Nathan Adams Michael Adams Bubba Albrecht Tanya Anderson Giovannina Anthony Melanie Harrice Arndt Ken Asel Rich Assenberg Linda & Dick Aurelio Jill Baldauf Kate Barker Anna Barker Sam Bartels Christian Beckwith

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Sustain What Matters Vote Jonathan Schechter Jackson Town Council | JS4JH.com

Connie Owen

Mary Springer Kim Springer Keith Sproule Alex St. Clair Hal Staley Scott Steen Ryan Stolp Sue & Rich Sugden William Sweney Patty Talley Julie & Brian Tanabe Joanne & Garry Tank Charlie Thomson Walt Thulin Jay Tomich Cindy & Marty Trott Wayne Turner Juliet Unfried September Vhay Bob Viola Linore & Jim Wallace Sam Wasserman Bill Watkins Dick Weinbrandt Sam Western Alice Widdess Jason Wilmot Katie Wilson Philip Winder John Wright Steve Wunn Caite Zeliff

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10 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

GENERAL ELECTION SAMPLE BALLOTS November 6, 2018 1-1 SAMPLE BALLOTS:

The following precincts (1-1, 1-3, 1-7, 2-1, 3-1, 4-2, 4-4, and 5-1) have the same races as appear on the sample below, however names will not be in the same order as they are rotated by precinct on the official ballots

1-4 SAMPLE BALLOTS:

The following precincts (1-4 and 1-11) have the same races as appear on the sample below, however names will not be in the same order as they are rotated by precinct on the official ballots.

We would like to remind will be five locations open locations, regardless of w open from

1-2 SAMPLE BALLOTS:

The following precincts (1-2, 1-5, 1-6, 1-8, and 1-9) have th races as appear on the sample below, however names will not be in as they are rotated by precinct on the official ballots

1-10 SAMPLE BALLOTS:

The following precincts (1-10, 4-1, and 4-3) have the same races a sample below, however names will not be in the same order as th precinct on the official ballots.�

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 11

you that the polling sites have changed this year. There n on Election Day, and you may vote at ANY one of those where you live in Teton County. All Vote Centers will be m 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

he same n the same order s

as appear on the hey are rotated by

VOTE CENTER LOCATIONS: TETON COUNTY LIBRARY 125 Virginian Ln, Jackson, WY TETON COUNTY/JACKSON RECREATION CENTER 155 E. Gill Ave., Jackson, WY OLD WILSON SCHOOLHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER 5655 Main St., Wilson, WY

TETON COUNTY WEED & PEST BUILDING 7575 US-89, Jackson, WY ALTA BRANCH LIBRARY 50 Alta School Rd., Alta, WY

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

USE ONLY THE SPECIAL PEN OR PENCIL PROVIDED IF YOU MAKE AN ERROR PLEASE RETURN YOUR BALLOT TO THE ELECTION OFFICIAL AND REQUEST A NEW BALLOT 353908

12 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

4-year term

County Commission: 8 candidates, vote for 3 Seadar Rose Davis Party: Democrat Job: Musician and web developer Years in Teton County: 14 Lives in: Hoback

Seadar Rose Davis is running to give back to the community. She is a songwriter, vocalist and guitarist with Americana band Screen Door Porch and a freelance web designer.

“Both careers have given me a lot of experience managing resources and time and have taught me how to successfully collaborate with different personalities and perspectives in challenging work environments,” she said.

Davis said her nontraditional background represents a fresh perspective for Teton County and will bring creativity, energy and diversity to the board. She is passionate about ensuring that the elected board serves everybody, including working-class residents.

“I want to make sure that all parties are represented at the table,” she said.

Davis serves on the START board and is interested in expanding service, finding more funding sources and rallying the community around using the bus. She’s also interested in balancing public and private housing solutions and fostering a healthy community.

Mark Newcomb

Party: Democrat Years in Teton County: 51 Job: Self-employed economic consultant, county commissioner Lives in: Kelly Mark Newcomb, current board chairman and the only incumbent in the race, is seeking a second term.

Newcomb is self-employed as an environmental economics consultant and has been a climbing and ski guide, which he said taught him about patience, vigilance, risk and listening to others.

“I am a commissioner that listens,” he said. “I am thoughtful and assess the risk of policy decisions, I appreciate dialogue, and I value every individual opinion.”

He wants to be a part of continued land development regulation efforts, like planning the county’s “complete neighborhoods” such as Wilson and The Aspens.

“I’m running to continue to pursue a vision for the county I’ve had for a long, long time growing up here,” he said. “That is a vision that tries to protect our rural character, our smalltown feel, our wildlife values, our ecosystem values.”

Newcomb wants to ensure everyone in the county has a seat at the table to collaborate on solutions.

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Traffic

2. Mitigating human impacts on environment

Lodging tax Support or oppose?

Tribal Trail Connector Support or oppose?

3. Wildlife (protecting habitat, preventing collisions, etc.)

65% local workforce housing goal Agree or disagree?

?

Support: “These funds are crucial to our community and to the success of our transit system.”

?

Neither: Move forward with public process, include all users, and consider all alternatives.

What will you do as commissioner to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

It is going to take many different strategies and tools to tackle our affordable housing problems, including a balance of public and private-sector solutions that encourage a variety of housing types.

I believe the largest need right now is affordable rentals, and that should be our focus. By utilizing new zoning and incentive opportunities for development we can ensure smart and measured growth of housing for our workforce.

Agree.

?

Priority in upcoming rezones of the county’s complete neighborhoods, like Wilson, The Aspens or Hog Island?

Maintaining rural character and room for wildlife and reviewing appropriate options for housing in line with that character.

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

What is the most important conservation issue facing Teton County?

Public transportation is a large part of this puzzle. As a START board member I have seen the positive impacts that our transportation system has had on our traffic problems. I support the expansion of START bus commuter routes, especially to service workers outside the traditional 9-to-5 schedule, and an increase in START summer service from Stilson to Teton Village. Further, we need to add more outreach to visitors before their trip to highlight all of the alternative modes of transportation available to them.

Our waterways are being downgraded.

Areas of Teton County have drinking water that is declining in quality. We can’t take for granted that because we are at headwaters our water is clean. We need to ensure we are protecting our waterways and that we address drinking water quality.

Threats to our water sources affect the health of humans as well as the health of our animals, wildlife and aquatic species.

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Mitigating human impacts on environment

2. Traffic

Tribal Trail Connector Support or oppose?

Lodging tax Support or Oppose?

3. Protecting ranching and agriculture

65% local workforce housing goal Agree or disagree?

Priority in upcoming rezones of the county’s complete neighborhoods, like Wilson, The Aspens or Hog Island?

Maintaining rural character and room for wildlife.

Support: “Results in fewer visitors than people think. Supports Fire/ EMS, START and pathways.”

?

Support: “It must be a neighborhood road, not a connector.”

What will you do as commissioner to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

I would continue efforts to convert existing rural housing density in the form of large, high-end, job-creating and dispersed houses to workforce housing in already dense neighborhoods. Town is the best location for workforce housing.

I support compensating private property owners to help effect that conversion. I don’t support upzoning Teton Village, The Aspens or Wilson. I support public-private partnerships such as Habitat’s efforts in The Grove and the Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust’s efforts on Redmond Hall.

I believe that combination of subsidy/ compensation/public-private partnership is the right formula for building workforce, not high-end, housing while protecting historic character, open space and wildlife values and avoiding character-degrading density.

?

Disagree: “I don’t see how we can achieve 65 percent given recent zoning and mitigation outcomes.”

?

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

What is the most important conservation issue facing Teton County?

Existing policy is that some level of congestion is OK (on a level of service between A and F, we’ve chosen to live with a C/D). We need to recognize that growth won’t help and that we must continue efforts to decrease dispersed development and manage growth. I’ll continue support for transit that targets rush-hour, commuter traffic. That said I support the public process for Tribal Trail. We need to have the discussion as a community about neighborhood connectors. Those connectors have impacts. But despite down-zoning the county and the existing cap on growth, there are around 4,000 housing units that could be built today with just a building permit. Traffic’s going to increase. Without connectors, and given the beneficial but marginal impact of transit, roads will have to be widened.

Growth. But the arrangement of growth is also critical. Dispersed growth throughout the unincorporated county is the surest way to permanently degrade habitat and block wildlife movement.

Based on private property rights, there is more growth in the pipeline. We should make every effort to prevent that growth from creating sprawl and more congestion.

And it’s reasonable to ask and expect that growth to minimize its impact on important wildlife habitat.

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 13

4-year term

County Commission: 8 candidates, vote for 3 Luther Propst

Top 3 most pressing issues

Party: Democrat Job: Conservation and community planner Years in Teton County: 10 Lives in: Indian Trails in the Town of Jackson

“These issues are unconditionally intertwined. Ranking them undermines the integrated approach that is essential to improving our community.”

Luther Propst has a background in law, conservation and sustainable planning in mountain communities.

He has worked at the World Wildlife Fund and founded the Sonoran Institute, where he worked with communities like Jackson to manage growth and change while protecting public lands. He feels that experience has prepared him to balance county priorities of public lands, wildlife, housing, transportation and human services.

“It’s a balancing act to protect what makes Teton County unique,” he said, “which, at the top of that list, is our wildlife and conservation and public lands.”

Propst said he would like to see the county adopt an integrated conservation plan, spend more time on “big picture” problems facing the community and actively engage with federal partners on public land questions.

“I think my experience and my energy and action orientation can help this county meet its future more successfully,” Propst said.

Lodging tax Support or oppose?

Tribal Trail Connector Support or oppose?

65% local workforce housing goal Agree or disagree?

Priority in upcoming rezones of the county’s complete neighborhoods, like Wilson, The Aspens or Hog Island?

“Depends on the context.”

Support: “The tax supports critical services. Killing it provides no relief from congestion.”

Oppose: “I oppose a roads first approach to transportation.”

? ?

What will you do as commissioner to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

This complex challenge vexes communities across the country. We must encourage creative ideas and respond rapidly to opportunities. Four principles should guide our efforts: 1. Focus on both supply and demand. In 2017, Teton County experienced 3.5% job growth; at that rate, the number of jobs doubles in 20 years.

That rate of growth is contrary to my vision for Teton County. 2. Prioritize affordable housing rather than land use changes that create new jobs. 3.Foster housing partnerships among local governments, employers, landowners, lenders, and both private and non-profit developers. 4.

Provide reliable funding to house county employees, especially critical service providers (which helps retain county talent and improves the overall affordable housing market).

Agree: We should house a substantial resident workforce, even if percentage is arbitrary.

?

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

What is the most important conservation issue facing Teton County?

Improve commuter bus service. My priority is to reduce congestion without adding more roads and more lanes.

Increasing the number of commuters who choose to ride the bus is: most economical, most consistent with protecting our community and neighborhoods, most friendly to wildlife, and most likely to reduce (rather than merely relocate) congestion.

I would significantly increase the number of daily bus runs from Teton and Star Valleys and make it more convenient to ride the bus. This requires: buying new buses; a transit center at Stilson that includes amenities that make it convenient to ride the bus, such as day care, Zipcar type car rental, an all-weather place to wait, ski and bicycle lockers, secured parking for crew trucks; and bus garages in Alpine and Driggs.

John Muir wrote: “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” With this thought in mind, rather than arbitrarily picking a single conservation issue as the most important, our community should address a wide range of conservation and social issues. We should address many priorities simultaneously and vigorously, striking a balance among competing needs and priorities. Paraphrasing Aldo Leopold, the key is to act as if our county and region is a community to which we all belong, rather than a commodity which we lease for the short term.

GRATE • FUL

MICHAEL TENNICAN

feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful.

I would like to sincerely thank the people of Teton County for the support I have received during my candidacy for Teton County Assessor. I appreciate you placing your trust and confidence in my ability to lead the office of Teton County Assessor, and I look forward to many more years in public service.

Proven Leadership for St. John’s Hospital!

Re-elect Mike Tennican. Keep St. John’s Hospital District on a strong upward trajectory

Please vote Melissa “Mel” Shinkle, Teton County Assessor, at the absentee polling site until 5 p.m.

Monday, November 5th, or at any vote center on Tuesday, November 6th from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mike has been a SJMC trustee since 2009, was chair of the board from 2010 through 2017, is the current treasurer and is a continuing member of key board committees.

THANK YOU,

Mel

Mike also brings valuable experience as a former Harvard Business School professor of finance, adviser to major corporations on strategy and competition, and long-time director of a startup medical R&D company.

VOTE MEL SHINKLE

VOTE MICHAEL TENNICAN

FOR ST. JOHN’S HOSPITAL DISTRICT TRUSTEE

COUNTY ASSESSOR

Paid for by Michael Tennican

PAID FOR BY SHINKLE FOR TETON COUNTY ASSESSOR 355129

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14 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

4-year term

County Commission: 8 candidates, vote for 3 Wes Gardner

Top 3 most pressing issues

Party: Independent Job: Owner of Teton Toys Years in Teton County: 22 Lives in: Game Creek

1. Traffic

Lodging tax Support or oppose?

Support.

3. Protecting wildlife and wild lands

Tribal Trail Connector Support or oppose?

?

Support: “As a 35 mph road, not a highway connector.”

?

What will you do as commissioner to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

We should further review our mitigation rates on workforce housing. We just lowered a couple of those rates, but we need to make sure that new housing is secured by the workforce at reasonable rates. The best way to create affordable housing is to build housing, publicly and privately. Finding a location for a dense apartment building would go a long way to reducing rent pressures on all of our housing options. The town and county must look to clean up their own unhoused-employee situations. One of the strongest arguments I heard against the new mitigation requirements dealt with the reality that the public sector refused to hold itself accountable to the same standards that it was applying to the private sector.

Also, I would be in favor of allowing a new subdivision to be developed as long as it did not interfere with any wildlife migration corridors.

65% local workforce housing goal Agree or disagree?

Agree: “Good goal. We should recognize not all workers want to live in town or restricted housing.”

?

Priority in upcoming rezones of the county’s complete neighborhoods, like Wilson, The Aspens or Hog Island?

Both maintaining rural character and room for wildlife and adding density for workforce housing.

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

What is the most important conservation issue facing Teton County?

As county commissioner my first task will be to develop a summertime park-andride option at the Stilson lot. Downtown businesses will provide incentives for their Victor-Driggs [Idaho] employees to park and ride from Stilson using the Downtown Parking Incentive Program. Buses will operate efficiently and consistently, leaving Stilson every hour at 40 minutes after the hour, depositing riders at Town Square, town and county administration buildings and the hospital just before the hour.

In the afternoon buses will leave those areas of density just after the hour and operate expressly to Stilson. This solution will not only reduce commuter traffic on our overcrowded roads but also alleviate the pressure on downtown parking. I am working to implement this solution with START for this winter. It would help if I was operating as a commissioner instead of as an individual.

Maintaining wildlife corridors. Strategically placed wildlife crossings and conserved farmland serve as a conduit for the wildlife. If we could locate a property that is not a crucial part of a wildlife migration corridor, I’d like to see a new subdivision developed to reduce the housing stress in the valley. It is critical that we create a Wildlife and Wildlands Action Plan.

There is not enough specificity in the 2012 comp plan about protecting and preserving our environment and critical species. It would help to create a plan so we could bring all of our conservation strategies under one umbrella, from eliminating plastic waste from the landfill to increasing ridership on START, from mitigating for loss of ecosystem as we develop to creating wildlife crossings, and, most importantly, so that we can develop strategies for dealing with continued pressure on our water and forest resources. I would endorse creating a position called “director of conservation” to serve the Board of County Commissioners.

I’ve sat down with business owners, nonprofit directors, town staff, and community members to determine our collective goals for Jackson’s future.

M

Y

VO

TE

Wes Gardner decided to run for the commission the day the town and county finalized new housing mitigation rules, which dramatically increased how much commercial developers must pay toward affordable housing.

Gardner sees the new policy as too extreme. He hopes to be a moderate, independent voice on the commission.

For Gardner, his experience running his own business — like managing staff, inventory and capital — will help him as a commissioner and has taught him fiscal responsibility and accountability.

“As a business owner I’ve dealt with a lot of conflict,” he said. “I’ve dealt with a lot of budgeting, understanding money and how to use it, but, most importantly, engaging and solving problems.”

Gardner’s top issue in the county is transit. He’d like to see a bus stop or transit center south of town, a revitalized Stilson park and ride, and START service to the airport. He’s also interested in exploring opportunities to strengthen Jackson Hole’s recycling programs.

“I have learned to solve problems while interacting with them, as opposed to directing my staff to a solution and walking away. I feel government has a tendency to direct solutions to our problems from a distance. My strategy involves daily contact with an issue so that I can evolve with a solution as opposed to directing a solution.”

2. Human services funding

I want to hear from you too!

NO VOTE. NO VOICE.

Get to know Arne Pop-Up Meetup

St. John’s is OUR Community Hospital.

And a healthy community needs a healthy hospital.

For the BEST Hospital, Vote for the BEST Trustees.

at Snake River Brewing Friday, November 2 8pm

DON’T LEAVE IT BLANK! VOTE FOR: Linda Aurelio

Michael Tennican

Elizabeth Masek

Joe Albright

Vote early or on November 6

VOTE NOW THROUGH NOV. 6TH Early Voting is Open. M-F 8AM-5PM Basement of the County Building

Valuing Our People.Valuing Our Place.

Healthy Hospital, Healthy Community.

Paid for by Healthy Hospital, Healthy Community

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Paid for by Arne for Jackson.

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Paid for by Arne for Jackson 351492

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 15

4-year term

County Commission: 8 candidates, vote for 3 Sandy Ress

Top 3 most pressing issues

Party: Independent Job: Owner of Pets Place Plus Years in Teton County: 20 Lives in: North of town

1. Human services funding

Sandy Ress has a background in economics and law and has owned several businesses, including Pets Place Plus in Jackson.

He feels that background qualifies him to serve on the board, along with “a passion for this community, common sense, relishing new challenges, problem solving and a desire to keep learning.”

Ress sees many issues, such as traffic and the affordable housing shortage, as symptoms of a larger problem: “There are simply too many people here.” He hopes to curtail growth and improve protection of the environment and wildlife habitat.

“I would like to work toward a goal of becoming sustainable at our current level,” Ress said. “I will vote against all impactful growth that is intended to deliver huge profits to the project’s developers and adversely affect the rest of us.”

However, he would support certain, necessary expansions, such as the hospital expanding its services or adding employee housing. He said he’d support efforts to increase the supply of affordable rental housing if they didn’t lead to further growth.

In a campaign to encourage patients to use the MRI services of St. John’s Medical Center, not a competing private company, Ress parked a “clunker” car with a sign in the parking lot of Teton Orthopaedics. His passion for the hospital stems from his experience with St. John’s doctors who helped cure him after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2017.

Lodging tax Support or oppose?

Oppose: “Would support if no funds were used to increase tourism.”

?

2. Commercial growth 3. Wildlife (protecting habitat, preventing collisions, etc)

Tribal Trail Connector Support or oppose?

Support: “My answer isn’t simply yes/no, but I lean to yes.”

?

What will you do as commissioner to make headway on our affordable housing shortage?

With the right restrictions (e.g., rental instead of ownership, an income that qualifies initially, and, thereafter, occupants whose work is beneficial to our community, getting our affordable housing units to the least fortunate among us), I support affordable housing that does not lead to unrestrained growth.

65% local workforce housing goal Agree or disagree?

Disagree: “An absurd number pulled out of someone’s ***.”

?

Priority in upcoming rezones of the county’s complete neighborhoods, like Wilson, The Aspens or Hog Island?

Maintaining rural character and room for wildlife.

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

What is the most important conservation issue facing Teton County?

We cannot solve our traffic issues by creating and widening roads, putting in more roundabouts, etc. We are overpopulated and over-touristed and that’s where we need to focus. Let’s start by not encouraging summer tourism.

Protecting wildlife habitat, open space and the Bridger-Teton National Forest from development, Grand Teton National Park and our rivers from over-commercialization, etc. There is no “most important.”

THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND ENDORSED

BY CURRENT TETON COUNTY SHERIFF, JIM WHALEN.

L INDA AURELIO

for St. John’s Medical Center Board of Trustees

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“... party affiliation does not matter when it comes to who the next sheriff should be. What matters is who is going to be the best sheriff of Teton County, and without equivocation, I believe that person is Matt Carr.”

- Jim Whalen

Fair. Friendly. Honest.

Vote Matt Carr on November 6th

www.carrforsheriff.com Paid for by the Committe to Elect Matt Carr

I’m prepared. My practical experience and professional credentials, my current involvement with the Medical Center and Foundation —and especially my vision for St. John’s successful future—are uniquely relevant.

I listen. I learn. I lead.

LEADERSHIP • VISION • COMMITMENT Vote Aurelio to ensure the health of our community and our most valuable community asset: SJMC • Masters Hospital Admin degree • 30 years hospital experience

• 17 years healthcare business entrepreneur • Mentor to women in healthcare and business

PAID for by AURELIO for BOT

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16 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

4-year term

Sheriff: 3 candidates, vote for 1 Matt Carr

Party: Democrat Job: Undersheriff Years in Teton County: 25 Lives in: Midtown Jackson Matt Carr is the Teton County undersheriff. His career at the sheriff’s office began in 1999, and he has worked in or supervised all divisions of the office, from detention to patrol to investigations to search and rescue.

“I am running for sheriff as I have the ambition and experience to create a sheriff’s office that responds to citizens’ needs in a solution-focused way,” Carr said. “I want the people and organizations we work with to feel cared about and that the sheriff’s office has their best interests in mind.”

Carr is also on ski patrol and Teton County Search and Rescue. He is president of CrimeStoppers and serves on St. John’s Medical Center’s Behavioral Services Committee and the Community Safety Network’s board of directors.

He said working as a school resource officer was a defining moment in his career.

“It showed me how law enforcement could have a positive role in the lives of the members of our community,” he said.

Slade Ross

Party: Independent Job: General manager for Wyoming Landscape Years in Teton County: 46 Lives in: Hoback/Hog Island area Slade Ross has 19 years of full-time law enforcement experience with the Teton County Sheriff’s Office, working in nearly every position. He graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy in 2010 and has over 3,000 hours of law enforcement training experience.

“I have built relationships, trust and respect with many federal, state and local partners,” he said.

Ross is running as an Independent to free the sheriff’s office of partisanship.

“I am extremely concerned about the current trajectory of the sheriff’s office and want to make it an agency the community can be proud of,” he said. “As a sixth-generation Teton County resident, I have a network of family and friends in the valley and strive to protect this community so that others too may raise a family, work and recreate.”

What is the biggest issue facing the sheriff’s office?

What style of law enforcement do you support?

The biggest issue facing the Teton County Sheriff’s Office is that the wonderful people who work and serve in our community are unable to afford to live here.

It is important to understand that the sheriff sets the tone for how law enforcement interacts with our community. We have a job to do, but it is how we do the job that matters. I believe in a fair, friendly and honest approach. I can and do build trusting relationships with the public and the organizations that interface with our community.

The Teton County Sheriff’s Office is understaffed. How do you plan to attract and retain experienced employees?

Working with Jackson Hole High School to promote the career of law enforcement is critical. We have a successful internship program that offers high school students or recent graduates the ability to see how rewarding a career in law enforcement can be. I also plan on pursuing efforts to establish a housing allowance for emergency service workers who live in Teton County. The state of Wyoming has this in place, and it is difficult to compete with them. I feel that the community wants emergency service workers to live here, and I know a housing stipend would help attract and retain those folks.

An off duty Colorado officer pulled her gun on a teen she thought was committing a crime. How do you feel about her response? Do you think she should have been prosecuted?

All people need to be accountable for their actions. If you do not have the authority to act, which I don’t believe in this particular situation she did, it is important to realize that being a good witness in this situation would have been the best course of action.

What is the biggest issue facing the sheriff’s office?

What style of law enforcement do you support?

Recruitment, retention and training. It takes years for a deputy to become truly effective and to serve the community in the way it deserves. Our goal should be to keep deputies and not just provide a training ground for other agencies. We should be a leader in law enforcement effectiveness.

The sheriff’s office should primarily be a protect-and-serve agency with an emphasis on horizontal leadership.

I strongly believe members of law enforcement should support and enhance their community not rule it. Information and decision-making in a horizontal organization means involving networked teams to ensure the organization’s vision is achieved. As a team we can more effectively work together to make this the safest and most eminent community around.

The Teton County Sheriff’s Office is understaffed.

How do you plan to attract and retain experienced employees?

Under my leadership and my administration I will make sure employees understand that I am working to make their jobs enjoyable, I will be there to support them personally and professionally, and they will know I am working to solve housing issues. I understand that people are our greatest resource and recruiting takes a lot of work to be done properly.

An off duty Colorado officer pulled her gun on a teen she thought was committing a crime. How do you feel about her response? Do you think she should have been prosecuted?

An officer should pull their gun if they perceive a serious threat to life or limb. As the sheriff, it would be my duty to investigate and provide evidence.

Prosecution is in the hands of the prosecuting attorney’s office who would follow the judicial standards.

Which community organizations do you plan on collaborating with and why?

I am involved in many collaborations within our community. I’m a member of the board of directors of the Community Safety Network. I work hand in hand with Teton Youth and Family Services as a child forensic interviewer and on the Child Protection Team. I have a strong working relationship with the Department of Family Services and work hand in hand with it to deal with issues of child abuse and neglect. I’m on the Behavioral Service Committee at St. John’s Medical Center as we continue to explore and support better ways of addressing mental health issues in Teton County along with the Community Counseling Center.

I spent six years as the school resource officer at Jackson Hole High School and have an excellent working relationship with the Teton County School District. Through Teton County Search and Rescue we have developed a stronger working relationship with the National Park Service than is evidenced anywhere else in the nation. That relationship saves lives and provides for better responses to emergency situations. I have an excellent working relationship with the Teton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and look forward to building upon those strong ties. I have a strong working relationship with our local press and feel that it is critical to communicate issues and concerns through them.

Which community organizations do you plan on collaborating with and why?

My goal is to collaborate with the community as a whole, and any organization that is interested. The sheriff’s office should have an open-door policy with regard to communication. Our area has a multitude of issues to solve, and as a cooperative team I believe we can identify, prioritize, prevent and solve community problems through a variety of law enforcement services.

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 17

4-year term

Sheriff: 3 candidates, vote for 1 Michelle Weber

Party: Republican Job: Sergeant at Jackson Police Department Years in Teton County: 26 Lives in: Cottonwood Park

Michelle Weber, a Wyoming native, is a sergeant at the Jackson Police Department, where she is responsible for working with the budgeting process, training, public relations, special events and civilian personnel. She has served in nearly every position within the agency throughout her 13 years, including the Mounted Horse Patrol and Bike Patrol, she said, and is a trained hostage negotiator and child forensic interviewer.

“I love my community, the people who live in it, and I want to keep it a place that we can all be proud of, is safe for us all to live and recreate, and a community in which our kids are not exposed to things in life that may alter their futures,” Weber said.

Weber served 22 years in the U.S. Army Reserves. She recently completed a professional development course at the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy.

“I believe we have good law enforcement officers and deputies, but we have lacked creativity in our policing that, if used, could keep Jackson and Teton County the place we have always loved and admired over other places in the nation,” Weber said.

As sheriff Weber will aim to partner with the community in being “firm, fair and transparent.”

What is the biggest issue facing the sheriff’s office?

What style of law enforcement do you support?

The vision of where we want the agency to go in the future. The Teton County Sheriff’s Office has spent several years with low morale and lack of clear direction. The future sheriff has to look at everything that is working well and leave those parts alone, yet look at the areas that could be more efficient and visionary and make the needed changes to let each and every employee and the public know what we are trying to achieve for them. Effective communication and open-mindedness is what we are lacking and need to improve upon.

We need to create an organization where employees want to stay and an environment in which employees enjoy their co-workers and respect the leadership.

Firm, fair and transparent. I believe you have to be creative in your policing solutions, which requires that you take the time to fully understand the problems you are trying to solve. I believe you must consider all of the tools and options available to you to fix the problem at hand.

Personalizing our policing services is what leads to exceptional customer service and solutions to problems we can all live with.

The Teton County Sheriff’s Office is understaffed. How do you plan to attract and retain experienced employees?

I am not sure I agree that the sheriff’s office is “understaffed” as it relates to the number of positions approved by the county commissioners. If each position were filled there would be adequate resources to serve the community. The problem is that a number of positions in patrol, detention and dispatch have been vacant for an extended period. I don’t think there is any one solution to solve that problem. We need to find a way to incentivize the best employees to stay. Basic affordable housing is where the conversation starts, plus fair pay and benefits but, most importantly, having an agency that lets its people know they are valued. Employees who feel appreciated will often work for lesstangible benefits over an employer who pays them well, but never knows their name, their spouse’s name or their children’s names. The sheriff we need is someone who balances these issues and sees the value in the people and expresses it daily.

COMMISSIONER

An off duty Colorado officer pulled her gun on a teen she thought was committing a crime. How do you feel about her response? Do you think she should have been prosecuted?

It is not the response that I would have had, and it is not the one I would hope any of my deputies would have had; I believe she over-reacted. This is less about a police officer and more about what anyone should do when they see a potential crime in progress, which is be a good witness and let the local law enforcement do its job of investigating. This individual was not a police officer in the state of Wyoming and had no authority to do what she did. Though she could, as could any citizen, make a citizen arrest, the issue is about the need to point a gun at someone.

I do not think it was necessary in this instance, and my personal feeling is that what she did was reckless.

Which community organizations do you plan on collaborating with and why?

My vision is to collaborate specifically with the Jackson Police Department, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Fire/EMS and the many federal agencies housed in Teton County with regard to the service we provide. Specifically, I would like to partner with Wyoming Highway Patrol to address response to collisions on state highways where there is an extended response time for Wyoming Highway Patrol. In this circumstance, I would like to create a policy in which the Teton County Sheriff’s Office would take those collisions so that the drivers are not having to wait for extended periods and traffic is not being backed up on the highway. Other organizations I will partner closely with to address some of the issues I believe to be significant in Teton County (substance abuse, mental illness, school safety and domestic violence) will include the Community Safety Network, One22, the Teton County School District and the Community Counseling Center only to name a few. Conversations at a local level is the first step to address these very important issues.

w w w. m a r y m m a r t i n . c o m

I’m Listening to You - My Thoughts...

WORKFORCE HOUSING o Collaborate with private sector o Reduce regulations impeding development – encourage similar projects such as Hidden Hollow & Sagebrush Apartments construction o Revisit Complete Neighborhood Zoning in our county – encourage workforce housing to be built in Teton Village, Aspens, Wilson – reducing traffic on Hwy 390 o Work with neighboring communities to support additional workforce housing development TRAFFIC o Tribal Trails Connection - make it neighborhood friendly o Acquire Park N’ Ride sites so START can function better to get people to work on time and conveniently o Work with WYDOT to make improvements to existing highways for better traffic flow and wildlife safety TETON COUNTY GOVERNANCE o Collaborate locally and regionally - be a good neighbor o Concentrate on efficiencies within the county o Process for County Commissioners – make decisions in a timely manner, no analysis paralysis PROPERTY TAXES o Work with the County Assessor and our state legislators to revise statutes and create new tax districts creating fair and proper valuations and assessments o Review budgets for special districts to consider reduction of mill levies o No new mill levies

When elected - I’m counting on you to help find solutions. Together we can make a difference!

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18 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

County assessor: 2 candidates, vote for 1 4-year term

WHY ARE YOU

RUNNING?

By Allie Gross With rising Teton County property values comes rising interest in the race for Teton County Assessor, the elected official tasked with setting values for all commercial and residential properties in the county. The assessor’s forum was the best-attended forum at the Teton County Library this year with 115 attendees, the library said.

Guided by state statutes, the county assessor is responsible for appraising and setting values for public and private property: 15,200 parcels each year. The assessor is required to evaluate these properties uniformly, at their fair Karabatsos market value. Those values influence how much property tax is collected from landowners.

The incumbent, Democrat Melissa Shinkle, was appointed to the position by the county commissioners in August 2017 after the previous assessor resigned. Before her appointment, Shinkle worked in the Teton County Clerk’s Office since 1997. Shinkle feels her experience in assessment and local government sets her apart.

“I’m running for Teton County assessor because I know that there is a multitude of challenges that require experience, commitment and diligence,” Shinkle said. “For years the property tax assessment practice in Teton County has been inconsistent, and the office has lacked the leadership necessary to carry out the responsibilities it is charged with. I believe my experience in local government, my commitment to this community and my objective and conscientious approach to valuation is what taxpayers deserve.”

Republican challenger Maurine Karabatsos said she decided to run after hearing from friends and neighbors who were concerned about their tax assessments. Karabatsos has worked in real estate, banking, and title and escrow. She said her diverse business background means she has “the experience and expertise to make the assessor’s office more customer-centric and transparent in providing sound and verifiable justification for deciding fair market valuations.”

HOW ARE YOU

DIFFERENT? There are two fundamental questions voters should ask

Here are my answers.

For over 20 years, I’ve studied Jackson Hole. I understand what makes us different. Special. Unique.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?

My work tells me the next four years will be among the most important in Jackson Hole’s history. During that time Jackson’s Town Council will be the region’s most important governmental body – the decisions it makes will shape our entire region for decades to come.

I would like to put my decades of experience to work for our community, helping Jackson make the best possible decisions.

It’s a way I can give back to this place that has given me so much, this community so many of us love so deeply.

HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT?

The biggest difference between the Town Council candidates is our backgrounds.

Mine gives me a unique combination of knowledge, vision, and experience.

KNOWLEDGE.

I’ve spent over 20 years identifying what makes Jackson Hole different. Special. Unique.

VISION.

My vision is that Jackson Hole can be a global model for how a community can have a thriving environment, vibrant human population, and dynamic economy.

EXPERIENCE.

I served eight years on the St. John’s Medical Center board. I know how to get things done in local government. I’ve spent over 20 years launching and organizing efforts in our community. I know how to get things done in Jackson Hole.

“With my proactive nature, along with my political background working with state and county legislatures, I will be able to serve the property owners in Teton County both on the ground here in Teton County and as their supporter in Cheyenne,” Karabatsos said.

Shinkle and Karabatsos agree that the assessor’s office should pursue holding more public open houses to better communicate with landowners.

They also agree that an important first step for the next assessor is “restratifying,” or regrouping which neighborhoods are compared together when mass-valuing properties.

“Our neighborShinkle hoods are changing rapidly, and it is important that we look at all factors, such as zoning and density allowances, to determine what may need to change,” Shinkle said. Karabatsos stressed a need for more transparency with the public in that proces.

During her first year in office Shinkle worked to comply with state-ordered changes to Teton County’s valuation methods in order to correct years of accumulated errors. The result, for many, was tax hikes.

Shinkle hopes to deliver consistent leadership to the assessor’s office, given the complexities of the office: “The office needs continuity. We need time to put a plan into place and to execute that plan.

I believe, given the opportunity, given the tools, given the new vision, I’ll be successful with that, and I will avoid any further state mandates.”

Karabatsos said she doesn’t know a lot about the state mandate, “but one of the things I have said I will do is I will be your boots on the ground and get my fanny to Cheyenne to work with the legislators to get some things changed.”

Karabatsos said she would advocate for working with the state to change rules that require homeowners to file appeals within 30 days of being issued an assessment. She wants to work with appraisal software developers to “flag” assessments that see big year-over-year jumps to take a closer look. She also hopes to form an assessor’s advisory board with representatives from various industries.

GET ELECTION RESULTS AS THEY ROLL IN

Knowledge. Vision. Experience.

If you value these qualities, I ask for your vote for Jackson’s Town Council. Thank you.

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SUSTAIN WHAT MATTERS Environment | Community | Economy

JONATHAN SCHECHTER for JACKSON

TOWN COUNCIL

JS4JH.com Paid for by JS4JH.com

Follow the fastest typers in the West and receive up-tothe-minute results rolling in from the polls on Election Day. Tune into JHNewsAndGuide.com starting at 5 p.m. on Nov. 6 for scenes from candidate parties, the clerk’s office and, of course, the results.

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 19

Some people say Democrats don’t have a seat at the table in Cheyenne.

Not only do I have a seat, but you are always welcome.

Elect For State Senate District 17 ElectMikeGierau.com Paid for The Committee to elect Mike Gierau 351283

20 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

VOTE WITH

YOUR HEART. Beloved, local conservationist Mardy Murie left a legacy of speaking from her heart.

In the early 1970’s she said:

“If we’re not careful we’ll kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

Someday the cash registers will stop ringing and people will say, ‘Don’t go there, they’ve ruined it.’”

THINK ABOUT THAT. THEN CONSIDER THIS. LAST YEAR 4.1 MILLION PEOPLE VISITED THE JACKSON HOLE AREA. CURRENT GROWTH RATES ARE 9% PER YEAR. AT THAT RATE WE’LL HIT 6 MILLION VISITORS IN 5 YEARS, AND THE DIE WILL BE CAST. AND IN 2024, 8 MILLION VISITORS WILL BE COMING TO JACKSON HOLE. THESE AREN’T SCARE TACTICS, THESE ARE THE BEST AVAILABLE FACTS.

NOW IMAGINE THAT JACKSON HOLE, AND IMAGINE MARDY MURIE BEING RIGHT.

Voting for the Lodging Tax will require another $15-20 million to be spent on more tourism promotion over the next four years.

We are neighbors who strongly believe this will kill the goose.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH NO LESS THAN THE FUTURE OF JACKSON HOLE IS AT STAKE.

Vote NO

on the promotional Lodging Tax on November 6th.

Preserving the place we love depends on stopping this madness.

Let’s rewrite the law so that 100% can be spent on tourism impacts, NOT on promotion.

This ad paid for by Enough Is Enough, a group of interested local citizens committed to saving Jackson Hole from the effects of out-of-control growth in tourism.

www.EnoughIsEnoughJH.com

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GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 21

Yes or no on lodging tax? Voters to decide Supporters say it funds vital government services; opponents say promotes ‘over-tourism.’

By Allie Gross Teton County voters will decide Nov. 6 whether to renew the lodging tax for another four years. The tax is a 2 percent charge on visitors’ hotel stays in Teton County.

After the tax is collected 60 percent of the revenue goes to local travel and tourism promotion. Thirty percent is reserved for visitor impact services like public transportation, pathways and public safety, and 10 percent is funneled into the general funds for the Town of Jackson and Teton County.

The 60 percent earmarked for promotion is distributed by the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, whose members are appointed by elected officials.

In fiscal year 2018 the board allocated $4.4 million in lodging tax revenues to promote fall, winter and spring tourism to Jackson Hole.

The largest chunk, $1.8 million, went toward destination marketing, like the “Stay Wild” ad campaign aiming to attract adventure seekers.

Another $764,00 funded community events, like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Rendezvous Festival, the SHIFT Festival and the AMSOIL

SnoCross, and $721,600 funded visitor services through the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.

Of the almost $2.2 million in lodging tax revenue funneled into town and county budgets in fiscal year 2018, about 39 percent went to START and public transportation, about 26 percent to parks and 19 percent to Fire/EMS and public safety.

After first approving the lodging tax in 1986 and again in 1990, Teton County voters ended the levy in 1994, rejecting it three more times before it was revived in 2010 and again in 2014.

Proponents of the tax say it provides a critical revenue source for government and mitigating tourism’s impacts, while critics say it promotes excessive tourism.

VOTE NO

VOTE YES

by Bill Phelps, Enough is Enough Committee

by Tim Harland, Residents for a Sustainable Community

1. Town and county governments get 40 percent of the tax revenues. We need 100 percent. Those of us opposing the lodging tax are not opposed to collecting a tax from tourists. We are opposed to wasting it on promotion we don’t need. Jackson Hole is in the crosshairs of an exploding tourism market. Tourist destinations around the world are being ruined by over-tourism. Tourist visitation growth here is running at 8 percent per year. Hotels are lining up to build here, despite six pages of help wanted ads and no worker housing. It’s time to take the local resort industry off public assistance. We need 100 percent of the lodging tax for impacts.

2. Sixty percent of the lodging tax is spent on advertising for more tourists. [Part of] the 60 percent buys an advertising campaign. It’s called “Stay Wild.” It claims we can promote for millions more tourists and “Stay Wild” through the miracle of advertising.

Promoters claim tourist behavior will be made ‘responsible’ with advertising. Yeah, right.

Jackson Hole needs no advertising. So the few who benefit from this promotion subsidy distract you with threats of lost services, like EMS, or lost community events. Vital services will be funded. Events will continue with less advertising. But Jackson Hole will be ruined as a branded product.

3. We can fix it. Imagine a Jackson Hole that collects a tax from tourists and uses 100 percent of it for community needs and impact costs. We can have that if we reject the 60 percent promotion lodging tax and force a real change in the law. Renewing the tax tells Wyoming legislators that we like the tax the way it is — no real change guaranteed.

Rejecting the lodging tax tells politicians at home and in Cheyenne that we will sacrifice for a real change. You decide. Sell it or save it.

1. The lodging tax is the only tool our community has to mitigate the impacts of visitors. As the gateway to Yellowstone, the crown jewel of the national park system, Jackson will inevitably see visitors. How we manage their impact is up to us. Lodging tax funds pay for emergency services, including purchasing the ambulance on the West Bank; parks and recreation; youth sports; community events; and other local priorities. Renewing the tax means our community will continue to have funds to offset visitor impacts.

2. Teton County cannot afford to lose the lodging tax. Nobody likes taxes, but worse is having no solution to mitigate visitor impacts, from keeping trash emptied at our local parks to visitor services. In 2017 alone the lodging tax provided the town and county with $2.9 million for their general funds. Will the town and county survive without these funds? Sure, but why would we choose to? Police Chief Todd Smith was quoted as saying his budget cannot afford any cuts, and the loss of lodging tax dollars would mean cuts to equipment. Can our community afford cuts to critical health and safety services? What else would be cut? Finding nearly $3 million dollars in the couch cushions every year for town and county funding seems unlikely.

3. A stable, year-round economy is crucial to a healthy community. The lodging tax supports a thriving fall, winter and spring economy that preserves our natural capital and enhances the well-being of our community. Zero lodging tax dollars are used to promote summer visitation, and less than 25 percent goes toward traditional marketing. Our local workforce — our friends, family and neighbors — relies on a year-round economy to have year-round employment. Town and county benefits from a year-round economy through collection of sales tax, which directly funds general budgets for both. This election, vote ‘yes’ for the lodging tax.

Visitors pay, community benefits.

Attorney.

Rancher.

Educator.

Send a Leader to Cheyenne

Two political action committees have formed aiming to sway voters.

We asked representatives of each PAC to provide the top three reasons voters should approve or reject renewing the lodging tax, see the boxes below.

WHY RE-ELECT ME? Reason #3.

I CARE.

In Cheyenne, Kate will make your priorities, her priorities.

- Education funding; - Conservation of our natural resources; - Diversification of Wyoming’s economy; - Increased mental health services.

I haven’t missed a monthly meeting of the hospital board in my 9 years as a trustee.

www.kateforstate.com • Kate@meadforstatesenate.com • 307-413-6814 Paid for by Kate Mead for State

paid for by Joe Albright 351621

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-JOE ALBRIGHT Candidate for St. John's Hospital Board

22 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

House District 16: 2 candidates, vote for 1 Barbara Allen Party: Republican Years in Wyoming: 23 Barbara Allen, former chairwoman of the Teton County Board of County Commissioners, said she understands the mechanisms that make local government work, particularly in the district she is now running to represent.

Allen said she could immediately become an effective voice for Teton County in the Legislature, particularly on complex budgeting issues. She has served on the Wyoming County Commissioners Association Legislative Bill Review Committee and state Land Use and Elections Committee.

“I have a long and public voting record of which I am proud,” she said, “and that I believe reflects that I vote for what I believe is in the best interest of my community, not along the lines of rhetoric or dogma. I would take that with me to the Legislature.”

As a former county commissioner and planning commissioner Allen said she has a deep knowledge of the region’s unique issues. She said the relationships she built during that time lend her credibility.

“My focus,” she said, “is on making sound investments that protect our community.”

Mike Yin Party: Democrat Years in Wyoming: 3 A software developer elected to serve as vice chairman of the Teton County Democratic Party, Michael Yin hopes to win his first election riding the blue wave many expect to swell following the 2016 election of President Donald Trump.

“Wyoming is currently a state that is losing its young people and pushing them out of the state,” he said. “I want to work toward a Wyoming that keeps its young people in the state, gives them a great education and provides them the opportunity to lay their own roots in Wyoming.”

After a decade in the technology industry, Yin said his understanding of policies that attract tech companies and entrepreneurial startups would help to diversify the state’s economy.

During the 2016 election season, Yin canvassed Teton County in support of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and, after the primary, for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He also helped locally, encouraging people to vote in favor of the general 1-percent sales tax and Jessica Sell Chambers’ Town Council campaign.

Yin said he wants to make Wyoming “a more welcoming community for all types of people, immigrants, everyone.”

2-year term

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Housing

2. Traffic

3. Education

Existing state tax structure Support or oppose?

Lodging tax 60-40 split Support or oppose?

?

Oppose: At some point the state is going to have to look to other sources of revenue rather than rely so heavily on the tax subsidy of natural resources.

What and how that looks, I’m not sure we’re there yet.

?

Neither: It’s not quite as simple as a yes or no question. Asking visitors to offset the cost of services makes sense. If the community wants to spend the 60 percent differently, that is a legislative discussion.

What would be your approach to funding education in Wyoming?

How do you plan to make health care more affordable for Wyoming citizens?

I think the more appropriate question would be, “Is it a priority for you?”

There are different options for funding as evidenced by the House and Senate’s compromise in the last session. My answer would be yes. It would be a priority.

Our health care system, in many ways, is broken. In Wyoming we have some of the highest premiums in the U.S. Just in our education budget, costs went up 10 percent last year. We know that rural hospitals are struggling. Drug costs are outrageous. We can’t talk about diversifying the economy without talking about the very real impacts that these high costs have on a business level and, more importantly, on a human level. We need to be looking for ways to make the voice of Wyoming citizens heard both from a negotiating standpoint and looking for better ways to service rural communities.

Unfortunately, many of the solutions lie on a national level, but Wyoming should expand Medicaid and work to put pressure on our delegation for bipartisan solutions.

What is your philosophy on selling, transferring or exchanging state land? What is your stance on transferring federal lands to the state?

I do not believe in transferring federal lands to state management and the vagaries of a legislature. The purpose of state lands is different than federal lands in Wyoming. According to the Office of State Lands and Investment, “When Wyoming became a state on July 10, 1890, the federal government granted approximately 4.2 million acres of land to the State of Wyoming. The law requires state land be held in trust to produce income to support public schools and other state institutions named in the original grants.” Any proposed trade or change in ownership of state land should carefully consider its impacts on the people of Wyoming.

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Education

2. Healthcare costs and access 3. Protecting public lands

Existing state tax structure Support or oppose?

Oppose.

?

Lodging tax 60-40 split Support or Oppose?

Support.

What would be your approach to funding education in Wyoming?

How do you plan to make health care more affordable for Wyoming citizens?

Working with other legislators to broaden the tax base to one that is diversified to stabilize our state’s economy to avoid the boom/bust cycle that we are currently mired in because of our tax base’s primary dependence on mineral resources.

Those can include things like a corporate tax for large big box corporations, which almost every state has. In the short term I will ensure education stays a top priority in our state’s budget and fight against future attempts to cut education.

Enacting Medicaid expansion will help reduce costs by significantly reducing the amount of unpaid bills that medical providers end up passing on to patients who can pay. That means it will not only help lower-income brackets but also help costs across all patients. Additionally, we can reduce health care costs by implementing more preventive access by encouraging things like telemedicine so patients can access health care earlier and get positive outcomes, instead of no or limited access, where they may progress to a costly emergency condition.

?

What is your philosophy on selling, transferring or exchanging state land? What is your stance on transferring federal lands to the state?

I will fight against all efforts to transfer federal land to the state. Our state does not have the budget to manage those lands, and we should not be essentially mortgaging our future legacy of public lands for the short-term profit of any leases we may believe we could get with such a transfer, especially when the current outlook for fossil fuels does not look like it will be expanding.

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 23

TIME’S UP.

IF WE VOTE TO RENEW THE 60% PROMOTIONAL LODGING TAX, IT WILL PUMP $15-20 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS INTO ADDITIONAL ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION TO ATTRACT EVEN MORE TOURISTS. DO WE NEED IT? CAN JACKSON HOLE SURVIVE IT? THIS VOTE WILL DETERMINE JACKSON HOLE’S FUTURE. IT’S TIME TO DECIDE.

IF YOU VOTE NO You join a grassroots coalition.

IF YOU VOTE YES You join the Promotion Coalition.

You join people who see out-of-control tourism transforming Jackson Hole into a branded theme park. You join people who want to use this tax only to mitigate the impacts of an exploding tourism market. You want to protect our valley, our longrange economy and our community character.

You join hotel developers, the Chamber of Commerce inner circle, corporate resort operators and others who either like or are willing to accept 60% promotion in order to get the 40% for local government. You think keeping the 40% is worth the potentail impacts of more and more promotion.

A NO vote tells Wyoming Legislators that you want real change. We voted the tax down once before, and then in 1998 Wyoming Legislators changed the lodging tax requirements specifically for Teton County. They said it couldn’t be done back then too. But it happened. We can do it again.

A YES vote sends a message to the Wyoming Legislature that the people of Jackson Hole like the law just the way it is. The 60% promotion requirement stays in place. There is no incentive for change. Even the “promised” tweak is still only a “tweak,” not the change we need.

You vote for a “Real Wild” Jackson Hole that depends on open space and habitat–a wild that will suffer from over tourism. You vote for Jackson Hole as a real place, not as a “brand.”

Your vote supports today’s “Stay Wild” branding campaign. Promoters claim this advertising campaign will keep Jackson Hole wild simply by teaching our tourists to become “responsible.” Really?

You accept that real change requires a little risk.

Yes, we may lose the 40% tax dollars for a couple years. But imagine the needs we can address when we turn the 40% for tourism impacts into 100% for community needs.

You accept the “targeted marketing” story that branding can somehow be turned on or off by season. Tourists come when they want. Skiers come if it snows. And spring and fall are already filling with spillover from summer.

You fear what 8 million visitors a year to Jackson Hole will mean for this special place. You fear twice the traffic, twice the crowds, twice the impacts on our valley, our community and on our quality of life.

You think that 8 million visitors is twice as good as today’s 4 million. You think we can manage the impacts from traffic and overcrowding, and you trust that our lifestyle won’t suffer.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH NO LESS THAN THE FUTURE OF JACKSON HOLE IS AT STAKE.

Vote NO

on renewing the promotional Lodging Tax on November 6th.

Preserving the place we love depends on stopping this madness.

Let’s rewrite the law so that 100% can be spent on tourism impacts, NOT on promotion.

This ad paid for by Enough Is Enough, a group of interested local citizens committed to saving Jackson Hole from the effects of out-of-control growth in tourism.

www.EnoughIsEnoughJH.com

354015

24 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

House District 23: 2 candidates, vote for 1 Alexander Muromcew Party: Republican Years in Wyoming: 9

With a background in international finance, Alexander Muromcew said he comes from a “results-driven culture” that he believes will make him an effective legislator.

Most recently he served as managing director of the financial services firm TIAA, where he managed $2 billion in retirement assets. He said that experience taught him what it means to be relevant in the modern global economy.

He said he feels his party status will carry more weight in the Republicanmajority House, which he said is important as the Legislature prepares to redraw the borders for congressional and state districts.

Noting Wyoming’s net population outflow, he hopes to help the state become a place that his children will someday want to return to.

“We need fresh perspectives and private-sector solutions that will diversify and broaden our county and state economies,” he said. “I care deeply about this community and can make a difference in Cheyenne.”

Andy Schwartz Party: Democrat Years in Wyoming: 42 As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, incumbent Rep. Andy Schwartz is fixated on solving the state’s $900 million structural deficit and stabilizing funding for critical services.

“We have to look at spending and revenues as one picture, and we tend to look at [them] as two,” Schwartz said. “It was clear during the last session that raising taxes or creating new taxes were not being considered.”

He said the Legislature needs to reconsider that approach to ensure funding for education, local governments and human services.

“These are things we have to be doing,” he said. “This is what the state government is there for, and we have to fight to make sure we keep doing that.”

As part of that push Schwartz wants to simplify the remarkably complex state budget to increase transparency and boost the public’s understanding of how tax dollars are spent.

Schwartz and his wife owned retail businesses on Town Square for decades, and he sat on the Teton County Board of County Commissioners for 12 years. He said his combination of experiences prepared him for the state Legislature, where he has served for four years.

2-year term

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Affordable housing

2. Traffic and infrastructure

3. Property tax assessments

Existing state tax structure Support or Oppose?

Lodging tax 60-40 split Support or Oppose?

Oppose: Our tax structure is dated. We are overly reliant on mineral royalties. We must re-examine our current structure and look at how other mineral states raise revenue. I am against a state income tax.

Support: I believe that legislatively it would be very difficult in Cheyenne to change the 60-40 split. Instead, I would like to modify the language to give us more flexibility in how we spend the 60 percent.

?

What would be your approach to funding education in Wyoming?

First, I would make sure the Office of State Lands and Investment Board is maximizing revenue from its more than $2 billion of assets. These assets are dedicated to funding our schools.

?

How do you plan to make health care more affordable for Wyoming citizens?

We need to revisit Medicaid expansion.

We all bear the cost of the uninsured, and the burden of treating the uninsured threatens our rural hospitals. Let’s have the federal government share the cost.

What is your philosophy on selling, transferring or exchanging state land?

What is your stance on transferring federal lands to the state?

For state lands, I would work closely with the Office of State Lands and Investment Board to ensure that it is maximizing revenue for our schools. In the case of federal lands: “Public Lands in Public Hands.”

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Funding education

2. Protection of public spaces 3. Local property taxes

Existing state tax structure Support or Oppose?

Lodging tax 60-40 split Support or Oppose?

If Wyoming is to escape the boom-bust cycle the tax base must be broadened. I am in favor of imposing some form of corporate profit tax.

Realistically I believe the best opportunity to change the current statute should be focused on the definition of promotion.

?

What would be your approach to funding education in Wyoming?

Maintain current levels as much as possible while seeking efficiencies in operations. It is imperative to find new revenue streams to support it.

How do you plan to make health care more affordable for Wyoming citizens?

Medicaid expansion.

Improving access to primary care in a large but lowpopulation state is critical in lowering costs.

?

What is your philosophy on selling, transferring or exchanging state land?

What is your stance on transferring federal lands to the state?

In general I support preserving open spaces and not having federal lands transferred to the state. There are specific cases, such as the transfer of the state parcel in Antelope Flats to Grand Teton National Park, where there is clear benefit.

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 25

House District 22: 2 candidates, vote for 1 Marti Halverson Party: Republican Years in Wyoming: 22

Incumbent Rep. Marti Halverson was voted into office in 2012 and, having served six years, she decided to run again because she felt she could not waste her years of experience by walking away during a key transitional period for Wyoming.

Her overarching goal is to “represent the fiscal common sense constituents” of her district. She is concerned that Wyoming has the largest government per capita of any state, and she believes it could shrink while still providing residents the level of services they need.

“We are making headway,” she said, “[but] there is still a lot of work to do in this area.”

Halverson has vowed not to support any new or increased taxes. She said the state needs to “open the books” and find out where money is going now before raising more.

She retired from the durable medical device industry. After moving to Star Valley, Halverson served two terms on the Star Valley Medical Center Board of Trustees. In the state House she is vice-chairwoman of the Labor, Health and Social Services Committee.

Jim Roscoe Party: Independent Years in Wyoming: 48

A House District 22 representative from 2009 to 2013, Jim Roscoe worries about the increasing divisiveness of politics and so is running as an independent.

He said his bipartisan approach can forward the debate on controversial topics, in particular, tax reform. “ S o m e b o d y ’s got to talk about it unless we want to go the way of Kansas,” he said, referring to that state’s $1 billion deficit. “Politics have become so divisive everyone is arguing ideology and not getting anything done.”

While Wyoming has often kept taxes low for new industries like trona and lithium mining, Roscoe said it’s time to start taxing those industries just like any other mineral being extracted from the state. The additional tax revenue could then be used to fully fund education, health and family services.

Roscoe owns a construction company with offices in Teton and Sublette counties. During his two terms in the House he served on several committees, including the Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee. He is currently on the advisory board for the Jackson Hole Land Trust and the board of 21st Century Heroes, a veteran’s help group.

2-year term

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Taxes

2. Education

3. Public land management

Existing state tax structure Support or Oppose?

Lodging tax 60-40 split Support or Oppose?

?

?

Neither: Ad valorem taxes due to the counties by the mineral industry should be paid more often than annually. I support moving the counties to the head of the line for taxes due during bankruptcy.

Neither: Don’t support or oppose — If the renewal vote in Teton County (and Natrona County) passes, this may well come before the Legislature in 2019. Off-hand, I would think some countyspecific flexibility would be in order.

What would be your approach to funding education in Wyoming?

How do you plan to make health care more affordable for Wyoming citizens?

I support the current K-12 funding model, which includes a lot of flexibility.

The challenge faced by all 48 school districts is getting precious funds into the classroom. The administrators need some relief from the mandated state and federal reporting requirements that come with state and federal money. Wyoming can do much to scale back these demands.

The “basket of goods” (state/federal curriculum requirements) needs to be reexamined. In 2018 we added computer science to the basket of goods but failed to take anything out. By failing to adjust the curriculum we have added to the teacher’s burden. This needs another look.

I would like to follow through on the discussions of the last few years on the subject of personal health savings accounts.

The model is good, but we get pushback from insurers. Wyoming has made some headway in exempting certain plans from the Affordable Care Act mandates, which account for a large part of our high premium and out-of-pocket expenses. We have reauthorized the Wyoming plan for people with pre-existing conditions.

We are considering applying for a 1332 waiver from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in order to develop some Wyomingspecific variations on the ACA mandates. I do not support Medicaid expansion in Wyoming — it undercuts the safety net for our truly vulnerable. Expansion still requires state money. Some expansion states are regretting and rethinking their decision to expand.

What is your philosophy on selling, transferring or exchanging state land? What is your stance on transferring federal lands to the state?

I support State Lands Director Bridget Hill when it comes to selling, transferring or exchanging state lands. It is important to remember that she must never fall below, or increase, the 3.6 million acres of state lands on the rolls. Her mandate is to obtain the highest and best use of our state lands for our schools and to keep our inventory at 3.6 million acres. I support U.S. Sen. Mike Lee’s bill to permit states to identify certain federal parcels within their borders for transfer. There is so much fear on this subject, driven by so much misinformation, that a discussion in this space is impossible. I encourage folks to call or email me.

Top 3 most pressing issues 1. Education funding

2. Overcrowding

3. Chronic wasting disease in our wildlife

Existing state tax structure Support or Oppose?

Lodging tax 60-40 split Support or Oppose?

Oppose: The mineral tax structure, for one, needs to be looked at because the business world and markets are changing. Wyoming needs to change how its severance, royalties and ad valorem taxes are paid.

Oppose: The state should allow counties to decide how to administer their own lodging tax.

?

What would be your approach to funding education in Wyoming?

How do you plan to make health care more affordable for Wyoming citizens?

Keep it at our current funding level by modernizing our funding stream. There is a proposal already in the House for this.

Look into opening up the Wyoming state employment pool to small business.

Look for a larger pool by expanding the reach of our insurance carriers.

I would push for Medicaid expansion in Wyoming.

?

What is your philosophy on selling, transferring or exchanging state land? What is your stance on transferring federal lands to the state?

I generally am opposed to selling state land, but feel it has to be dealt with on a piece-by-piece basis. Sometimes exchanges can be beneficial. I’m dead set against transferring federal land to the state. We can’t afford it and the people of Wyoming are overwhelmingly opposed to the idea.

26 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Senate District 17: 2 candidates, vote for 1

4-year term

Top 3 most pressing issues facing your district:

Mike Gierau

Party: Democrat Years in Wyoming: 40-plus

1. Education funding

Vacating his seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives for a chance to serve in the state Senate is a big risk for Mike Gierau, who just finished his first term in the House.

But he said he couldn’t pass up an opportunity to possibly flip a seat in the upper chamber.

“There aren’t enough Dems in the Senate to fill their allotted committee seats, so not all of the Senate committees have a Dem on them,” Gierau said. “Government works better when both teams are playing — and playing on an even field. I think they need to hear another voice and other alternatives.”

With two years of experience under his belt Gierau believes his relationships on both sides of the aisle in Cheyenne will allow him to effectively push Teton County’s agenda on issues such as funding for education and social services, as well as local taxes and animal cruelty.

Before entering the state Legislature, Gierau spent years in public office as a town planning commissioner, town councilor and county commissioner.

“In all these positions,” he said, “I have done my best to serve you, always remembering it’s your home, where you work and where you raise your family.”

2. Affordable health care

3. Protecting public lands

Existing state tax structure Support or oppose?

Lodging tax 60-40 split Support or oppose?

?

Support: I feel that with a small adjustment in the law on how the 60 percent of the lodging tax can be spent we can effect those percentages in a more suitable way. We are currently working on that.

Oppose.

?

What would be your approach to funding education in Wyoming?

How do you plan to make health care more affordable for Wyoming citizens?

As your state representative I have been a champion for funding all education in Wyoming, K-12, community colleges and the University of Wyoming. This commitment has earned the endorsement of the Wyoming Education Association.

My approach is to fully fund education.

Keep looking for ways to save costs. To look carefully at all funding mechanisms, from taxes to disposition of school trust land to our investment portfolio, to ensure that funding. The same way you do at your house, watch spending, check ways to bring more money home and make sure the money you have is working as hard as you do.

The problem here, like most complex issues, has no single solution. Here are the ideas we have been talking about as I talk to you on the phone or at your door: 1. Expand Medicaid. That has been proposed by the governor and backed by some of us in the Legislature, but not enough.

2. A waiver from the federal government to lower costs for folks on the Affordable Care Act. It has been done in a few states and lowered costs and brought more insurance companies into the market. We are currently getting this done.

3. Cost transparency. That idea has been brought to me as a way to help people manage their costs. Knowing in advance drug prices and the costs of services is key. The bottom line is our health care system is broken, and we need to fix it now.

What is your philosophy on selling, transferring or exchanging state land? What is your stance on transferring federal lands to the state?

Our open spaces that we all cherish here in Wyoming must be preserved. We also must use this precious resource with care. The sale of school parcels for education is an important part of the school funding equation. An old friend here always told me with regard to land here in Wyoming, “Buy when you can, trade when you have to, sell only as the last resort.” Let’s start with an inventory of what we have, how much it’s worth and the value of protection. Then and only then talk possible sale. As for federal lands, we as a state need a voice in their management, but not our outright control. That should be mostly left to our federal partners. Here in Teton County there have been instances where Bureau of Land Management lands along the Snake River have been deeded to the county.

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GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 27

Senate District 17: 2 candidates, vote for 1 Kate Mead

Party: Republican Years in Wyoming: 31 Local attorney, rancher and Teton County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees Chairwoman Kate Mead is running for state office to influence the ongoing debate on education funding.

“I fear that with a different governor, and unless we have more people who are advocates for education, school funding is just going to get harder and harder and harder,” she said, “because there are a lot of people in Cheyenne who don’t value education as much as they possibly should.”

Mead has practiced law for over 30 years as a partner in Mead&Mead. She said that has prepared her to make law as a legislator, particularly with her specialty in school law.

Though running as a Republican, she said a slight income tax could perhaps supplement the state’s efforts to diversify Wyoming’s economy and stabilize education funding into the future.

“Wyoming’s boom-and-bust cycle is a certainty,” she said, “yet our state Legislature has been unwilling to address the institutional changes, diversification of our economy and new thinking about our revenue structure that can move us forward.”

4-year term

Top 3 most pressing issues facing your district: 1. Education funding

2. Health care access and affordability 3. Mental health

Existing state tax structure Support or oppose?

Lodging tax 60-40 split Support or oppose?

Oppose: Just as the ENDOW initiative provides a 20-year plan for diversification of our economy, Wyoming needs a 20-year revenue plan that parallels diversification.

Oppose: Tourism impacts are huge. At least 90 percent should be used for an expanded list of tourism impacts. When elected I will fight for this change.

?

What would be your approach to funding education in Wyoming?

How do you plan to make health care more affordable for Wyoming citizens?

In the last biennium Teton County School District was cut $1.4 million. The Common School Permanent Fund has $3.1 billion. Gains to the fund investment must be used to pay for schools now rather than saved. The 3.1 million acres of school land held in trust for the schools must be aggressively managed and, in many cases, sold to finance schools, increase the local tax base and provide more taxpayers to pay property tax that benefits the schools, counties and towns. This is critical because schools in Wyoming need a consistent and reliable funding stream into the future.

By obtaining an exemption to the Affordable Care Act to allow Wyoming to experiment with plans that are tailored to the needs of our population. Wyoming must create a high-risk pool paid for by a few dollars added to all policies to pay for high-risk consumers, like Maine did, which reduced premiums. All policies sold in the state must allow a health savings account so that consumers can accrue tax-free savings for health care needs.

Providers must be transparent about their charges so that consumers can shop their health care. The state can facilitate this by setting up a website for health care costs.

Expanding telemedicine shows promise for reducing costs and increasing access.

?

What is your philosophy on selling, transferring or exchanging state land? What is your stance on transferring federal lands to the state?

Federal lands should remain in federal hands. The state simply cannot afford to administer them. School lands, section 16 and 36 in each township, should be aggressively managed to provide maximum returns to the Common School Permanent Fund. That may require selling some of the 3.1 million acres granted to the state for the benefit of schools at market value, as required by our Constitution. Exchange of state land for federal or private land can be a useful tool to block up land. Always, the state must receive value for value.

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28 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Teton County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees: 5 candidates, vote for 3 Holly Balogh

Through her leadership experience at Fortune 50 companies and six years as president of the JH Community Band, Holly Balogh believes she has the skills to support a student-first culture and make the Teton County School District world class. She has lived in Jackson for 16 years and is the parent of two district students.

“I’m eager to bring my financial acumen to provide a new perspective on carefully navigating budget cuts, and as a parent I want to provide a strong voice in decisions that impact our kids,” she said. “My career has spanned more than two decades in leadership roles at adult education technology companies. I’ve had the privilege of leading the Tune-Up program and teaching music to middle school and high school students. I’ve taught private music lessons to students for over 10 years. I want to be on the board to support our kids.”

No. 1 priority: Our students deserve the most supportive learning environment, with the most qualified teachers, and the best opportunities we can provide. My highest priority is to make sure the board makes the decisions that financially and strategically set our kids up to have fulfilling, successful lives.

Alan Brumsted

Brumsted retired this year after teaching at Jackson Hole High School for 27 years. Though he was ready to leave the classroom, he still wanted to be involved with the district.

“I know that we have an excellent school system, and I would like to help continue that. I have two granddaughters who will be going through the district. I want them to have the best educational experience possible.”

Through his teaching experience, Brumsted said, he understands the impacts that board decisions have on daily operations. He also served as president of the Teton County Education Association for 20 years.

“In that position I worked closely with the board on compensation and working condition issues,” Brumsted said. “I also have experience working with administrators on a variety of issues.”

No. 1 priority: To make sure that the students of Teton County get the best possible education that we can provide.

What specific school safety improvements do you support?

School safety is on every parent’s mind. In 201718 the district improved the vestibules at existing schools, but we can do more. One solution is to ensure that school access is carefully managed during all hours and improve video monitoring. We could also increase police presence in our schools and at off-campus events. What I would never agree to is supporting teachers carrying guns in our schools.

How will you navigate education funding cuts?

4-year term

How do you think the school district should address overcrowding at the secondary level?

It is important to look at enrollment trends prior to long-term decisions. Though we’ve hired more secondary teachers, classroom space is limited. We need to consider cost-effective solutions to address immediate needs. Can we add a second floor to the middle school? Are trailers an option? How can we best use the Stilson property?

We must keep budget cuts far from students. That means we set them up for success with quality teachers, staff, paras and programs that are essential to quality education. However, we need to sharpen our pencils and look to be as efficient as possible. I would look at all areas of our budget with a fresh perspective to identify cost-saving opportunities with those principles in mind.

What’s one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

What specific school safety improvements do you support?

How do you think the school district should address overcrowding at the secondary level?

I strongly support our current practices of having school resource officers, closed-circuit video and single entrances that require visitors to check in. Staff and students should be trained for a variety emergency situations — not just active shooters. That needs to be done every year because of staff turnover.

How will you navigate education funding cuts?

The role of the district is to educate the children of Teton County while providing a wide spectrum of opportunities. Therefore, the cuts need to have the least impact on educating the students. That will require close scrutiny of each part of the budget and weighing how a reduction will impact the educational process.

I will never compromise on science-based curriculum. Our public schools must teach all subjects based on scientific evidence and facts.

At the present time the middle school is feeling the squeeze, although the high numbers in those grade levels will be moving up to the high school. In the short term I think we need to look at how we are utilizing our existing space. Are there other ways of scheduling that could ease the pressure?

What’s one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

That our students and staff will be safe while they are in school.

WHY I’M RUNNING FOR

Hospital Trustee Let’s start with the most important question: Why do we have an elected board?

In 2011 the board stated that they had NO jurisdiction over the medical staff (contrary to state law). Michael Tennican and Joe Albright were both already on the board at that time.

If that was the case, why would we need an elected board? We have paid staff for virtually every other function, including an experienced and PAID CEO. I believe that the function of the elected board is to oversee hospital operations and make sure they are always for the benefit of the community – not the medical community, but the overall community.

More questions in The Daily.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Tell a friend.

I used to attend the public meetings, only to discover that little of any consequence was discussed at the meetings.

I used to send questions to Karen Connelly, but received only one answer. Most were not even acknowledged. The hospital says my information on the errors from the installation of a port for chemo is wrong (based upon a newspaper column quoting the rate stated by the oncology nurses). I have requested the rate, and received an acknowledgment that I have filed a Freedom of Info Act request. I’ll let you know when I get an actual answer.

Dr. Hayse has criticized me for not knowing what the hospital does, but doesn’t understand that if 90% of hospital business is conducted behind closed doors, wouldn’t that be why the rest of us are so uninformed? Dr. Hayse has admitted that the hospital can not determine its infection rate. Why not?

I have questions that I believe should be answered by our “community” hospital. I believe these questions should be answered honestly and PROMPTLY. Only with good information can truly informed consent be given.

Paid for by the candidate

SUSAN CROSSER, CPA (retired)

CANDIDATE FOR HOSPITAL TRUSTEE

355094

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 29

Teton County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees: 5 candidates, vote for 3 Keith Gingery

Keith Gingery, an incumbent running for reelection, served five terms in the state Legislature, helping to create the current education finance model and other state education policies.

“I am proud of the work that I did in the Wyoming Legislature and want to ensure that it is implemented at the local level in an effective manner,” he said.

Gingery is married to a teacher. They have a daughter in middle school.

“I want to ensure that her education and all of our children’s educations are the best that we, as a community together, can offer our children,” he said.

“As a current board member I have helped to build an extremely strong and vibrant school system as a team with a stupendous school board and a super superintendent.”

No. 1 priority: Ensuring that the students have the resources needed to be successful.

Nancy Porthan

Nancy Porthan, a teacher for 18 years, is running for the school board because she wants to “work with an effective and cohesive team of people where the shared goal is creating the best possible experiences and environments in which children and young adults can thrive and grow intellectually and emotionally toward the individual end of self-defined success.

“I have a sincere interest in quality public schools that provide great opportunities for students to embrace a positive education.”

Porthan’s resume includes a bachelor’s degree in business education, a master’s degree in school psychology and counseling, 12 years of secondary school teaching and counseling in Wyoming schools, and six years of teaching in public schools in Colorado and Minnesota.

No. 1 priority: Prepare myself to be a quality contributor by first gaining a complete understanding, from reliable sources, of the pressing board issues at this time and a clear understanding of my board member responsibilities.

Janine Teske

Teske, an incumbent seeking re-election, said she’s running because the future of our children and their education needs to be our community’s highest priority.

“While TCSD is in a good place, there is important work left to do including: safety and security, managing legislative changes that impact school funding, school and staff accountability, the ELL achievement gap and managing the demands of our growing student population and the capacity of our buildings.”

Teske said passion, experience and knowledge make her qualified for the position. As a former executive at Ford, she said, she’s spent a career leading teams to achieve results. Teske is the vice chair to the Board of Trustees and president-elect for the Wyoming School Board Association.

“I have spent years advocating for students and staff at the Legislature,” she said. “My business background ensures our dollars are well spent.”

No. 1 priority: Ensuring we are providing an environment where the whole child can thrive and succeed. Where the unique needs of each child are embraced and supported; where we know that each child can learn.

MIKE YIN

for State Representative

How do you think the school district should address overcrowding at the secondary level?

What specific school safety improvements do you support?

Controlled access to buildings.

The state has funded a study to determine the best course of action. In the past these types of studies have provided a lot of different options that include ideas besides just building new schools or additions. But whatever decision our community makes, we need to always keep the objective of what is best for the student as our goal.

How will you navigate education funding cuts?

Ensuring that our high quality teachers remain and exceptional teachers are recruited to our schools is paramount to having a strong school system. That is done through competitive regional salaries. Prioritizing what is most important in the budget is key to making cuts. And through that process we must prioritize that retaining and attracting teachers is the key to a strong school system.

What’s one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

School safety and finding the funds to ensure that the appropriate mechanisms are in place to protect our children from harm.

How do you think the school district should address overcrowding at the secondary level?

What specific school safety improvements do you support?

In each school continue to conscientiously and rigorously implement appropriate training for both staff and students on effective responses to calculated threats of violence.

Keep an open mind to long-term options of new construction, likely on the Teton Village parcel, and, in the short term, serious consideration of the idea of innovating and repurposing use of current facilities as need be. Also, possible strategic use of yearround school calendars in some instances.

How will you navigate education funding cuts?

What’s one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

I will rely heavily on the power of a strong team that has the strength to agree and disagree unselfishly toward the end of most benefit for the greater good.

Schools are welcoming and accepting places that address each student as an individual with needs that vary on their pathways to success.

How do you think the school district should address overcrowding at the secondary level?

What specific school safety improvements do you support?

We must balance living in a trusting community with addressing security. School safety is not just a school issue but a community issue. We must utilize our counselors and psychologists to intervene early with mental health issues. We need to continue to build a culture of safety including ensuring all staff are certified in active intruder training and building security enhancements are implemented.

It is important that we find a solution that achieves relief in the most cost-efficient and timely fashion. Options range from adding on to existing facilities to building new. The process must involve input from the community. The board will establish a Community Collaborative Committee to obtain input and expertise from our community. My decision will be based on what I learn from the process.

How will you navigate education funding cuts?

Budget reductions need to be kept out of the classroom. This board worked hard to implement the legislated budget reductions in a manner that did not impact students and ensured TCSD will retain the best and brightest staff. I will continue to represent TCSD’s need for a strong compensation package and a regional cost of living adjustment that includes housing.

Endorsed by the Wyoming Education Association

4-year term

What’s one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

We should never compromise on school safety and security. All students must come to school in a safe and secure environment.

RE-ELECT DON FRANK

/mikeyinhd16 mikeyin@electmikeyin.com https://electmikeyin.com

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE THIS NOVEMBER 6th!

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ALWAYS FRANK H H H H H VOTE DON FRANK

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30 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

St. John’s Medical Center Board of Trustees: 10 candidates, vote for 4

By Kylie Mohr

Joe Albright An incumbent running for re-election, Joe Albright said the hospital board “was in turmoil” when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2009.

“Three of the seven trustees had just resigned in protest,” he said.

“Negative stories abounded in the newspapers. Yet, during my nine years on the board, I’ve been part of a team of trustees that has helped good CEOs turn Albright things around. The hospital is now in the best shape it’s ever been in. I’d like to keep this streak going.”

During nine years as a trustee, he said, he’s never missed a single board meeting. He also cited his role as a health care navigator — the only one running — as a reason he’s qualified.

As a former journalist in Washington D.C., Moscow and Beijing, Albright said he’s “trained to listen and ask tough questions.”

No. 1 priority: It’s making sure that St. John’s is still financially healthy and independent 10 years from now. Our job as trustees is not to run the hospital day to day — that’s the job of the CEO we hire. Our job is to serve as guardrails.

This means doing our best to keep up with the meteoric changes in health care while making sure every dollar counts.

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

It depends on the impact on patients. When Orthopedist A competes with Orthopedist B on who best serves patients, that can be healthy competition. But if these same doctors refer their patients to their own for-profit MRI clinic that duplicates MRI services offered by St. John’s, that doesn’t help patients. Instead, it forces the hospital to raise their bills for other forms of health care.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

As a fiduciary serving on behalf of the community, I owe St. John’s my undivided loyalty. In nine years I’ve had only one conflict of interest: Last year the hospital administration wanted to spend $5,000 supporting the Community Foundation’s “First in Family” scholarship project. I happened to be among its founders. I disclosed the conflict and recused myself from discussing or voting on it.

What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

We must never privatize this hospital. It belongs to the community. It must remain an independent community hospital. That means it must be dedicated to serving every patient and be overseen by a local board of trustees elected by the public.

Linda Aurelio A current board advisor, Aurelio said she’s running for the hospital board to “bring both my extensive hospital experience and successful business experience to the position of trustee.”

“I have 30 years of clinical hospital experience, hold a master’s degree in hospital administration and founded and ran a successful medical company for 17 years,” she said. “I also have strong commitments to St. John’s as I am vice chair of the Hospital Foundation Board, co-chair of the Sage Living project and an adviser to the board of trustees currently.”

No. 1 priority: To ensure the financial stability and viability of the Aurelio hospital through strong planning practices for today and the future. I will look at both the needs and opportunities for our community’s health and help analyze which will best promote services and return revenues.

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

I do support healthy competition with “like” services between the excellent private physician practices we enjoy in Jackson. I do not support unhealthy competition of private physician selfreferral centers. These centers do not have the high overhead of St. John’s, which is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Critical key revenue is siphoned away that supports the many services St. John’s offers and threatens our future.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

I personally have no conflicts of interest in this role. Conflicts of interest are a serious problem to the voting duty of each board member.

Every time one has to recuse themselves from a vote, that individual is not able to represent the patient, tax voter or community member. You can see how this becomes a big issue for St. John’s, its board of trustees and our community.

What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

Quality of care.

Dr. Joshua Beck A surgeon at Teton Orthopedics, Dr. Joshua Beck said he’s running to “improve health care for our patients and allow greater choices.”

“I feel I can help provide a pathway for greater cooperation and collaboration between the hospital and health care providers who are not employed by the hospital,” he said. “I hope Beck to repair the tremendous rift of mistrust that has developed between the hospital and those providers on the front lines taking care of our community.”

Working in the region as a practicing surgeon since 2006 makes him qualified for the role, he said.

“I have experienced tremendous changes in the way health care is provided to our community,” Beck said. “I have taken care of thousands of Teton County residents and visitors over the years and have listened to their concerns, fears and desires. I feel that I can best represent my fellow residents and patients.”

No. 1 priority: My first priority is to increase communication and dialog between the hospital and physicians and other practitioners. I hope to foster an environment of greater trust and collaboration that will benefit our patients. The care and wellbeing of those who entrust their health to us is my No. 1 priority.

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

I support competition in any business.

Competition helps drive down costs, improves quality and allows greater choices. A health care monopoly benefits no one, especially our patients.

We need to remember our mission in health care, to take care of our patients in their time of need.

Competition is healthy and helps us all.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

I am not employed by the hospital. I believe this is an advantage and not in fact a liability. Some may see this as a conflict of interest from a financial perspective. One of my goals is to increase the hospital’s fiscal responsibility. Having run a successful private practice here in Jackson for 13 years, I hope to bring some of my experience and ideas to fruition at the hospital. [Beck is among many physician investors in Teton Outpatient Surgery Center and Teton Sports and Spine Imaging. See story on physician investors page 1A. — Ed.] What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

I will never resort to smear tactics or partial truths in this campaign. I will maintain a positive attitude and will always take the high road. I feel that negative ads, smear campaigns and other below-the-belt campaign tactics have no place in this election. My goal is to provide the best care possible for our patients. Remember, this is an unpaid, volunteer position.

Kyle Burson

A patient at St. John’s and Vertical Harvest employee, Kyle Burson is running because “we need quality health care and better billing.”

“I just got a bill from Grand Rapids, Michigan,” he said. “Can’t we have local billing? I had three different doctors in two years. We need a pay scale, so we can keep the good ones.”

Who better than a patient, he said, to be in Burson this role.

No. 1 priority: Keeping quality doctors.

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

Yes, I support competition in local health care.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

Don’t see any conflicts of interest, but if one did occur, I would have to recuse myself from that issue.

What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

Keeping quality doctors.

4-year term Susan Crosser A former patient and longtime critic of the hospital, Susan Crosser is running because she wants more honesty and transparency.

“I want to know that the care the community is seeking from the hospital will be provided in a quality manner,” she said. “I want to know that patient care is always the first priority, rather than Crosser providing jobs for doctors.

We have a small, rural hospital. We cannot offer every possible type of care that is desired.

Volume matters.”

Her qualifications include decades of accounting.

“I am a retired CPA,” she said. “I have attended three health care industry conferences, and if elected, will continue to attend others. I have a strong background in governance (attended a two-day conference just on the subject, and later conducted a seminar on same at a national conference of APPL) and not-for-profit organizations, since that was the primary focus of my accounting practice for 33 years here in the valley.”

No. 1 priority: Why so little information seems to be available for net revenue and cost of services.

For a hospital billing $170 million, it seems unreasonable to not be able to match contractual discounts, charity care and bad debts back to their source. How can any rational decisions be made if the hospital is unable to weigh the cost and benefit of any service, combined with volume information and outcomes?

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

I do support competition in the health care industry. What I don’t understand is why the hospital is in competition with itself, while losing money at all locations? Why do we have an ED at the hospital, an Urgent Care clinic at Smith’s, and a clinic at Teton Village? What is the justification for three clinics within a half hour of each other, when they all lose money? I don’t understand the incumbents talking about “facing financial struggles” when so many are of their own making.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

I do not envision any conflicts of interest, but should one arise I would immediately disclose the nature of any relationship leading to a conflict of interest. Depending on the nature of the matter under discussion, I would either contribute to the discussion, if I had relevant information, or recuse myself entirely if it’s an outright conflict and even participating in any discussion could be prejudicial.

What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

Quality of patient care. If we don’t have the volume, we need to be honest with the patients.

If they cannot go to an appropriate provider, we will do our very best to care for them locally, and do so with truly informed consent. No false advertising. No claims to affiliations that don’t exist. We need to be honest about what we can and cannot do on a local basis.

ANDREW BYRON FOR TETON COUNTY COMMISSIONER

SOLUTIONS • COMMUNITY • COMMON SENSE www.andrewforcommissioner.com • 307-690-2767 Follow me on Instagram: @andrewforcommissioner

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GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 31

St. John’s Medical Center Board of Trustees: 10 candidates, vote for 4 Dr. Joyce Frye A retired OB-GYN, Dr. Joyce Frye said her “vast experience in health care education, practice, research, leadership and innovation with wisdom gained from both successes and failures” qualifies her for the role.

“An MBA, a degree in epidemiology and extensive experience in integrative medicine as practiced across the Frye country also help,” she said. “Starting with house calls with my dad, I have 50 years of experience in healthcare in virtually every role from office assistant to department chair, 15 years of post-graduate education and I’m a 20-year survivor of a misdiagnosed brain tumor. I believe the hospital board is where insights I’ve gained over the years can be put to best use in this town that I came to love as an 8-year-old on family vacation.”

No. 1 priority: Knock-your-socks off service for every customer in the broadest definition of “customer.” In my training as a quality improvement facilitator the recipient in any transaction is a customer, not just the patient but also the floor cleaner who needs the supply of polish available on time. Everyone in the system is, at some point, a customer and should be treated accordingly.

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

Yes. Competition is the antidote to complacency. It’s important to understand who the customer is, assess the customer’s current and potential future needs (market research), determine how best to meet those needs cost effectively (strategy) and communicate what is being offered (marketing). If someone else can do it better, then you’re not paying attention.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

None envisioned, but should they occur, transparency and/or recusal from relevant decision-making is required.

What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

Employee restrictive covenants. I lost track of my excellent physical therapist when he left the hospital. He was not allowed to say where he was going, and the office staff refused to reveal.

I assume they thought I would just switch to another physical therapist on staff, but I just stopped physical therapy. Trying to maintain the hospital’s bottom line should never interfere with patient care.

Liz Masek An incumbent running for re-election, Liz Masek said she wants to “continue the work we have accomplished over the last five years to ensure Teton County and our regional community have a premiere five-star hospital offering the highest level of quality and the best patient care.”

Time on the board, as well as previous experience as a patient advocate, are why Masek said she’s qualified.

“I have now served nearly five years on this board but more importantly I think I bring an advocate’s ear to the table,” she said.

“Advocates are taught to listen carefully and see the patient’s perspective behind every interaction that takes place in the continuum of care.”

No. 1 priority: We must be able to prioritize community needs with the resources we have. The payer mix will continue to change Masek as health care policy changes and we have to provide for not only the acute care needs of the community but the many other facets of healthcare, from wellness to elder care, that rural hospitals ensure.

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

I support collaborative efforts that ultimately provide citizens with the best and most efficient health care services. Competition that skims the cream from the few service lines where rural hospitals make their profits does not benefit the ability of rural hospitals to provide all of the services the community demands.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

None.

What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

I believe that any issue that alters the care of even one patient in a negative way cannot be up for discussion.

Chris Schroeder A surgical assistant, Chris Schroeder said he’s running for the hospital board “to help.”

“I have served on both the board of governors for Shriner’s Hospital and the HOA board of Deer Ridge,” he said. “The Shrine (board) is an oversight position, with very little hands-on management.

We put the right people in the right spot and trust them to do the job. The HOA is a direct action Schroeder job, with daily decisions about painting, parking, noise and all that fun.

St. John’s board is somewhere between those.”

No. 1 priority: To help realize the full potential and needs of our unique population. Many people have asked me what my platform is, and I don’t really have one. I don’t have an ax to grind, or strong vision of the future I wish to guide us to, or any goal other than to add my 30plus years of experience to the process. Once I immerse myself, I am sure priorities will present themselves.

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

Yes. Competition is vital, but it has to be healthy competition. The competition has to be to provide the highest level of care possible, at the lowest

November 6th is Election Day! Your vote matters

cost possible, with the greatest ease of access possible to the widest spectrum of people possible.

This cannot be accomplished by back biting and undercutting each other. If we all stay focused on mission, patient care, the rest will follow.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

I have surgical privileges at most of the facilities in the area. Although this might seem to split my loyalty, I feel it gives me the perspective to evaluate different philosophies, and the personal connections to foster dialogue.

What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

Quality of care. This sounds simple and obvious, but the simple things often get lost in the rush.

Dr. Geoffrey Skene A doctor at Teton Orthopedics, Dr. Geoffrey Skene said his 30 years of clinical and 20 years of private sector health care experience make him qualified for the role.

“It is critical to have input from health care providers who have direct day-today involvement with Skene patient care at St. John’s Medical Center,” he said. “I would like to be part of a bigger health care team that focuses on a constantly improving health care model for our community.”

No. 1 priority: To focus on the “Patient First” model of health care, improving the patient experience in both the in-patient and outpatient settings.

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

Yes, I support competition. Monopolies foster complacency and stagnation. I also support cooperative ventures between the private sector and our hospital. Both the private sector and our taxpayer-supported hospital are already aligned in our goals to achieve an improved patient experience and better clinical outcomes.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

My fellow candidates may dismiss my clinical and private sector experience.

Former medical director Teton Outpatient Surgery Center, board of directors Teton Outpatient Surgery Center, medical director Teton Sports and Spine Imaging, board of directors Teton Sports and Spine Imaging, board of directors Teton Orthopedics, past president Teton Orthopedics. [Skene is among many physician investors in TOPS and TSSI. See story on physician investors page 1A. — Ed.] What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

Patient care.

4-year term Michael Tennican An incumbent running for re-election, Michael Tennican said he’s running to protect “our vital community hospital.”

“Since 2009 St. John’s Medical Center has been on a strong upward trajectory in the quality and scope of its services,” he said. “SJMC’s financial strength also has improved greatly.

Nonetheless, St. John’s faces continuing challenges to its longterm financial viability. Tennican I have the commitment and qualifications to help St. John’s meet these challenges.”

Tennican said he’s been deeply involved in important decisions over the years.

“As appointee in 2009, chair from 2010 through 2017, current treasurer and continuing member of key committees, I have been centrally involved in all key board decisions of the past nine years,” he said.

“I also bring expertise as a former professor of finance at the Harvard Business School, consultant to major corporations on strategy, and long-time chief financial officer of a medical products (research and development) company.”

No. 1 priority: SJMC’s financial stability. St. John’s has embarked on programs to make still further improvements in quality and services, but both federal and private insurers will put continuing pressure on reimbursements. St. John’s must also compete with profit-seeking facilities for revenues. And, to maintain its outstanding staff, St. John’s must find ways to meet their housing needs in a costly environment.

Do you support competition in the local health care industry?

Yes, where possible. However, health care in general is not a free market with competitive interactions between multiple informed buyers and sellers.

Patients are not informed buyers of services and must rely on physician recommendations.

And pervasive governmental involvement has created many profitable “safe harbors” where sellers of services can isolate themselves from effective competition.

What, if any, conflicts of interest do you envision in this role and how would you handle them?

I foresee no conflicts of interest. I have no financial or other interest in any facility or other entity that competes with St. John’s.

What is one issue you feel strongly about and would never compromise on?

Our mission, specifically, patient-centered clinical excellence and community wellness.

St. John’s is a community medical center dedicated to meeting all community health care needs that can be provided at the highest level of quality. There can be no compromise on this point.

Alex for Wyoming Alex Muromcew for House District 23 Teton County and Wyoming need fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. We need:

www.Alex4WY.com

• Fiscal responsibility and transparency

• No new taxes, especially no real estate transfer tax

• Private sector solutions for business & community infrastructure

• Robust investment in public education

• Economic diversification for more knowledge-based value-added jobs

• Public lands in public hands • Respect and compassion for all

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32 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 354508

EDUCATION EXPERIENCE It would be an honor to serve.

ELECT

Governor race: 4 candidates, vote for 1 4-year term

By Cody Cottier

INTEGRITY

Katie Smits

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Most of us want the same thing: we want cool places to recreate, we want open space and wildlife; we want our friends who are teachers and firefighters and hospital workers to live in our community; We don’t want traffic jams. Or people leaning on their horn.

. s on i t u ol s t n a w We

I’m running for county commission because these issues we have in our little valley can be solved.

Working together, considering all viewpoints, making decisions and moving forward.

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DR. GEOFFREY SKENE for HOSPITAL BOARD

In a governor’s race that revolved largely around health care, education funding and Wyoming’s economy, the two major-party candidates have advocated starkly different approaches to each problem.

This year’s election played out against the backdrop of a looming state budget shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars.

As Gov. Matt Mead pushed for economic Throne diversification as a way to draw more business and revenue to the state, Republican Mark Gordon and Democrat Mary Throne took their own stances.

“We have to build a tax structure for our economy of the future, not the economy of the past,” said Throne, a Cheyenne natural resources attorney who spent a decade in the state House of Representatives, part of it as minority leader.

That means less reliance on taxes from the minerals industry, which currently represents the lion’s share of state revenue. If Wyoming is going to escape the long-standing boom-andbust pattern that fluctuates with the prosperity of minerals, Throne argues, this is the key.

According to a study by the economic forecasting firm REMI, diversifying the state’s economy without reworking its tax code would actually harm the economy.

By attracting more businesses and employees — which means increased stress on infrastructure and government services, in addition to higher education needs — Wyoming would take on a major burden with no obvious way to offset the cost, because the tax structure is not built to collect taxes from new industries.

Gordon, the state treasurer since 2012, has said that it’s worth having a conversation about the tax code but he generally opposes new taxes. He believes Wyoming can meet its needs within the current system by slashing redundancy in government and doubling down on minerals products like the activated carbon produced by Atlas Carbon in Gillette.

“I think by adding value to our existing energy products,” he said, “we can also add to our tax revenues in the existing structure we have.”

He has also argued for more smallbusiness development throughout Wyoming as a way to expand the economy without the higher costs of introducing major industries.

Education funding In addition to boosting the state’s overall budget, Throne sees new or increased taxes as a way to stem the loss of revenue to Wyoming’s education system, which has seen millions of dollars in cuts in recent years.

Besides taxes, she has also said the state could potentially divert money into its investment portfolio to bring in more income for schools.

“Going forward,” she said, “we have

to find revenues and meet our constitutional obligations.”

Gordon would prefer to leave the matter mostly in the hands of individual school districts, allowing them to make the spending decisions that work best for them, rather than the state dictating how they should offer adequate education.

The state should provide “some accountability and some guidance,” he said, but besides that Gordon should not impose.

“From a top-down approach,” he said, “it is very hard to calibrate what’s going to work in Meeteetse and what’s going to work in Natrona County.”

Health care Though the federal government would pay 90 percent of the cost of expanding Medicaid, Gordon worries that in the long run Wyoming’s portion would become overwhelming, leaving the state with a Medicaid shortfall.

“The big thing about Medicaid expansion that concerns me,” he said, “is can Wyoming afford it? Especially over time.”

A greater priority, as Gordon sees it, is cutting costs for health care. He points to greater transparency in medical billing as a way to drive down costs and increase competition across state lines.

Medicaid expansion has been one of Throne’s rallying cries throughout her campaign. She says it’s a “no-brainer” that the state should accept the hundreds of millions of dollars available to it from the federal government.

“We have an easy way to get health care to 20,000 of our neighbors,” she said.

It won’t necessarily be easy in practice, though. Even as Republican Gov. Mead has advocated broadening the program to people earning up to 133 percent of the poverty line, the state Legislature has consistently rejected the idea. But Throne has said she believes she could build support.

Third-party candidates Two other candidates, Rex Rammell of the Constitution Party and Lawrence Struempf of the Libertarian Party, both urged voters to consider voting outside the two-party system.

Rammell, who bills himself as the most conservative of the four, said the Democrats and Republicans have “put Wyoming in terrible shape.” His flagship issue is federal lands, which he believes should be transferred to the state.

“It’s time Wyoming took control … of our own future,” he said.

Struempf, agreed it’s critical to broaden the influence of other parties in elections, and to rid the political system of dark money.

As a “modern libertarian,” he said he wants to protect individual rights but also maintain government services like public lands and public education.

“We want to keep the services that Americans have fought and died 200 years for,” he said.

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GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 33

4-year term

U.S. Senate: 3 candidates, vote for 1

By Mike Koshmrl Wilson Democrat Gary Trauner got his lone shot last week to debate frontrunner and incumbent U.S. Sen. John Barrasso before Tuesday’s election.

A third-time contestant for one of Wyoming’s three congressional seats, Trauner tried to differentiate himself from the 11-year veteran Republican senator and retired Casper surgeon by Trauner arguing he was not beholden to special interests or either major political party.

“We all know that if you’ve been in Washington too long, you become one of ‘them’ — bought and paid for,” Trauner said in the closing remarks of the Oct. 25 debate in Sheridan.

“Not me. I never will be. Fear mongering, blind allegiance to party and fostering division don’t solve a darn thing.”

Trauner had urged Barrasso to take part in three to five debates, but the sitting senator agreed to sparring only once.

In his own closing statements, Barrasso reiterated his ties to President Donald Trump, and he challenged the audience to assess if they were better off now than two years ago, when the Republicans took power.

“For Wyoming Barrasso and the country, we are much better off,” Barrasso said.

“We are because we have cut taxes.

People have more money in their own pockets. We’ve gutted regulations, so it makes it a lot easier and people have freedom. We brought jobs back to Wyoming.”

Trauner had a different assessment of Wyoming residents’ wellbeing.

“We must be traveling around in different states,” Trauner said. “When I go into Wyoming’s communities,

some of them are thriving and some of them are not. But for regular working people, it’s not getting done. Nothing’s changed for them.”

Trauner criticized the latest tax cut, saying, “we gave the wealthiest corporations in the world and wealthy heirs permanent tax cuts who didn’t need it. And we blew a $2 billion hole in our debt.”

Barrasso and Trauner also tussled over health care, education, the tax code, federal debt, immigration policy and more. Watch the entire one-hour WyomingPBS debate online at Tinyurl.com/yb29xrrf.

Barrasso was first appointed to U.S. Senate in 2007 to replace Sen. Craig Thomas, who died while in office. He then won a special election in 2008, and was re-elected in 2012 for a six-year term.

He won both those elections by a landslide, with 73 percent and 76 percent of the vote, respectively. With by far the most campaign contributions and, as the incumbent, Barrasso is favored. He has been endorsed by President Trump.

Polls suggest Barrasso is again the overwhelming favorite. Barrasso is working to revamp the Endangered Species Act to give states more authority to manage endangered species. He has been helping lead his party’s yearslong effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.”

Trauner is a 29-year Jackson Hole resident and former chief operating officer of St. John’s Medical Center.

He also was the chairman of Teton County School District No. 1’s Board of Trustees, the Aspens Pines Water and Sewer District and directed the Jackson Hole Lacrosse Club.

The Senate race against Barrasso is Trauner’s third campaign for Congress.

In 2006, vying for a U.S. House of Representatives seat, he lost to incumbent Rep. Barbara Cubin by just 1,000 votes. But his next bid for the House, up against a more-popular Cynthia Lummis, produced a much wider defeat: Trauner took 43 percent of the vote, to Lummis’ 53 percent.

Libertarian Joseph Porambo is also running but did not attend the debate.

2-year term

U.S. House of Representatives: 4 candidates, vote for 1

By Ramsey Scott Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange CHEYENNE — The four candidates competing for Wyoming’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives had a wide-ranging debate, hosted by Wyoming PBS. The debate featured Republican incumbent Rep. Liz Cheney, Democrat Greg Hunter, Libertarian Richard Brubaker and Constitution Party candidate Daniel Cummings.

Cheney is running for her second two-year term in the House. She has a sizable lead over her three challengers when it comes to her campaign war chest, holding a more than $580,000 lead over Hunter as of the last campaign finance reporting.

Historical momentum is also on Cheney’s side when it comes to the Republican winning streak for the seat.

Ever since Cheney’s father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, won election as Wyoming’s representative in 1979, the seat has remained in Republican hands.

Health care A question about whether the government should ensure people don’t go bankrupt dealing with necessary medical care allowed all four candidates to espouse on their governing philosophy.

Cummings viewed any governmental involvement in health care as a violation of the U. S. Constitution and the root of the issues within medicine.

“There’s no constitutional provision for personal assistance in Medicare or medical care of any sort,” he said.

Hunter praised the work of former President Barack Obama to provide access to health care. He said the federal government should use its buying power to lower the cost of medical services and drugs.

“We need to expand Medicaid cov-

erage in Wyoming so people can go to work without feeling like they will be bankrupt,” Hunter said. “We need to make sure to use the power of the federal government to reduce those costs and unleash market forces.”

Cheney said the issues of rising costs and less access to medical care in Wyoming were a direct result of the Affordable Care Act. She touted her work in the House to repeal the ACA, and her work with President Donald Trump to repeal the individual mandate, which was Cheney included in the tax cut bill.

“The best way to make sure that people can get the best medical care is to put people back in the driver’s seat,” Cheney said. Work she supported in the House “is the type of thing we have to get passed in the Senate and make sure people can be back in control.”

Brubaker said the country should move toward a model like he saw in Colombia. He described a government program to provide basic health care for a monthly rate, depending on the country’s budget, and another health-care system free of government regulation.

Gender pay gap Only one candidate, Hunter, believed there was a systemic issue with women receiving less money than their male counterparts, suggesting an increase in pay for public school teachers would help lessen the divide.

Cheney said the issue wasn’t a federal one and that seasonal work skews the stats. She said the issue has been exacerbated for political gain by Democrats.

Cummings said there was no reason

the government should be involved in how much people make. He said any gap was a reflection of “social values.”

Brubaker hasn’t seen an issue with women making less in his work, including as a trucker. He said the issue could be tied to the fact that “many of our family values dictate the gap.”

Discrimination and hate crimes Cheney used the topic of whether hatecrime laws also applied to discrimination based on sexual orientation to talk Hunter about the need for more originalist judges in the courts.

She said it was important that Congress not add additional rights to the Constitution.

While Brubaker believed the civil rights laws in the 1960s were necessary at the time, he said those need to be repealed now, since the problem had passed. He said when someone was hired due to their race or sexual orientation, it angered other employees.

Hunter said it was imperative that protections be extended to people so all can pursue life, liberty and happiness.

He viewed the role of the United States Supreme Court as one that should protect the rights of those who have been discriminated against.

Cummings said the biggest discriminators in the United States were the local and federal governments. He said government quotas and favoritism were morally wrong, and private businesses should have the right to make any decision they want in hiring and firing.

More on the candidates Before serving in Congress, Cheney practiced law and worked at the U.S.

State Department. In the U.S. House she has supported legislation to crack down on illegal immigration, expand concealed carry and defund Planned Parenthood.

“I have championed conservative reform to create jobs, cut taxes and regulation, expand America’s energy, mining and ag industries and restore the strength and power of our nation’s standing in the world,” Cheney said.

She said she’ll work to reduce federal overreach, streamline regulations and return authority to states and local communities on public lands.

Hunter is a Laramie businessman who has also worked with government agencies in Washington, D.C. “After 30-plus years working for federal agencies and public lands, I have the skills and experience to protect our lands, navigate legislation, and save the taxpayer money while achieving the goals important to Wyomingites,” he said. “Wyoming can be progressive and still maintain its Cowboy character.”

He supports universal health care, compassionate immigration reform, overturning Citizens United, diversifying Wyoming’s economy, defending public lands, legalizing marijuana and some regulation of guns.

Riverton truck driver and Libertarian Brubaker has called for reducing government and giving free rein to the states and markets.

Constitution Party candidate Cummings advocates strict interpretation of the Constitution. He wants out of the United Nations and NATO and defunding of the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Labor, Commerce, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy and Homeland Security.

— The News&Guide’s Allie Gross and Rebecca Huntington contributed to this story.

EXPERIENCE. INTEGRITY. FAIRNESS. I AM DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU. I WILL SEEK JUSTICE.

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As sheriff he will be a benefit to the community.”

- Mike Stern

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34 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Leadership Needs Vision History

Experience

Secretary of State: 3 candidates, vote for 1 4-year term The secretary of state oversees state matters, including registration of businesses, statewide elections and campaign finance. Both major-party candidates, Republican Ed Buchanan and Democrat James Byrd, have a decade of experience in the state Legislature and a background in small business among their qualifications for the role.

Born here, raised here, has a family of four here

Ed Buchanan (R)

Climbing guide, planning commissioner, county commissioner

Track Record Responsive, thoughtful, passionate Tools

Masters Degree in Economics

Vision

Preserve our natural capital Growth that honors our character Maintain our quality of life

THE LONG VIEW

Incumbent Edward Buchanan was appointed secretary of state in spring 2018. He has a background in political science, law and ranching. When it comes to elections, Buchanan said a top priority is ensuring Wyoming has the latest in voting equipment for 2020.

He supports the expansion of voting centers rather than assigned polling places for voter convenience and youth voter initiatives.

Buchanan is skeptical about raising fee rates for business registration.

“I am fearful to increase prices and damage the customer base,” he said.

“There are many other states in which to form a business and I have to remain competitive.”

That said, he supports reforms as needed.

Buchanan would support a restriction on party changes for a period of time leading up to an election. He supports government transparency and said that the secretary of state’s office has had no issues in providing documents to the public in a timely manner.

James Byrd (D) Democrat James Byrd said his experience on the legislative committee that provides oversight of the secretary of state’s office has prepared him for the

job. He has been involved in redistricting, elections, corporate filings and banking.

For Byrd, the state must replace its “aging fleet” of voting machines, and his experience as a computer network analyst qualifies him to evaluate new systems.

If elected he hopes to add a staff member and increase the secretary of state’s budget in order to focus on business regulation and registration. He said he would maintain a focus on ensuring only legitimate businesses are allowed to register in Wyoming.

Byrd opposes a change that would prevent voters from changing party affiliation at the polls. “It is an absolute imperative that a person’s ability to cast a ballot for whomever they decide at the time of voting is respected,” he told the Casper Star-Tribune.

He supports more transparency in Wyoming government and making the budget easier to understand.

Kit Carson III (L) Libertarian candidate Kit Carson III is also running for secretary of state after losing in 2014. Carson wants to end electronic voting and return to paper ballots, he told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. He wants to take a broad view of the office’s powers and establish a cryptocurrency exchange in the state and a toll for out-of-state trucks driving through Wyoming. Carson favors riskier investments of state funds, like commercial real estate loans, and cutting on jail costs by allowing violent felons to buy their release if they leave Wyoming.

— Staff report compiled from Wyoming News Exchange newspapers and the League of Women Voters of Wyoming.

State Auditor: 2 candidates, vote for 1 4-year term Candidates for state auditor have made improving government transparency part of their campaign platform. The state auditor’s office is facing criticism from groups that have requested financial and spending data and been charged high fees and met with a slow response.

Jeff Dockter (D)

paid for by Newcomb for Teton County

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With 15 years as a program manager for the state of Wyoming, Jeff Dockter believes he has the experience and skills to lead the auditor’s office.

Since 2012 he has been with the Department of Enterprise Technology, supervising teams that “provide innovative and reliable technology solutions.” He has also audited government contracts and programs for compliance with state and federal requirements.

But, above all, he believes his background in project management, in which he received a master’s degree from the University of Wyoming, would be an “invaluable” asset to the office.

“My experience provides me the facilitation and people skills to innovate business processes,” he said. “In a data-driven, connected world, the only way to save money for taxpayers is through technological innovation.”

Dockter said he wants to prepare the auditor’s office for a blockchain future, as well as increase transparency and ensure Wyoming boards provide citizens with accurate, timely information.

He also said that as a member of the State Lands and Investment Board, he would support projects to upgrade outdated infrastructure.

“I know how hard it is,” Dockter said, “to complete new infrastructure projects that attract new businesses, bring in tourists and promote a healthy economy.”

Kristi Racines (R) Kristi Racines touts her financial education and expertise as qualifying her to serve as Wyoming’s chief accountant. A certified public accountant, she holds a degree in accounting from the University of Wyoming.

In private practice she has performed audits of Wyoming businesses, nonprofits and governmental entities.

Racines is chief financial officer of Wyoming’s judicial branch, preparing and managing an $80 million statewide budget.

Racines, who grew up in Riverton, supports keeping public lands in public hands.

“Effective and responsible multiple use is a must,” she said. “Our schools, economy and Wyoming way of life depend upon it.

“I am committed to protecting the process,” she said. “Each proposal to sell, transfer or exchange lands must be scrutinized and backed by compelling facts. Certain transactions are in Wyoming’s best interest — to block up land, improve efficiency or enhance value.”

Racines said her knowledge of the current accounting system and state expenditures puts her in the best position to separate public and private information to have accurate and reliable financial information available for citizens and lawmakers.

“I will work with the Legislature to find an optimal software solution to publish expenditure data that is timely and understandable,” she said.

— Staff report compiled from Wyoming News Exchange newspapers and the League of Women Voters of Wyoming.

GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 35

By Allie Gross The following county and state races are uncontested.

Teton County Attorney: Democrat Erin Weisman is running for the office of Teton County attorney. The county attorney is responsible for prosecuting crime in Teton County and legally representing the county and its departments.

Weisman is a deputy county attorney. For five years she has focused on litigation and appeals, often related to land use and planning matters. Incumbent Teton County attorney Steve Weichman, who has held the office for more than 20 years, is not seeking re-election.

Clerk: Republican Sherry Daigle is seeking re-election to her post as Teton County clerk, a role she’s held for 20 years. The clerk’s office provides a variety of services, including accounting for the county and running elections.

Clerk of District Court: Democrat Anne Comeaux Sutton is seeking re-election to the office of clerk of District Court. The clerk is responsible for processing and managing case files and court records for the Ninth Judicial District Court of Teton County.

Coroner: Democrat Brent Blue is seeking re-election as Teton County coroner. The coroner is tasked with providing accurate and timely death investigation services.

Treasurer: Republican Katie Smits is on the ballot for Teton County treasurer. Smits is running for an open seat vacated by the current treasurer, Donna Baur.

Smits has worked in the Teton

County treasurer’s office as the financial accountant for about two years and has been in governmental and nonprofit accounting for more than two decades.

The treasurer is responsible for collecting revenue responsibly and with accountability.

Smits said she wants to continue the trajectory of Baur’s time at the helm by diligently following state statutes that dictate the treasurer’s office’s duties, from county revenue collection to motor vehicle registration.

State Superintendent of public instruction: Republican Jillian Balow is seeking re-election. She was elected in 2014 to serve as the state’s 22nd state superintendent of public instruction in 2014.

As state superintendent she serves as one of Wyoming’s five statewide elected officials. She is constitutionally entrusted with general supervision of Wyoming’s public education system and sitting on state boards and commissions such as the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees and State Board of Land Commissioners.

Balow said she bases her policy decisions on her core beliefs that the role of parents in education is paramount, that curriculum and school district operations are best determined at the local level, and that our education system should provide as many opportunities as possible to make youth successful citizens upon graduation.

A fifth-generation Wyoming native, Balow taught for more than a decade in Wyoming elementary and secondary classrooms.

PUTTING KIDS FIRST Re-elect Janine Bay Teske TCSD Board of Trustees

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LET’S KEEP PUBLIC LANDS IN PUBLIC HANDS.

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Wyoming Treasurer: 2 candidates, vote for 1 4-year term State Sen. Curt Meier beat state Sen. Leland Christensen and Ron Redo in the primary. At the time no Democrat had entered the race, but Democrat Chris Lowry made it into the general election on a write-in candidate.

Chris Lowry (D)

A scientist who has spent the last two decades working in a laboratory, Chris Lowry said he has learned “how to find solutions that are supported by evidence.”

As treasurer he said he would manage the state’s investments in ways that will produce the best outcomes for Wyoming citizens. And in an office that he believes already excels on that front, he hopes to keep the momentum going.

“I would rely on the advice of the highly qualified staff currently in the office,” he said, “because we have some of the brightest minds already managing our state funds.”

Curt Meier (R) A LaGrange farmer and businessman who has served in the Wyoming state Senate since 1995, Curt Meier said he set up his business so that he could dedicate himself full time to the job of treasurer.

“I am a conservative businessman,” he said. “That means I will not put your money at the risk of being invested by a charlatan.

“My experience will capitalize on our current treasurer’s efforts to work with the Legislature. Getting the return on investment is essential for economic development and balancing the budget, and paying our K-12 educational bill.”

— From staff reports and the League of Women Voters of Wyoming.

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Uncontested races: All 4-year terms

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36 - GENERAL ELECTION 2018, JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Who’s Voting for the Lodging Tax on November 6th?

DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS & INDEPENDENTS

Every Single Teton County Democratic and Republican Candidate Running for Town Council, County Commission, State Senate and House Districts 16 & 23 Support the Lodging Tax:

Mike Gierau Kate Mead Andy Schwartz Alex Muromcew Barbara Allen Mike Yin Seadar Rose Davis Mark Newcomb

Luther Propst Mark Barron Andrew Byron Mary Martin Jonathan Schechter Arne Jorgensen Don Frank Jessica Sell Chambers Wes Gardner

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