2026 Primary Election Voters' Guide

NATRONA COUNT Y PRIMARY ELECTION 2026

BY KLARK BYRD MANAGING EDITOR

BY DAVID DUDLEY ELECTIONS & POLITICS

CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming voters have two ways to cast a ballot before Primary Election Day. Both come with rules different from what voters may remember.

While Wyoming voters prior to 2023 were allowed in-person absentee voting starting 45 days before an election, the state’s new law slashed that time to 28 days. For the Aug. 18 primary election, that means voters can visit their county clerk’s office during regular business hours starting July 21 to cast a ballot in person. The window closes Aug. 17, the day before the primary. Military and overseas voters still get the longer runway. Their window opens 45 days

out, which means they’ve been able to cast a ballot since July 2 this year.

MAIL-IN BALLOTS, SPECIFIC RULES

Voters who can’t make it to their clerk’s office in person can request a mail absentee ballot instead. Early requests are already coming in across the Cowboy State, though the picture looks different from county to county.

In Laramie County, 2,021 voters had requested absentee ballots as of late June, plus 29 from military and overseas voters. Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee said those numbers track closely with 2022, the last midterm election cycle.

Natrona County Clerk Tracy Good said that 494 voters had

requested absentee ballots by the same point.

Campbell County had received 137 requests as of June 22. Elections Coordinator Michelle Leiker said that, as no one in Wyoming has actually voted yet, the number reflects requests only, not ballots cast.

Leiker also offered historical comparisons.

“Campbell County saw 1,124 absentee requests in the 2022 midterm primary and 673 in the 2024 presidential primary,” she told Oil City News, “with in-person early voting outpacing mail requests both years.”

Getting the ballot is just one step; there are rules for fill ing it out correctly as well. The Natrona County Clerk’s Office says the ballot should be marked using a black ink pen. Voters

should not use a marker or a gel pen, to prevent bleeding through the ballot paper. The voter must also sign and date the back of the ballot envelope, confirming they are the voter of that ballot. If the envelope isn’t signed, the ballot will be rejected.

IMPORTANT TIME

FRAMES

Returning the ballot is yet another process, and the deadline doesn’t bend.

“Ballots must be physically received by the County Clerk by the time the polls close on Election Day, which is 7 p.m.,” Leiker said. “Any ballots received outside of that deadline will be rejected/not counted.”

The 2026 primary election is approaching, and our mission at Oil City News remains rooted in connecting, building and informing our community.

Primary Election Day is Aug. 18, but standard absentee and early voting begins July 21.

To help you navigate your ballot, we’re delivering our printed Voters’ Guide to every home in Natrona County before early voting starts. This guide serves as a tool to prepare you for the voting booth. It will introduce you to the candidates and seed your drive to learn more about them, the roles they seek, and how they intend to shape our communities, counties, state and country.

Our elections and politics reporter, David Dudley, spent weeks gathering information directly from the candidates. He used contact information from official filing documents to ensure fairness.

Dudley sent multiple emails and placed phone calls, when possible, to every candidate on the ballot. He asked them to state the challenges their constituents face, how they plan to

GET COUNTED

address those issues, and what qualifications prepare them for office. By letting candidates identify the issues themselves, we avoided locking them into rigid topics.

You may notice that some candidate profiles do not appear in the printed guide. In these cases, the candidates did not return our emails or answer our phone calls. Some filing reports made available to the public may have lacked contact details. We will continue to publish late responses online as we receive them. Questionnaires submitted after our print deadline will go live on our website through Aug. 11.

Voting shapes the local government, state legislature and the U.S. Congress in ways that impact our daily lives. Those who represent us at each level are selected by you. Know this: Your vote counts.

Follow our ongoing election coverage, campaign announcements and full questionnaires at oilcity.news/election.

Klark Byrd is the managing editor of Oil City News. He can be reached at 307-267-0974 or by email at editor@oilcity. news.

The shortened window puts pressure on anyone relying on

BY DAVID DUDLEY ELECTION & POLITICS

CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming voters who can’t prove their eligibility at the polls won’t be turned away. Instead, they’ll be handed a provisional ballot.

But casting one is not the same as having your vote counted. Under state law, the responsibility shifts to the voter, and the window to act closes fast.

Natrona County

Natrona County election assistants help ensure voters get the correct ballot during the general election on Nov. 5, 2024.

(DanCepeda,OilCityNewsfilephoto)

UNITED STATES SENATE

UNITED STATES SENATE: 6-YEAR TERM

INCUMBENT:

CYNTHIA LUMMIS (R) (RETIRING)

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Crucial challenges facing the people of Wyoming, housing, healthcare, and freedom from fisa (fisa is still active, but should have been finished a few weeks ago.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

Step by step, day by day, whether it’s communicating to constituents. To creating legislation to help the best interests, and help-

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The most pressing challenges facing Wyomingites are the soaring “kitchen table” costs of living, working, and accessing basic necessities. Hardworking families feel the squeeze of inflation on everything from groceries to utilities. Compounding this financial strain is a critical shortage of accessible, quality rural health care and essential mental health support services. This crisis deeply impacts our veterans, alongside vulnerable families who rely on Medicaid to access vital medical care. Furthermore, we face a concerning gap in childhood food security, making it harder to ensure our kids get the nutrition they need to thrive.

Additionally, Wyoming’s economic stability is under pressure. Our unique energy heritage faces rapid transitions, threatening high-paying jobs. At the same time, federal proposals to sell off public lands jeopardize our outdoor heritage and local economies, given that the federal government manages nearly half of our state’s land.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

In the U.S. Senate, my priority will be to champion economic resilience, transparency, and practical solutions over political division. To tackle rising costs and protect our children, I will support federal nutrition programs and localized initiatives to ensure no child in Wyoming goes hungry. I will work across the aisle to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure and protect essential programs like Medicaid, ensuring that a person’s zip code or income does not dictate their access to quality medical or mental health care.

To safeguard Wyoming’s eco-

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming families are being squeezed from every direction: higher prices, rising debt, rural health care strain, uncertainty in energy jobs, water concerns, public land fights, and a federal government that keeps reaching past its proper limits.

The deeper challenge is accountability. Washington keeps spending money we have yet to

2026 CANDIDATES:

INDICATES “NO RESPONSE TO CANDIDATE Q&A’ RECEIVED

ing the people of Wyoming and the American people.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

In dealing with weaponization of govt the last 4 years, and seeing the bickering and corruption in Washington D.C., the people of Wyoming are ready for a wrecking ball in the Senate. With a guarantee of a one term only Senator, for the first time in American history if I am elected. I can do what “We the People” want, I have no desire to be a lifetime politician.

nomic future, I will act as a fierce advocate for our energy independence. I intend to support our traditional energy workers while driving sustainable innovations that create new, highpaying jobs. I will also champion our community colleges, which are uniquely equipped to provide localized career training. Regarding our vast landscapes, I will firmly protect public lands from being sold off, adhering to a “multiple-use and sustainedyield” approach that balances responsible development with conservation and open public access.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I am a fifth-generation Wyomingite with a lifetime of deep roots and frontline experience in public service and the private sector. My public service continues a family legacy of leadership; my mother, Liz Byrd, was the first Black woman elected to the Wyoming State Legislature, and my father, Jim Byrd, was the state’s first Black police chief.

Professionally, I served a decade in the Wyoming House of Representatives (2009–2019) representing District 44, holding leadership roles as Minority Whip and Minority Caucus Chairman. I consistently sponsored pragmatic legislation focused on fair employment, voting rights, and protecting the working class.

Beyond politics, my career as an exploration geophysicist in the oil industry, combined with decades of experience in computer network design and corporate consulting, gives me a practical, data-driven understanding of the energy sector. I am running to reject the politics of division and restore accountability, integrity, and genuine compassion to public service.

VOTE FOR ONE, TOP CHOICE FROM EACH PARTY ADVANCES TO NOV. 3 GENERAL ELECTION

BILLY BENAVIDEZ (D)

JAMES BYRD (D)

JILL M. EDWARDS* (R)

HARRIET HAGEMAN Republican united states senate

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

I was elected to the House of Representatives four years ago on a promise to fight the bloated administrative state and preserve our western way of life. As a U.S. Senator, I will continue to fight for regulatory reform, permitting modernization, funding for local infrastructure projects, highway safety, adherence to our Constitution, access to rural health care, and ways to lower the cost of living. The administrative state continues to reign as the common denominator complicating all of those issues.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The war with Iran and hyperinflation.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I’m passionate about strengthening America’s defense and reducing the deficit before we experience hyperinflation. Government is best that governs least. I’ll strengthen America’s defense and reduce the deficit.

I’d make Social Security nontaxable once again. I’d export our resources to Europe and Israel through the Strait of Gibraltar to broaden our opportunities. Wyoming is an energy treasure trove in an energy short world. Our natural resources should help our friends, not our enemies.

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

As I’ve traveled around Wyoming, I’ve heard the same concerns over and over. The cost of living continues to rise while paychecks don’t go as far. Housing, groceries, health insurance, and everyday necessities are becoming increasingly difficult to afford. People who felt comfortably middle class a few years ago are starting to feel the squeeze.

I also hear concern about the future of Wyoming itself. People want to protect our public lands, preserve our agricultural heritage, keep good-paying jobs here at home, and ensure their children have the opportunity to build a life in Wyoming if they choose. These are not abstract

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

earn, writing bills too large to read, handing power to agencies, and then acting surprised when people lose trust. That is avoidance dressed up as leadership.

Wyoming needs a government that remembers who it works for. The Constitution is the rulebook. The rule of law matters. Due process matters. Local control matters. Our land, water, families, and future belong in the hands of the people, with decisions guided by communities that live with the consequences.

I will begin with the oath: support and defend the Constitution. That means pushing Congress back toward honest process, limited government, and public accountability.

I support congressional term limits. Public office should serve a season, then return to the people. I support clear singlesubject legislation, honest budgeting, public vote explanations, and ending the habit of hiding major policy inside giant packages that arrive at midnight with a ribbon on top and debt inside.

I also believe Wyoming citizens

HARRIET HAGEMAN (R)

JOHN HOLTZ (R)

SAM MEAD (R)

to strengthen care and access across our state.

I will continue my crusade against an overbearing bureaucracy by confirming qualified nominees for federal appointments while building on my record in the House to pass common sense reforms to tame the administrative state. I have already lifted Biden-era prohibitions on new coal leases in the Powder River Basin, and delivered real regulatory reforms through the One Big Beautiful Bill to unleash Wyoming’s full energy and mineral potential. The hallmark legislation of this Congress also gave Wyoming residents the largest tax cut of any state in the nation. I am additionally proud to have secured $205 million for Wyoming rural health care through the Rural Health Transportation Program

I have international experience and qualifications unmatched by others. I support Wyoming. God bless Wyoming and keep it wild. Wyoming should not become Disneyland.

I’ll uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I’m an Eagle Scout, and a member of the Christian Legal Society since law school. I was a Space Systems Operations Officer in the U.S. Air Force.

I was in the Electro Optical and Space Division of the Hughes Aircraft Company and obtained the first double-digit firm fixedprice contract in the history of the Hughes Aircraft Company, setting a precedent that aided Hughes in becoming the largest private employer in Southern California. I was the head of the

policy debates. They affect the strength of our communities, our economy, and our way of life.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I care about solving problems. Growing up on a ranch, the only good lessons are hard lessons. If you didn’t do something right the first time, you did it twice. Washington has spent too many years treating symptoms instead of fixing the underlying problems.

Congress needs to start doing its job again. It should write laws, conduct oversight, and tackle difficult issues instead of continually handing more authority to the executive branch. Independent thinking, honest debate, and a willingness to work across

should have a stronger voice between elections. I have built a proof of concept at GrassrootsMVT.org to show how technology can help aggregate the voices of registered Wyoming voters by district and issue. Technology should support judgment and make accountability easier. A senator should ask, listen, report back, and show Wyoming how each vote reflects the people served. On energy, public lands, rural health care, and federal overreach, my test will be simple: does this protect Wyoming people, Wyoming communities, and Wyoming’s future?

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I attended Casper College on a livestock judging scholarship and earned both my bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Wyoming. I practiced as a water, natural resources and constitutional trial attorney for over 30 years, defending private property rights, fighting bureaucratic overreach and working on policy for a variety of clients. I advocated for federal regulatory reform and adherence to our constitutional framework. I represented the State of Wyoming, farmers, ranchers, municipalities, counties, trade organizations, and small businesses, among others. There are six generations of my family that have called Wyo-

team to redesign the fire control system of the Army’s main battle tank, the M60A3; the fire control system consisting of the laser range finder, ballistic computer and thermal imaging system.

My grandmother met my grandfather in Gillette in 1919 and her brothers had the livery stable.

My grandfather wouldn’t let my dad become a navy pilot because cousin Earl Holtz was killed in a crash with Doyen Wardwell, the head of the Wyoming Aeronautical Commission at the Casper airport in 1929. My dad had to enlist in the Marines in World War II.

I was one of the youngest judges in Wyoming history and helped establish the Circuit Court system of today. I was president of the Delta Gamma chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at the University of Wyoming.

I was instrumental in placing the carrying of a concealed weapon without a permit for Wyoming residents on the Wyoming Re-

differences are essential if we’re going to restore trust in our institutions and deliver meaningful results.

I’ll fight to lower the cost of living by reducing unnecessary barriers to growth, supporting Wyoming’s energy and agricultural industries, investing in infrastructure that strengthens our economy, and protecting the public lands that are central to our identity and our economy. Every decision I make will be guided by what is best for Wyoming over the long term.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

ming home. I know Wyoming well, including our culture, businesses, and legacy industries. I now serve on the Judiciary and Natural Resources Committees including as chair of the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries in my second congressional term. I have secured more than $40 million in community project funding for local infrastructure projects throughout the State. We have also returned $16 million directly to Wyoming businesses and individuals, resolving over 6,000 case files, including money being wrongfully withheld by the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the VA, and others. I have passed 41 legislative wins over my 3 ½ year tenure. I look forward to continuing my service to our great state if I am fortunate enough to be elected to the United States Senate.

publican platform in 2010. I am a life member of the NRA.

I was class president at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, where the Japanese first developed kamikaze tactics. I was on the Bataan Death March 20th anniversary march with three of the original survivors and received the historic trail award.

My father was an OSI agent and we spent many years in Del Rio, Texas, where our family friend, Major Rudolph Anderson, was the first casualty of the Cold War. He was shot down over Cuba in a U2.

I graduated high school in Omaha and began college at the University of Maryland, in Munich when my father received orders to be Deputy Inspector General of Security for the United States Air Force in Wiesbaden. I graduated from the University of Wyoming and went to law school at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. I was a judge for many years in Douglas.

I’m a fifth-generation Wyoming rancher, and that experience has shaped how I approach almost everything. Ranching teaches accountability, stewardship, and persistence. It also teaches that lasting solutions come from doing the job correctly, not from taking shortcuts.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

My strongest qualification is this: I come from the people to represent the people of Wyoming alone. I am close to the people for a reason. I am untied from big money, political institutions, and Washington power circles. My loyalty belongs to the Constitution, the rule of law, and every single person in Wyoming.

I am a fourth-generation Wyoming native. I grew up in Greybull and Basin, graduated from Basin High School in 1984, earned a history degree from the University of Wyoming, and honorably served 12 years in the

I’ve spent my career building businesses and solving complex problems. I’ve worked in agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and technology, managing teams, making difficult decisions, and delivering results in environments where failure has real consequences. Those experiences taught me to rely on facts, listen carefully, challenge assumptions, and focus on outcomes instead of politics. I’m not running because I want to become a politician. I’m running because I believe Wyoming deserves someone who will represent Wyoming instead of Washington. I’ll work with anyone who has a good idea, challenge anyone who doesn’t, and measure success by whether the people of Wyoming are more prosperous, our communities are stronger, and our children have greater opportunities than we did.

Wyoming Army National Guard. I built and ran a small oilfield service business, Anchor Environmental AAA Services, from 1999 to 2020. I know what payroll means. I know what federal rules mean when people with clipboards fail to understand the work. I know what it means to solve problems with a crew, a truck, a phone call, and a promise kept.

I am running because power belongs to the people. Wyoming deserves a senator rooted in the Constitution, the rule of law, term limits, public accountability, and loyalty to us.

BILLY BENAVIDEZ democrat united states senate

JIMMY SCOVGARD Republican united states senate

JOHN HOLTZ Republican united states senate

SAM MEAD Republican united states senate

JAMES BYRD democrat united states senate

JIMMY SKOVGARD (R)

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming is being strangled by federal overreach. From crushing energy regulations to restricting ranchers and public land use, Washington treats Wyoming as a place to control, not serve. As your congresswoman I will address challenges you face and I will:

Repeal burdensome energy regulations. Pass the PERMIT and SPEED Acts. Expand energy production, revenue streams, and innovation.

Return land management authority to state and local communities while keeping public lands public. (I oppose the wholesale sale or transfer of our public lands, including federal.)

Protect ranchers and farmers from needless mandates and fight for our water rights.

Restore affordable, patientdoctor centered healthcare.

Maintain a well-funded, modern military. Honor veterans.

Cut wasteful spending, oppose tax increases, and reduce inflation.

Eliminate fraud in government

united states house of representatives

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The two issues I hear about most are the rising cost of living and the inability of Congress to deliver for the American people on anything they promised voters last year. Families are paying more for groceries, fuel, electricity, housing, and health care while also worrying about

the national debt, government spending, and the future of Wyoming’s energy economy. Many people feel Washington has become too focused on politics and not focused enough on working together on solving problems.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

My top priority will be lowering the cost of living by restoring American energy dominance.

FRANK CHAPMAN Republican united states house of representatives

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The most crucial challenges facing Wyoming families are inflation, high food and fuel costs, federal overreach, attacks on energy and agriculture, access to healthcare, border security, and decisions about our land, water, resources, and way of life being made by Washington bureaucrats and Washington elites instead of Wyoming people. Wyoming families are paying more for groceries, gas, housing, utilities, healthcare, and basic necessities. At the same time, ranchers, energy workers, miners, outfitters, small businesses, counties, tribes, veterans, and rural communities are too often forced to fight the federal government just to live, work, build, graze, drill, mine, hire, or access the land.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected, I will fight to lower costs by cutting wasteful spending, unleashing Wyoming coal, oil, gas, uranium, trona, and minerals, reducing red tape, securing the border, strengthening American jobs, and protecting the industries that fund our schools, roads, services, and state budget. I will also fight for Wyoming agriculture by opposing foreign beef that undercuts American ranchers, supporting honest country-of-origin labeling, opening grazing leases, creating emergency grazing leases when conditions require it, and supporting tax credits for heifers to help rebuild American herds and lower food costs.

I am deeply concerned about judicial overreach. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., Tanya Chutkan, threw out the environmental review for the massive Converse County oil and gas project near Douglas and

Glenrock. A Montana judge recently threw out more than 1.5 million acres of Wyoming oil and gas leases. These distant court rulings threaten Wyoming jobs, revenue, schools, roads, families, and energy independence.

That is why Congress must act. I will push bipartisan reforms to venue, standing, timelines, appeals, statutes of limitation, and mandatory mediation so outside groups cannot use distant courts, judge shopping, endless environmental assessments, costly soil tests, and delay tactics to shut down responsible Wyoming projects.

We must also amend and modernize the Endangered Species Act so it protects species without destroying Wyoming agriculture, grazing, mineral extraction, oil and gas, and local economies. Wyoming can protect wildlife while still producing energy, food, minerals, and jobs.

Constituent services will be a major priority. When a Wyoming citizen, rancher, veteran, business owner, family, tribe, county, or community is up against a federal agency, you will not be alone. I will fight hand in hand with you against government overreach and Washington elites.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I am uniquely qualified for this fight. I am a rancher, businessman, Licensed Wyoming Outfitter, attorney, and business owner. I have built businesses, signed paychecks, dealt with federal agencies, worked the land, protected public access, and practiced law for over 30 years with a spotless disciplinary history. I am running to fight effectively for your family, your job, your rights, and our Wyoming way of life.

When We Fight… We Win

programs.

Be Wyoming’s conservative vote and voice for the Second Amendment, life, border security, free speech, fiscal discipline, limited government, free enterprise, liberty, and more.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

Wyoming needs a Congresswoman grounded in real experience, not scripted talking points. As State Superintendent, I delivered measurable results and built coalitions to get things done. I served on key state boards, working directly with those impacted to deliver wins for landowners, recreationists, and our economy.

Wyoming has the resources to power America, yet unnecessary federal regulations and permitting delays have driven up energy costs that affect nearly everything we buy. I will fight to expand responsible production of coal, oil, natural gas, uranium, and nuclear energy, modernize permitting, reduce unnecessary regulations, and rein in deficit spending that fuels inflation. I will also defend Wyoming agriculture, protect multiple-use public lands through active stewardship, secure the border and fix our broken immigration

I’m running a grassroots cam-

paign across Wyoming and will continue that work once elected.

I’ll stay connected to our communities and accountable to the people I serve. I’ll work in Washington but live in Wyoming. My focus is simple: reduce government overreach, expand opportunity, and be a strong conservative voice for our state.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I’m a 5th generation Wyomingite who has lived, worked, and raised a family across our state for over 53 years. I understand our communities because I am part of them. I am shaped by our shared values of hard work,

system, and restore Congress to regular budgeting instead of governing through continuing resolutions and massive omnibus bills. I will also push for more transparency and accountability in Washington.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

As President of the Wyoming Senate, I’ve learned how to turn conservative principles and ideas into conservative results and legislative victories. I have balanced budgets, cut

KEVIN CHRISTENSEN Republican

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Across Wyoming, families are feeling squeezed from every direction. The cost of groceries, fuel, housing, and health care has risen faster than paychecks, and too many hardworking people feel like they are falling behind despite doing everything right. Young families are struggling to buy homes, seniors are worried about fixed incomes and social security solvency concerns, and small businesses are carrying higher operating costs that make it harder to grow and hire. These pressures are real, and people deserve leaders who understand

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

I figure there are three main challenges facing the people of Wyoming today. And in fact, the people of Wyoming aren’t so different from people all across this country.

The first is affordability or inflation, if you like. While I am glad to see gas prices continue to go down, I don’t really understand why that is. The fundamentals underlying gas prices haven’t really changed; things are still touch and go in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, so I have to wonder if the major corporations involved have been price-gouging and are now worried about having prices so high for long enough to encourage people to cut back their usage. In any event, other petroleum based products are not seeing similar price cuts. Motor oil keeps going up. I anyone seeing any relief in fertilizer prices?

The second is government dys-

both economics and the human impact behind them.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected, I will focus on practical steps that lower costs and expand opportunities. First, I will push for fiscal discipline in Congress, so Washington stops driving inflation through reckless deficit spending. Second, I will fight to unleash Wyoming energy by streamlining permitting, expanding responsible leasing, and reducing unnecessary delays, because affordable energy lowers costs for families and businesses alike. Third, I will support apprenticeships, trade education, and workforce development so

function at the highest levels. All of Congress but especially the House of Representatives have been sitting on their thumbs doing a lot of talking without taking the bull by the horns. People are getting rich off the public dime and it’s not welfare mothers. Congress needs to put the spotlight on the people who are really suckling at the government teat and start holding them accountable.

The third is a new Gilded Age where the modern Rockefellers and Carnegies are getting wealthier while the rest of us squeak by. Look, I hate taxes as much as anyone, but if you have to have taxes (and we do) we should at least focus our collections on the people who have the most to collect from. Why do we keep getting promised tax cuts only to see all the benefits go to the likes of Elon Musk and Jeff

community, and freedom.

As State Superintendent, I: Expanded career and technical education

Ended Wyoming’s involvement with Common Core groups

Protected parental rights

Fought indoctrination of our children

Led the strongest pandemic response in the nation

I represented Wyoming and rural America at the national level as the president of the organization of State Superintendents. Our success in Wyoming caught the attention of other leaders, and I answered a call to fight in America’s battle for

taxes, strengthened education, protected our God given rights, passed numerous pieces of meaningful legislation, and built coalitions to get difficult work done. With ten years of legislative experience, I am the most qualified candidate in this race to serve in the United States House of Representatives.

In the private sector, I have spent more than two decades in Wyoming’s energy industry, giving me firsthand experience with the opportunities and challenges facing our state’s economy. I un-

more Wyoming people can step into good-paying jobs without unnecessary barriers. Finally, I will back stronger enforcement of antitrust laws in industries like food processing, meatpacking, and health care, where consolidation drives up prices and hurts both consumers and producers. My goal is simple: make it easier for Wyoming families to build a stable life, keep more of what they earn, and see a future of opportunity here at home.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

Both my professional experience and having been raised here in Wyoming have prepared me to meet these challenges with both urgency and common sense. As a public land manager oversee-

Bezos, modern day robber barons who treat their employees like the manure many of my fellow Wyomingites have to shovel?

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

So the solutions, as I have implied are these: Congress needs to reassert their Constitutional powers to handle all kind of taxation including tariffs and to be in charge of when we do or don’t go to war. Congress needs to quit pandering to the lowest common denominator in their rhetoric and the top 1% in their tax policy. Let’s do real troubleshooting to find the real root causes of our problems and quit letting perfect be the enemy of good. And we need to get focused on making the economy work for all Americans, especially those of us who make the economy happen because we’re the ones turning the gears.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared

parents’ rights. I left Wyoming for two years to serve in Governor Youngkin’s administration. While there, I:

Replaced harmful transgender policies with policies that respected parents’ rights and the dignity of all students

Told the truth about how children were doing post-pandemic

Replaced dishonest history standards with standards that teach the truth about America’s founding and exceptionalism My leadership is grounded in limited government, individual freedom, fiscal responsibility, and Christian faith. I focus on results, not headlines. I will deliver for Wyoming.

derstand how decisions made in Washington affect working families, ranchers, small businesses, and energy producers. I am also a husband, a father of two teenage daughters, and a volunteer firefighter. I’m running because Wyoming deserves a representative who will do the hard work of governing—not just talking. My goal is simple: protect our freedoms, lower the cost of living, and ensure that Wyoming’s voice is heard and respected in Congress.

ing millions of acres of surface and mineral estate in Wyoming, I have worked directly with energy producers, ranchers, farmers, and local communities to balance responsible development with long-term stewardship. That work has given me firsthand knowledge of how federal decisions affect jobs, costs, and opportunity on the ground. My graduate degree in national resource strategy and economics has also strengthened my understanding of how policy, regulation, and fiscal decisions shape everyday life. Just as important, I know these issues are not abstract, they affect families, livelihoods, and communities I care deeply about. I will bring that perspective to public service every day at Congress as I represent the people of Wyoming.

you to meet these challenges?

I’ve lived in small-town, rural America most of my life. I’ve seen the trouble in big cities. I know politicians are messing around with problems they don’t understand and making up problems that don’t really exist to distract from their utter failure to do anything about the real problems. I know what you’re going through because I’ve lived it. And I have a proven process to get to the real issues and fix them.

BO BITEMAN Republican

JILLIAN BALOW Republican united states house of representatives

united states house of representatives

RICHARD DODSON Republican united states house of representatives

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The biggest challenge facing Wyoming families is an economy that punishes the people who make this country work.

Inflation driven by reckless federal spending has made groceries, gas, housing, and equipment more expensive for ranchers, energy workers, small business owners, and young families trying to get started. At the same time, Washington bureaucrats,

until Trump was re-elected, spent 4 years waging a war on Wyoming’s energy industry, threatening the good-paying jobs and tax revenue that fund our schools and communities.

Thanks to the failures of Obamacare, health care has become too expensive and less accessible — especially rural health care. Big insurance companies and big hospital conglomerates are making a killing, and everyone else suffers. We need price transparency, more competition, and more innovation — all things we could achieve if the

DAVID GIRALT Republican united states house of representatives

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Cost of living. Wyoming families are feeling the pain of inflation driven by reckless federal spending that has made groceries, housing, and fuel more expensive for people across our state. Our rural communities face a healthcare access crisis that threatens both quality of life and economic growth. And Washington’s continued overreach into Wyoming’s public lands and energy industry puts

livelihoods at risk. These aren’t abstract policy debates, they’re kitchen table conversations happening in Casper and every corner of this state.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

On the cost of living: I’ll vote against any budget that doesn’t cut spending, fight to roll back regulatory burdens that drive up costs, and champion Wyoming’s energy industry every single day. Unleashing American energy production is the fastest, most effective tool we have to bring prices down for working

united states house of representatives

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Our most crucial challenge is how to reform a political system that has become adverse to promoting the general welfare of all the people. Brutality is now a common outcome of government actions. Fascism is a common philosophy among elected officials. Candidates are elected and take an oath to the Constitution and then ignore their oath and advance their religious dogma in violation of constitutional principles. Unlimited funding of candidates and causes by big money makes effective citizen resistance difficult. Major issues

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

such as the 39 TRILLION dollar national debt, the impending insolvency of our current social security system, a health care system that is unavailable to many and vastly expensive to all without being medically effective, an inhumane immigration enforcement dynamic, and a condoning of rape culture are all given short shrift by the current political reality.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected I will use the power and budget of my office to organize the people of Wyoming into a grassroots political powerhouse. Citizen participation in the elective political process will dramatically increase. Most

federal government would get out of the way and stop writing health care legislation that benefits big companies over families and small businesses.

Finally, I think too many Wyomingites feel like nobody in Washington is listening. Unelected bureaucrats make decisions about our land, our water, and our way of life without ever setting foot here. That has to change.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

First, I will fight to cut federal spending and stop the reckless borrowing that fuels inflation. Washington doesn’t have a rev-

families and Wyoming should be leading that charge.

On healthcare: I will build on the Republican-led Rural Health Transformation Program, ensuring federal dollars are deployed efficiently and that Wyoming has the flexibility to design solutions that fit our geography and communities. I’ll push to expand telehealth access for rural residents and veterans, create incentives to attract and retain providers in underserved areas, and fight for Medicaid flexibility that gives Wyoming more control and fewer one-size-fits-all federal mandates.

On public lands: I oppose the sale of Wyoming’s public lands, they belong to the people of

people are willing to be organized to help their Wyoming neighbors as long as there is an organizing entity to do the footwork, my staff will provide that. Elderly and disabled people will not have to have a diminished quality of life due to a lack of resources. We will voluntarily share with our neighbors in need as we confront the common inequities and struggles.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

My qualifications are numerous:

I Have lived in Wyoming for 60 of my 69 years, working outside almost exclusively. Working as a Youth Conservation Corps youngster ,forester, woodcutter, outdoor maintenance hand, underground utility line locator and other outdoor jobs have

enue problem. It has a spending problem, and I won’t vote for budgets that mortgage our children’s future.

Second, I will work to unleash Wyoming energy. That means rolling back the regulations strangling coal, oil, and natural gas, opening up responsible development on federal lands, and ensuring America is energydominant again. When Wyoming energy thrives, Wyoming families thrive.

Third, I will support free market healthcare reforms and fight the corrupt giveaways to big insurance and big hospitals.

And I will stand up to the ad-

this state, not the federal government to sell off. I will fight to protect multi-use principles that support grazing, hunting, fishing, energy production, and recreation, and ensure that Wyoming voices drive decisions about our own lands, not Washington bureaucrats.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I’m the son of legal immigrants who raised me here in Casper with a deep appreciation for this country and an even deeper sense of responsibility to it. That upbringing shaped everything that came after. I commissioned as an Army officer, earned my

given me a strong appreciation for the Wyoming Way. Serving in the Peace Corps for 2 years in Guatemala taught me how to speak Spanish, how to appreciate and understand the dynamics of a completely different culture and also the dangers of a murderous fascist system. Serving for a combined 22 years in elective office…State House, State Senate and City Council… has taught me the ins and outs of how to resist corruption and how to advance a progressive agenda. Lobbying for the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault convinced me that social violence of all types should be considered a primary threat to our social fabric. As a final qualification my belief is…. no trump, no maga, and no (un) freedom caucus.

ministrative state. I believe decisions about Wyoming should be made by the people of Wyoming, not by bureaucrats in Washington who’ve never seen a branding or worked a rig. I’ll fight to return power to the states and to the people.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I’m not a career politician, and I think that’s exactly what Washington needs. I’m a businessman and a lifelong conservative activist. I’ve spent my career meeting payrolls, managing budgets, and solving real problems, not giving speeches about them.

Ranger tab, and spent 12 years on active duty including with the 75th Ranger Regiment and 82nd Airborne Division. I deployed twice to Afghanistan and earned the Bronze Star for leadership. Combat taught me to perform under pressure, make hard decisions fast, and deliver results when people are counting on you. Congress needs that same kind of leadership right now.

What truly sets me apart in this race is my federal legislative experience—nearly five years’ worth, more than any other candidate. During my final active duty assignment, I worked directly with members of Congress drafting key legislation including the NDAA. After leav-

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming is in a critical time with the cost of everything being so high. Healthcare, food and groceries as well as housing are rising every day and people’s wages are not keeping up.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected, I will work to remove tariffs, increase international trade, and work in a bipartisan manner to pass legislation to help the everyday citizen. I am interested in pursuing universal healthcare by starting with bringing back the ACA subsidies to lower health insurance premiums.

I learned my values from my father, Foster Friess, who taught me that success is a responsibility, that we’re stewards of what we’ve been given, and that faith, family, and freedom are worth fighting for. Those values guide everything I do.

I’m a conservative like Reagan and a fighter like Trump. I don’t owe anything to the establishment or the special interests, which means I can go to Washington and vote my conscience and Wyoming’s interests every single time. I’ll never forget who I work for: the people of Wyoming.

ing active duty I joined Senator Cynthia Lummis’s office, working on Wyoming-specific federal priorities including agriculture, trade, public lands, and national security.

I’m not a millionaire and I am not a career politician. I’m a middle-class Wyoming kid who wanted to serve his country and live the American Dream. I built my career through public service, earned an MBA from the University of Wyoming and have had the opportunity to sit in the rooms where laws are written. I know how Washington works, and I know how to make it work for Wyoming.

she helped new lawyers pass the Bar exam. She also worked at the law offices of Corthell & King as well as the American Heritage Center and served as Director of the Albany County Library where she helped to get a bond issue passed for the new library. She was also employed as a financial advisor for VALIC/AIG/ Corebridge where she traveled the state meeting in schools, hospitals, cities and counties to assist employees with their financial planning.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

We must address the attacks on our core industries one by one and grow our economy. For our producers, I will work to bring back country of origin labeling, address the screwworm outbreak, and end the meat packing monopoly that has been squeezing our producers for so long. For our coal industry, I will work to ensure that west coast states open their ports to our coal. For our oil and gas industry, I will

The most crucial issues Wyomingites are facing are the attacks on our core industries that affect jobs and affordability. We must make life more affordable and grow our economy by ensuring that our core industries are able to reach their full potential. We must also stop the monetary expansion that has created out of control inflation. Coal, oil and gas, soda ash, and ranching and farming are key Wyoming industries that make our state prosperous. Coal fired power plants are being blocked from being built by out of control regulations, and west coast liberal states are blocking access to markets for our coal. Oil and gas are under relentless attack from radical judges that block drilling and future exploration. Wyoming ranchers and farmers continue to face burdensome regulations from the government. These attacks on our Wyoming industries must be addressed.

ensure that the permitting delays created by the judiciary are addressed. I will reduce regulations to make sure our industries prosper and reduce the cost of living. I will also eliminate all subsidies for wind turbines that are doing great damage to our state’s economy. I will stop data centers, because they would do great damage to our water supply and our way of life.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

As a former state legislator from Casper and current Wyoming Secretary of State, I have built a track record of getting things done for the people of Wyoming. I passed the ultrasound bill, the first pro-life legislation in Wyoming in over 30 years. A fierce defender of Wyoming’s energy economy, I’ve consistently worked to protect coal, oil, and gas, and soda ash jobs.. In 2021,

I was the lead sponsor of the voter ID bill.

In 2022, I ran for Secretary of State to turn election integrity from rhetoric into results. As Wyoming’s chief election official—an office that also serves as Lieutenant Governor— Wyoming became the first state in the nation to require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. In 2024 when states were removing President Trump from the ballot, I successfully fought to keep him on the ballot. In January, I successfully stopped a foreign wind farm that was proposed in Converse and Niobrara Counties. I have a track record of getting things done for the people of Wyoming, and I don’t back down when the insiders and the media lie and attack me. I will continue that track record of defending the interests of the people of Wyoming as a member of Congress.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

Lisa Kinney was born and raised in Laramie and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wyoming, her master’s degree from the University of Oregon and her law degree from the University of Wyoming.

She owned the Summit Law Review from during which time

Lisa is a published author, long-time volunteer and past president of the Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce. She was elected to the Wyoming State Senate from Laramie and served for ten years from 1985-1995 where she served as minority floor leader from 1993-1995. Lisa will represent the people of Wyoming, not Washington. Her priorities are to maintain our public lands, lower health care costs which puts more money in people’s pockets, as well as bringing civility back to Wyoming. She has integrity, is honest and believes that elected officials should not make decisions to increase their wealth, while cutting benefits to Wyoming people.

Thank you for your vote!

states house of representatives

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming families are facing rising costs, federal overreach, an uncertain economy, and policies that threaten our energy industry, agriculture, and way of life.

Oil City News LLC is a nonpartisan local news organization and Central Wyoming's largest locally owned, independent news platform, specializing in hyperlocal coverage of the people, places and events that shape the community we love. Our mission is building and connecting our community by bringing you accurate information fast and forever free.

TIPS: Facebook Messenger (m.me/oilcitywyo), email (news@ oilcity.news) and text/voice (307267-0974)

ACCURACY: Although our local newsroom works hard to ensure the accuracy of its reporting, mistakes can and do happen. When a mistake is made, we will work quickly to address it. A correction referencing the corrected information will be placed in the story online and it will be added to a running list of corrections. If you find an error, click the “Report a Correction or Typo” button at the bottom of the online version of the story.

DISTRIBUTION: We distribute thousands of free copies of Oil City Weekly at your favorite locations around Casper. Visit oilcity.news/weekly for a complete list of distribution points.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: You may subscribe or gift a subscription for mail delivery of Oil City Weekly for only $12.99/month or $129/ year. Subscribe at oilcity.news/ shop or call 307-215-3133.

CONTACT US: Facebook, Instagram & TikTok: @oilcitywyo

PUBLISHER: Shawn Houck, shawn@oilcity.news

MANAGING EDITOR: Klark Byrd, editor@oilcity.news

ELECTIONS & POLITICS: David Dudley, david@oilcity.news

ADVERTISE: 307-258-3124 or sales@upslope.media

REQUEST DISTRIBUTION: publisher@oilcity.news

Rural communities also face challenges with access to healthcare, workforce shortages, and maintaining critical infrastructure. Above all, many Wyomingites feel their voices are no longer being heard in Washington.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

As a lifelong Wyomingite, businessman, entrepreneur, and wealth manager, I’ve spent my career solving problems, creating opportunities, and helping families and businesses succeed. I understand budgets, economic growth, and the challenges facing working families because I’ve lived and worked alongside them. I will bring private-sector experience, accountability, and a Wyoming-first mindset to Congress, always putting the interests of our state and our citizens ahead of politics.

I will fight to lower taxes, reduce wasteful federal spending, expand American energy production, protect Wyoming’s coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium industries, secure the border, defend private property rights, and roll back unnecessary federal regulations. I’ll work to strengthen rural healthcare, support agriculture, protect the Second Amendment, and ensure Wyoming receives a fair return from the resources produced on our public lands. Every decision I make will be guided by what’s best for Wyoming, not Washington.

KEITH B. GOODENOUGH Republican

STEVE FRIESS Republican united states house of representatives

CHUCK GRAY Republican united states house of representatives

LISA KINNEY democrat united states house of representatives

REID RASNER

(continued from front page)

the mail to send or return a ballot. Lee pointed to U.S. Postal Service guidance recommending voters allow seven days for a ballot to arrive by mail, and another seven days to mail it back

— meaning a voter who waits even two weeks into the 28-day window may be cutting it close.

“This underscores the importance of having a secure drop box for voters to return ballots,” Lee said.

The tighter timeline falls hardest on one group, Good said.

“With changes to the U.S. Postal Service delivery system, the shortened window has the potential to impact any voter relying on receiving or returning their ballot by mail,” she said.

“But it especially impacts homebound voters who rely solely on the mail service for voting.”

Absentee ballots can be mailed to a voter or picked up in person,

PROVISIONAL

the required proof of identity, residency or citizenship; when a firsttime voter who registered by mail shows up without acceptable ID; or when a voter is otherwise challenged and can’t produce the documentation the state requires.

Receiving that ballot is only the first step.

A provisional vote is not counted unless the voter provides the information needed to confirm their eligibility — and the deadline is unforgiving.

State law gives a provisional voter only until the close of business on the day following the election to bring the missing documentation to their county clerk. Miss that cutoff, and the ballot is never opened.

BY THE NUMBERS

The numbers in Natrona County show how often that happens.

In the 2022 primary, the county

LIFE

(continued from A5)

cording to the most recent report by the Wyoming Hospital Association.

WHO PAYS WHEN HOSPITALS FAIL?

Hospitals recoup the losses by charging insured patients more, Robitaille said. Taxpayers who oppose Medicaid expansion as a cost-saving measure are already covering the bill through premiums instead, which impact the broader community.

“The reality is we’re still paying for it,” Robitaille said. “It’s just in a different manner.”

Her clinic writes off 80–85% of costs for its poorest patients through a sliding fee scale, turning a $140 visit into a $15 charge. Federal funding offsets only part of that.

Robataille pushed back on a common assumption about who’s uninsured.

Leiker said, while in-person absentee voting lets a voter mark their ballot at the elections office and feed it directly into the tabulator — no mail involved.

“Those that wait to request an absentee ballot during that 28day period may not have time to receive and return their ballot by mail and meet the deadline,” Leiker said.

EARLY VOTING

Voters worried about timing have an alternative: skip the mail entirely. Early in-person voting is open to any registered voter for the full 28-day window, with no need to wait for anything to arrive by mail or go back out by mail afterward.

To see the sample ballots for your address, visit the Natrona County Clerk’s Office Polling Place Locator, enter your home address and click the Select button on the address returned.

(continued from front page)

issued 18 provisional ballots, according to Good. Six of those were counted. Of the 12 that were not, seven voters never proved their eligibility, four failed to provide proof that their voting rights had been restored, and one lacked acceptable ID to register.

In the 2024 primary, only three provisional ballots were issued. Two were counted.

“The third came from a potential felon who did not come in the next day with restoration paperwork,” Good said. Provisional ballots are rare in Wyoming, and clerks say that’s by design.

“On the whole, Wyoming has very few provisional ballots. This is largely due to same day registration,” Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee said. “Generally, we have around 5-6 provisionals. Primary reason is no ID to register or vote.”

“There’s a misconception that it’s all these people taking advantage of the system,” she said. “In 25 years of caring for this population, I find that they are often employed, self-employed or working for small businesses that can’t afford private insurance.”

Michael Shepherd, a political scientist who studies how health outcomes shape politics, said uncompensated care is a leading cause of rural hospital closures nationally.

“That’s everybody’s hospital,” he said. “That’s not just the people who are on Medicaid.”

The stakes are high in Wyoming, a largely rural state in which farming and ranching, among the country’s most dangerous jobs, depend on nearby emergency rooms when workplace accidents strike. Rural

VOTING & HEALTH

GENERAL ELECTION IMPACT

The process is similar for the Nov. 3 general election, but with different dates. Early voting opens Oct. 6 — 28 days out — and runs through Nov. 2. Absentee ballots follow the same 28-day window, with the same 45-day exception for military and overseas voters.

For voters weighing their options, an early ballot counts the same as one cast on Election Day. There’s no advantage to voting first and no penalty for waiting, as long as the ballot is in the clerk’s hands by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Questions about specific polling hours, locations or absentee ballot tracking should be directed to the county clerk’s office. Every Wyoming county handles its own administration, though the rules governing deadlines are uniform statewide.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING

The deadline is also where Wyoming differs sharply from many other states. Elsewhere, voters who submit a mail ballot with a missing signature or other defect are often given a chance to “cure” it, sometimes days or weeks after Election Day.

Wyoming has no such curing process for absentee ballots. If a mailed ballot has a problem, there is no statutory mechanism to fix it after the fact. The provisional ballot deadline, the next day’s close of business, is the closest thing the state offers to a second chance, and it’s available only to in-person voters who show up short on documentation.

The practical takeaway for voters is simple: don’t leave the polling place assuming the matter is settled.

residents already travel twice as far as urban patients for care. In life or death situations — such as stroke and heart attack — every mile, every minute counts.

Strained hospitals cut services before they close, Alvarado said, and obstetrics usually goes first.

Nearly 60% of rural hospitals nationwide no longer deliver babies. Medicaid pays for nearly half of rural births, and federal cuts under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are expected to leave about 10 million more people uninsured by 2034, per the Congressional Budget Office.

YES, BUT…

The same law created a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program to soften the blow, though researchers estimate it covers only about 37% of the Medicaid funding rural areas stand to lose.

State law gives a provisional voter only until the close of business on the day following the election to bring the missing documentation to their county clerk.

A voter who casts a provisional ballot should find out exactly which document is missing and get it to the county clerk’s office by the end of the next business day. For the upcoming August primary, that’s a matter of hours.

WHAT TO BRING

What counts as sufficient documentation depends on why the ballot was flagged.

A voter who couldn’t present ID

Wyoming’s share is substantial. The state was awarded $205 million in the program’s first year, according to reporting by WyoFile. That’s the secondlargest per-capita award in the nation, behind Alaska, and providers can apply for the funds through Aug. 3.

Eric Boley, president of the Wyoming Hospital Association, told Oil City News that those one-time funds have the potential to be “transformational for struggling hospitals.”

“We may be able to use the funds to strengthen OB-GYN and emergency services,” he said. “Studies show that, with heart attack and stroke, getting care within an hour significantly improves your chances of making a full recovery.”

A VICIOUS CYCLE

So why don’t bad outcomes

at the polls generally needs to bring an accepted form of identification, such as a Wyoming driver’s license or ID card, a tribal ID, a U.S. passport, a military card, or a Wyoming student ID card.

A voter who was registering on Election Day may also need documents establishing residency and citizenship.

Voters unsure what to bring should ask the poll worker to note the specific deficiency before they leave, or call the clerk’s office first thing the next morning. Free voter ID cards are available for those who don’t have another accepted form.

THEN WHAT?

A provisional ballot in Wyoming is a placeholder, not a guarantee. It buys a voter one extra day, and no more, to prove they were eligible all along.

Ballots that clear the deadline still wait a few more days.

produce different votes? Shepherd calls the answer the “rural health spiral.”

“Poor outcomes breed resentment toward government, resentment elects candidates who campaign on it, and those candidates pass policies that worsen the outcomes,” he said. “Instead of voters rallying to correct that course, they often double down on the course that they’re on, and things continue to spiral out of control.”

Alvarado worries that voters aren’t connecting policies to outcomes.

“Legislators are there to serve their constituents,” she said. “If we tell our legislators what it is we care about, they know that there’s votes attached to that.”

BREAKING THE CYCLE

The mechanism to repair a broken system is the ballot.

“The canvass board opens and reviews all provisional ballots Friday after the election,” Good said. The canvassing board reviews the documentation each voter submits and decides whether to open and count each ballot. Those

Alvarado urged voters to treat elections as a “window of opportunity” when a known problem, an available solution and political will align.

“Whoever wins decides what the Legislature takes up,” she said.

Robitaille framed the choice as a question.

“Is health care a right or a privilege?” she asked. “Depending on where you as an individual stand on that question would affect who you vote for.”

Her advice is to go beyond the commercials, social media posts and yard signs to learn where candidates actually stand, because health care touches everyone eventually.

“We all need health care at some point, or our loved ones do,” she said. “So it affects everybody.”

A voter asked to have an “I Voted” sticker placed on the brim of his Trump cap during the 2024 general election at the Natrona County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Nov. 5, in Casper. (DanCepeda,OilCityNews)

WYOMING STATEWIDE RACES

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming’s most crucial challenge is keeping our communities strong and livable. Costs are rising, and access to essential services is getting harder. Too many Wyoming families are wondering whether their children and grandchildren will be able to choose to build a life here.

Our economy and industry partners need a funded and functioning government. Communities need the infrastructure, workforce, and core services necessary to welcome investment, support good-paying jobs, and grow in ways that fit each community’s culture. And Wyomingites need accessible and affordable healthcare, especially in rural Wyoming.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

State government must deliver services in a respectful and efficient manner and be properly resourced so projects aren’t held

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

A poor economy, no health care, and no payback on their taxes.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

Real simple. We are outsourced to the investors, outsiders state.

I’m going to bring Wyoming home. The way I’m going to bring her home is through taxation. Taxation was done and af-

up or delayed by overregulation or lack of staff. We grow opportunities by making it easier to invest, build, and produce here, not by picking winners and losers.

Regarding economic development, I will focus on a stable, predictable workforce environment, strong education and training partnerships, and the infrastructure and core services needed to create opportunity. I will reorganize the Governor’s Office to include locally hired regional representatives, giving citizens direct access and making sure local needs are heard sooner.

On healthcare, I will assemble a healthcare strike team of people across Wyoming impacted by rural healthcare challenges to identify practical solutions.

By showing up, listening, and working together, we can help communities thrive and give our kids a reason to choose to live here.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

ter World War II, it was 91%. It created a lot of civic things that have to be done. Today, we get huge amounts of money and no payback. So, if our we have 583,000 souls in our state and we’re going to raise their taxes. We’re going to do it the right way. We’re going to listen to the people and give the people back their money that they haven’t gotten since 1970.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

Wyoming has been home my entire life. I was born in Gillette, raised on my family’s ranch in Campbell County, graduated from Campbell County High School, served in the Marine Corps, and came home after earning my veterinary degree.

My wife Kelly and I have lived Wyoming, worked Wyoming, and served Wyoming. We have raised our children, made decisions about schools and healthcare, signed the front of a paycheck, worked with oil, gas and agricultural producers, and I have served in the Legislature solving real problems that affect my neighbors.

I have worked across Wyoming, building an understanding of the challenges and forging meaningful relationships to make sure local interests are represented when decisions affect our public land access, economy, and communities. I have also demanded the same from Washington, D.C.

These experiences have prepared me to lead Wyoming in a way that understands our state, respects its people, and gets results.

I’m a true Wyoming native. My mom and dad were born in Wyoming. I’m the third generation. That’s one. Secondly, I have 27 years military service. I was in the Army National Guard 25 years, and in the active Army, 3 years in Vietnam. I’ve owned a small business since 1998 and I’ve been 28 years, and I know small business inside and out.

Third thing is, I’ve also played in politics for over 24 years.

I’ve seen it from the inside and the outside and whether we’re ruling or we’re going to be just fascism or whatever. I played all parties. I’ve played all offices.

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming’s primary challenge is ensuring young people can stay and have a viable future here. Families face rising costs in taxes, housing, and healthcare. Simultaneously, the industries that built our state—energy, agriculture, and tourism—face threats from federal overreach and environmentalist agendas.

Young people are leaving the state and parents are deeply concerned about the future their children will inherit. They want strong schools focused on reading, math, patriotism, career preparedness, and Wyoming values– not political agendas.

At the heart of all of this is a simple question: will Wyoming remain a place where families can afford to live, work, raise children, and pass our values on to the next generation? Wyoming needs bold, unapologetic leadership so that it doesn’t just survive, it sets the bar for the rest of the country to follow.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

We need a Governor who will get the government out of the way, defend our way of life, and make sure Wyoming families come first.

#1 is to address the cost of living and affordability by fighting for property tax relief, restrained

state spending, and infrastructure-focused development that helps families keep more of what they earn. I will eliminate duplicative programs, reduce bureaucratic overhead, and focus on core services. For housing, I will cut unnecessary regulations and prioritize basic infrastructure, including water, sewer, curb, and gutter. For healthcare, I will pursue workforce preparation, regional coordination, and telehealth.

#2 is to build a stronger Wyoming economy by unleashing energy dominance. As the only candidate in the race with industry experience and a comprehensive plan, I know how to get it done. When Wyoming’s mineral industry succeeds, the benefits reach every sector of our economy, helping support the next generation of Wyoming ranchers and a growing tourism industry.

#3 is a strong education system. I will continue my work as Superintendent focusing on the basics- reading, math, civics, and career preparation– not political agendas. I will protect parental rights and expand opportunities for students through career and technical education and work-based learning, as well as create greater alignment for higher education.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I am a daughter of the Cowboy State, not a status quo politician. I will honor the generations before us by ensuring Wyoming does more than survive; it will set the standard for the rest of the country—which is why President Trump and Congresswoman Hageman have endorsed me. I will fight for the Wyoming we love and believe our future can be even brighter than our past.

Raised in a Wyoming agriculture and oil-and-gas family, I learned the value of hard work, building a legacy, and solving problems without waiting for the government to show up. I spent nearly a decade in the coal and oil-and-gas industries working to reduce regulatory burdens and produce more Wyoming energy. Since being elected State Superintendent in 2022, I have championed parental rights, school choice, and literacy while protecting girls’ sports and removing explicit materials from schools and libraries.

ERIC BARLOW Republican wyoming governor

KENNETH CASNER democrat wyoming governor

MEGAN DEGENFELDER Republican wyoming governor

WYOMING STATEWIDE RACES

QWENTON EAGLE OVIATT Republican wyoming SECRETARY of state

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The most crucial challenges my constituents are facing are low voter turnout, outdated election processes that make voting harder than necessary, a business registration system being exploited by scammers, and a wide fracture within the Wyoming Republican Party.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected, I will address these directly. I will push for a long overdue election cleanup bill to make voting easier while ensuring strong security. I will implement top tier screening software and a small enforcement team to stop fraud using commercial registered agents. I will also work closely with county clerks to give them the training and uniformity they’ve requested. On party division, I will focus on repairing our Republican Party by practicing Alan Simpson’s collaboration and Mike Enzi’s 80/20 rule, bringing people to-

BRYAN MCCARTY democrat

wyoming SECRETARY of state

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The pervasive and existential threat posed to our current geological era by oligarchs and their accomplices.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Scams targeted at seniors. Accountability for organizations using registered agents. And, trusting our election results.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

Educate seniors by traveling around the state to meet and inform them about scams and providing online content to help them understand what scams are being used to target them, for those with internet access. Work with the legislature and registered agents to understand the path towards increasing accountability for organizations who use our great business climate and LLC laws to skirt accountability, and enforce Wyoming statutes that protect our people. Shine a bright light on election processes, share data on outcomes of testing, and offer opportunities for folks to participate in education associated with election processes both in person and online. Remind the voting population about who actually works in elections; our mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins,

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Filter down to the responsibilities of my office to ensure the actual rule of law is enforced in election administration, and that our public lands are managed for the benefit and repair of nature as much as is feasible.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

friends and neighbors are the people who are working at the polls when we cast our ballots. We need to remember that these folks, who are working under the supervision of our very dedicated and honest County Clerks, are ensuring that our ballots are counted and that anyone who should not be voting, is not allowed to vote. Ensuring voters understand the processes and safeguards already in place to ensure accuracy is crucial. What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

My extensive background in financial investing coupled with my unparalleled ability to listen and educate will result in great outcomes for educating seniors. My communications skills are top tier when it comes to helping people and I’m not afraid to take on the difficult challenges. Seniors can feel confident that I’ll work tirelessly to help them protect their finances. After building many businesses in Wyoming, I can say that my qualifications in the business environment are second to none of the candidates in this race. My wife and I owned and operated businesses in Glenrock that employed more than 120 people. Our businesses

gether instead of tearing them apart.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

What prepares me for these challenges is my diverse real world experience. I have worked in Wyoming’s oil fields, supported National Science Foundation research in Antarctica, built small businesses, and currently serve as an academic advisor at Central Wyoming College. As a certified mediator, I’ve learned how to bring people together to solve problems. This practical background gives me the judgement and skills needed to deliver real results for Wyoming.

A strong affinity for Wyoming and its ‘Big Beautiful’ culture going back to my first visit here in 1969 and seeing Man land on the moon while on a family vacation to the Klondike Ranch outside of Buffalo, a belief in our nation, and an extensive background in corporate internal audit training with a multibillion dollar business enterprise along with world class compliance and Six Sigma training with General Electric.

worked in mining, oil and gas, construction, commercial applications, agriculture, retail, and hospitality. Through those experiences, I was thoroughly educated in the business filing systems and requirements at the Secretary of State office. Coupled with my business experience both domestically and internationally, I’m more qualified than any other candidate in this race to understand the business environment challenges and how to navigate them both ethically and efficiently. No other candidate has the elections experience that I bring to job. Having served as an elections judge multiple times, I understand the process of casting a vote and verifying that the voter is legal to do so. As a 12th year County Commissioner, I understand what the County Clerks do to prepare for elections and how diligently they work to ensure that Wyoming voters are secure in casting their votes and having their votes counted accurately and transparently. This knowledge and hands-on experience, coupled with my superior communication skills, will help put folks at ease knowing that I am more focused on providing results than providing talking points and sowing doubt.

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming is facing a multi-front assault on our sovereignty, our communities, and our wallet. First, skyrocketing property tax valuations are squeezing families, seniors, and homeowners, threatening the very concept of private property rights. Second, our foundational energy industry is under continuous attack from Democrat administrations pushing radical ESG mandates designed to starve our coal, oil, and gas sectors of capital. Finally, foreign adversaries, particularly Chinese-linked entities, are actively attempting to acquire Wyoming land near critical infrastructure and military installations like F.E. Warren Air Force Base. Combined with the absolute necessity of securing our election infrastructure against left-wing overreach, Wyomingites are demanding a state government that acts as an unapologetic, defensive firewall.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

As Secretary of State, I will uti-

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming citizens deserve confidence that their elections are secure, accurate, and professionally administered. They also expect the state government to be efficient and responsive when starting a business, filing important documents, or accessing public records. As technology evolves, cybersecurity and protecting sensitive information have become increasingly important responsibilities. The Secretary of State’s Office must continue to earn the public’s trust through transparency, professionalism, and dependable service. As the previous State Elections Director, I am the only candidate in the race who has experience in the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office to start this job on day one.

lize every constitutional lever of the office to protect the Cowboy State.

On the State Board of Land Commissioners and the State Loan and Investment Board, I will be a fierce defender of Wyoming resources. I will aggressively cut bureaucratic red tape, ban foreign adversaries from purchasing our agricultural land, and shield our energy infrastructure from globalist infiltration. We will keep Wyoming open for business, but permanently closed to hostile regimes.

To safeguard our economy, I will fight back against corporate ESG mandates that discriminate against our energy and firearms industries, ensuring our business climate remains the freest and lowest-taxed in the nation.

Finally, I will protect the ballot box. We will build upon the strong foundation of election integrity by ending paid ballot harvesting, mandating independent audits, and enforcing strict voter verification. Wyoming’s elections must be hard to cheat and easy to vote.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I will focus on the core mission of the office. I will protect Wyoming’s elections by enforcing our election laws, supporting county clerks, strengthening cybersecurity, and ensuring our systems remain both secure and accessible. I will modernize business services where appropriate to improve efficiency while reducing unnecessary costs and delays. I believe government works best when it is predictable, accountable, and focused on serving the public rather than generating political headlines. My goal is to build on what is working while continually improving service to Wyoming citizens and businesses.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I bring a unique combination

I am not a career bureaucrat or a go-along-to-get-along politician; I am a tested conservative with a proven track record of getting things done.

Before entering public service, I served in law enforcement, a career built on discipline, sound judgment under pressure, and an absolute commitment to law and order. I backed that streetlevel experience with a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration.

For the last five years, I have represented House District 50 in the Wyoming Legislature, where I currently chair the House Labor & Health Committee and lead the Wyoming Freedom Caucus as Chairman. My conservative voting record is unmatched: I carry a perfect 100% rating from the Club for Growth and a 93% lifetime score from CPAC. I have sponsored more pro-life legislation than any member in state history, including authoring Wyoming’s life-protecting trigger law. I have fought the establishment in Cheyenne and won. I have the full endorsement of outgoing Secretary of State Chuck Gray because he knows I have the backbone to carry this mission forward on day one.

of public service, private-sector experience, and leadership. I am a Wyoming native, University of Wyoming graduate, small business owner, former Wyoming Elections Director, and former Military and Veterans Liaison for Congresswoman Harriet Hageman. I currently serve as an officer in the United States Navy Reserve and have spent more than a decade serving Wyoming in a variety of leadership roles. Those experiences have taught me how to solve problems, manage complex organizations, protect sensitive information, and work with people from different backgrounds. I am running because I believe Wyoming deserves conservative, professional leadership that follows the law, respects taxpayers, and puts service above politics. I am not running to learn how to do the job, but because I have already done it and know what the Office of the Secretary of State needs day one.

Wyoming is facing a number of critical educational choices. Will we embrace the future with thoughtfulness, creativity, and optimism? Or will we settle for the tired options of embalming the status quo or recklessly dismantling our strong public schools? Will we respect public education, fund our schools and honor our western values? Or will we shrink from the moment and allow narrow minded activists to hold us back? The geopolitical marketplace is changing

rapidly and I believe Wyoming has an opportunity to show America how to prepare our kids for the future, not 1975. In my opinion, no state is better positioned to meet this challenge.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I will advocate for investing as many resources in education as we can afford. I will respect parents, teachers and local control.

I will cultivate innovation, work collaboratively and lead the Wyoming Department of Education with integrity and optimism. I will be a trusted thought partner and an advocate for strong public schools. I will work with the legislature as they consider critical education policies. I will keep the best interests of all students at the top of my priority list. What qualities or qualifications

do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I bring over 20 years of experience in educational leadership, public policy and community service. In addition to degrees in biology and education administration, I hold a law degree from the University of Wyoming. I have served as a teacher, principal, district administrator and held leadership roles in two state departments of education. I have experience working with traditional public as well as charter, online and alternative schools in rural, suburban and Tribal committees. I am a former mayor, volunteer firefighter and proud husband/ father. Based on my experience as well as my unwavering optimism about Wyoming’s future, I am uniquely qualified to serve as Wyoming’s next State Superintendent.

ROBERT SHORT Republican

wyoming SECRETARY of state

RACHEL WILLIAMS Republican wyoming SECRETARY of state

CJ YOUNG Republican wyoming SECRETARY of state

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming is blessed and full of abundance. We are the best place to work, live and raise a family. We also have challenges that include the escalating cost of living, healthcare access and young people leaving our state.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

As your State Superintendent I bring a record of solving problems with an eye on the future. As a member of the State Loan and Investment Board I will continue my work to grow our investments, to invest in ourselves and build infrastructure in our communities to lower the costs of housing. I have been the leader of property tax reform which keeps money in our pockets.

We will soon be training Physician Assistants in our state to produce more caregivers in our communities. I worked on this for years and it will soon benefit

all of our communities. I championed the bill that permanently endowed our suicide prevention iniatives. Wyoming is now making progress in this area.

As a parent of four kids, I am focussed on our future. As a state leader I have promoted innovation, smart development and diversification. After the clean air act was passed in the early 70’s Governor Hathaway and the state loan and investment board went out and recruited the coal industry to Wyoming. Thank Goodness. I was the lead author of the Hathaway scholarship and insisted we honor a war hero and visionary leader who said yes to Wyoming’s future! I will say yes to our future as well!

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I was born and raised in Natrona County. My Dad was an electrician who worked in the oil and gas business in Midwest and later Wright. I am the only candidate in this race who has worked on an oil rig and a ranch. I am a product of Wyo-

WYOMING STATE TREASURER: 4-YEAR TERM

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Wyoming families are concerned about the same things many Americans are: rising costs, economic uncertainty and whether future generations will have the same opportunities they have enjoyed. As State Treasurer, I see another longterm challenge: preparing Wyoming for a future in which the revenue that traditionally flows from mineral revenues may look very much different. If we don’t continue building new, sustainable revenue sources, future legislatures may face pressure to raise taxes or reduce essential services.

Today we also have a unique opportunity to increase energy production and energy utilization in Wyoming, and we must not place unnecessary obstacles in the path of developing our abundant natural resources. Environmental socialism is hiding in plain sight — even in the Republican Party — through policies that seek to limit affordable, reliable American energy while expanding government control over our economy and daily lives for the purpose of politics. Wyo-

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Everywhere I go many Wyoming citizens are concerned that our government is selling out our state lands to the highest bidder for crony capitalism. Some are concerned about Data Centers, Commercial Wind Generators, or nuclear waste storage. The

WYOMING STATEWIDE RACES

ming public schools, my four kids are products of our schools. I have been blessed to serve as a lifelong teacher and coach and to serve our people in the Wyoming Legislature where I protected our rights, balanced budgets and kept our taxes low. As your Superintendent I realize our schools are the heartbeat of our communities, and the cornerstone of our republic. I realize every child has potential and working together we can unlock that potential. Wyoming has the highest percentage of kids enrolled in our public schools at 93%. Fifteen states test every junior on the ACT, Wyoming was #1 two years ago and 2nd last year. Our kids are always in the top 10 joining the military, our kids are patriots. Our 4th grade reading scores are some of the best in the nation. I understand most of our kids are blue collar and looking for promising careers in the trades. I authored the Hathaway scholarship. I saved the career technical education program at UW when they were going to close it. I will continue to work for our kids and our schools so our kids and grandkids can stay right here in Wyoming and live the American Dream!

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

A crucial challenge is complacency because Wyoming ranks as one of the best states for public education. Merely pointing out NAEP scores that show roughly one in three Wyoming 8th grade students is “below basic” in reading and math causes a reaction to circle the wagons around the status quo. Those numbers are children, so we need to accept the challenge for Wyoming to do even better rather than defend what is as good enough. The other major challenge is to recruit and retain excellent educators, especially when salaries don’t allow teachers to live in the neighborhoods where they work.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I would address both challenges by working with local districts to determine which state policies were making their lives more difficult and assisting to revise

those policies accordingly. Ultimately, educators make the difference with students, not elected officials. A top priority would be to review, revise, and reduce state mandates and regulations on local districts to allow more academic freedom for and innovation from professional educators. Fewer mandates would lessen pressure on districts to keep large administrative staffs and allow more resources to flow into the classroom. This could simultaneously allow for both better teacher and para compensation while relieving some of the pressures on educators to check boxes off the list of state requirements. With the relationships I have in the legislature across the political spectrum, I’d also promote changes in legislation when necessary.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I hold an MA in education and a PhD in political science. I work as the Department Chair for Political Science, Public Administration, and Public Policy at Ameri-

WYOMING STATE AUDITOR: 4-YEAR TERM

ming must continue standing for responsible resource development, energy independence and the constitutional principle that states — not Washington bureaucrats — are best equipped to manage their own resources. Our challenge is to strengthen Wyoming’s financial future while preserving the freedoms, opportunities and quality of life that make Wyoming unique.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

My responsibility is to make Wyoming’s money work for Wyoming people. During my tenure, investment earnings became the state’s largest source of revenue for the first time in history, generating nearly $1.9 billion last year. I will continue pursuing disciplined investment strategies that produce strong returns while managing risk responsibly.

I will also continue advocating for a Wyoming Generational Investment Fund to create another long-term source of revenue that can help reduce future pressure for tax increases. Every dollar earned through investments is a dollar that doesn’t have to come from taxpayers. I believe government has an obli-

biggest concern is the resources these outfits are taking, secondly, they are concerned about health issues related to living nearby, and lastly they are concerned with cost associated with these projects being passed onto the taxpayer.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

One of the things that many peo-

gation to be a careful steward of the resources entrusted to it and to leave Wyoming financially stronger for the next generation than we found it.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

Experience matters when you’re responsible for managing billions of dollars. I have served as Wyoming State Treasurer for the past eight years after more than two decades in the Wyoming Legislature, including leadership positions and service on budget and finance committees. As a lifelong Wyoming ag producer, businessman and public servant, I understand both the opportunities and challenges facing our state.

Throughout my career, I have been guided by the oath of office I have taken to support and defend the Constitutions of the United States and Wyoming. That oath is more than a formality—it is the foundation for every decision I make. My responsibility is to faithfully execute the duties of the office, protect the people’s money and ensure government operates within its constitutional authority. I believe my record demonstrates that experience, constitutional leadership and disciplined financial stewardship can help secure Wyoming’s future.

ple don’t know is that the State Treasurer sits on the State Land and Investment Board. (SLIB) The same issues that concern our citizens are the same reasons that I have decided to run for this office. The SLIB has voted to lease state lands to a hydrogen plant in Converse County that would take eight gallons of our valuable water to produce one gallon of hydrogen jet fuel using wind and solar generation to power the plant. These same elected officials have sold off

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

While Wyomingites are facing many tough issues right now, I will talk about one that is more specific to the State Auditor’s Office – government transparency. Why does this matter? With living costs on the rise and income often not keeping up, people want (and deserve!) to know where every tax dollar is spent. This way, voters and elected officials can have more productive conversations about the right balance of government services and taxes. The absence of information breeds suspicion and distrust, and the business of the government must be public. Additionally, when a government is considering expanding or cutting its budget, raising or reducing taxes, it is critical that constituents can understand and evaluate how their government is doing.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

As the official custodian of the accounting record of the State of Wyoming, the State Auditor plays a big part in both actual transparency, as well as lead-

$100 million of our state lands to the federal government. I believe that some things are not for sale. As Treasurer you can count on me to count the cost and listen to the people in the public testimony. If we are going to accept some of these projects the citizens need to have the benefit, like lower utility costs.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

My bachelor’s degree is in Busi-

can Military University, an HLC accredited institution with enrollment eight times larger than UW. In addition, I serve on the Wyoming legislature’s Education and School Finance Recalibration committees. Prior to my university career, I was a public school teacher and para specializing in social studies and special education. My experience working with teens with severe behavioral and emotional disabilities and my years nursing my daughter through leukemia taught me how to stay focused on the mission at hand without getting derailed by personal attacks or putting my wishes first. Considering the information I had to absorb and process over those years, not only do I have no issue working with those who merely inform me they disagree with my plan of action, but I welcome various perspectives to cover my blindspots. Wyoming education serves families ranging a full spectrum of political, philosophical, and religious beliefs, so the Superintendent position requires somebody who doesn’t write off swaths of our population for having differing views.

ing by example and fostering an environment in which transparency is the norm, not the exception. When I took office, I inherited a public records lawsuit from my predecessor, and within 30 days produced and turned over six years’ worth of State spending data. The lawsuit was quickly dismissed, saving taxpayers thousands in legal fees. Six months later, my office debuted WyOpen.gov –Wyoming’s online checkbook. This groundbreaking website provides expenditure data for the state on a daily basis and has over 10,000 pageviews per month. Last year, I worked with the legislature to enshrine WyOpen.gov into law, ensuring this high level of transparency cannot be undone. We always go above and beyond with public records requests, and I am currently working with stakeholders to further strengthen and improve Wyoming’s public records laws.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

While this job is political, the State Auditor is the state’s chief accountant, payroll officer, and is responsible for producing the financial statements for the

ness Administration with an emphasis in management and marketing. I will be a leader in the state treasurer’s office that creates a positive work environment that will allow our investment team to create higher returns on the people’s money that the state invests. I would like to work with the legislature to use these interest earnings to buy down the people’s property taxes to alleviate part of the burden inflation has caused on the average citizen. My day job, I

state – this demands a high level of expertise. After earning my accounting degree from UW, I worked in public accounting in Cheyenne and became licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Performing in-depth audits of small businesses, nonprofits, and governments gave me a critical understanding of accounting principles, financial statements, internal controls, and federal funds management. Later on, I began my public service career with Wyoming’s judicial branch, and ultimately served as the Chief Fiscal Officer and Director of Human Resources. In that role, I prepared and managed a statewide budget of $80 million and oversaw the human resources affairs of over 300 employees. Personally, I was born in Casper and raised in Bar Nunn, Evanston, and Riverton. My husband, two teenagers, and I enjoy hunting, running, hiking, and shooting sports, and I’ve had the fortune of drawing and harvesting a bison, mountain goat, and moose.

work as a bookkeeper and work with numbers day in and day out and have corrected some inefficiencies to help small businesses become more profitable. I plan to do that within the state office and make those profits available to the legislature to reduce the tax burden for the people. I have also served in the Wyoming House of Representatives for Goshen County and I have served on the Appropriations Committee and I am familiar with the massive state budget.

STEVE HARSHMAN Republican wyoming state superintendent

TOM KELLY Republican wyoming state superintendent

CURT MEIER Republican wyoming state treasurer

SCOTT SMITH Republican wyoming state treasurer

KRISTI RACINES Republican wyoming state auditor

NATRONA COUNTY

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: 4-YEAR TERM

INCUMBENTS:

DALLAS LAIRD (R) (RE-ELECTION CANDIDATE)

PETER NICOLAYSEN (R) (RETIRING)

JIM MILNE (R) (RETIRING)

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

In Natrona County we are facing many issues, limited economic growth, low employee retention, aging infrastructure, and decreasing tax revenues.

All four of the challenges are connected. With lower property taxes and sales tax revenue the county will need to reduce spending, which means smaller raises. This causes us to lose county employees to other employment, requiring us to hire and train new employees, if we can even get someone hired due to the low wages we are offering. Lower revenue also means no available funds to put away for capital projects. Instead, we are left with putting band aids on our aging roads, bridges and buildings instead of remodels or replacements.

Natrona County is on a similar boom and bust cycle as the energy industry, we need to get off this cycle. We need to recruit new industries and support new technology for our local businesses. Natrona County needs to be leading the country and

2026 CANDIDATES:

* INDICATES NO RESPONSE TO CANDIDATE Q&A RECEIVED

the state with advancements in energy technology while welcoming new industries.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

As commissioner, I would encourage neighbors to talk with each other. Property owners need to be more open with their neighbors, because building does not only affect their property but the property around them. Open communications are the core of a strong government and community.

I would work with the community and business leaders to responsibly bring in new industries. New industries would increase tax revenue, allowing us to increase the wages of our county employees and create capital funding for our infrastructure. This is not a fast or easy process; it is going to take a determined and dedicated commission to develop a plan for the future. Natrona County needs to look outside our core industries, or we will fall behind in technology and growth.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

CATHI CARR (R)

ROZMARING CZABAN (R)

GREG FLESVIG (R)

LISA JAMIESON (D)

MATT KEATING (R)

I have lived in Natrona County for over 40 years; I live here with my husband and son on our property in Antelope Hills. I work as an oil and gas accountant and have been with the same company for over 25 years.

I have seen a wide range of oil prices from record breaking to negative prices, and I know how to stretch a dollar and maintain a limited budget.

My family has survived the boom-and-bust cycle since 1977, and it was my motivation to pursue accounting in high school at Kelly Walsh to Casper College and finally at the University of Wyoming, where I received my degree.

I have served as a precinct committeewoman since I was voted in 2022. I serve as the treasurer for the Natrona Republican Party, and I also am serving on the Citizen’s Transportation Advisory Board with the City of Casper’s MPO. Recently I finished my term as a member of the Natrona County Public Library Board of Trustees where I served as President, Vice President and Secretary and learned a behind the scenes look at how the county works. I believe with my public service and work experience I bring experience and knowledge to the job.

DALLAS LAIRD (R)

CANDACE MACHADO (D)

CHAD MCNUTT (R)

CHARLES E. MOORE (R)

JANEL MOORE (R)

ROZMARING CZABAN Republican natrona county board of commissioners

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The primary challenges that Natrona County residents are currently facing revolve around fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. There has been a noticeable lack of open and honest communication regarding development projects impacting the community, leading to concerns about private property rights, increased fines and fees, and compromised health and safety.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

It is crucial for elected officials

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The most crucial challenges involve systemic issues regarding effective communication. Often, residents feel their voices are not heard on key issues and that governing bodies vote in a predetermined fashion. Another significant challenge is the prevalence of fear-mongering regarding topics such as data centers, F.C., T.D.S., and 5G towers.

to prioritize transparency and involve the public in decisionmaking processes, as all governmental power ultimately stems from the people’s consent. It is important to recognize that individuals bear the burdens of arbitrary decisions that affect their lives, liberty, and happiness. When residents are told that more revenue is needed, they should question how their money has been spent and whether overspending is being addressed by elected officials. Essential services like fire and EMS should not suffer due to mismanagement, especially when the tax system disproportionately impacts private property owners. There is a lack of consistency in how existing resi-

This rhetoric creates division and hinders productive resolutions to the issues at hand.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I will maintain open lines of communication through both email and phone to ensure residents have the direct access essential for effective representation. To address fear-mongering, I will provide detailed research and fact-based results to eliminate scare tactics and bring clarity to

RAY PACHECO (R)

CAMERON SAVAGE (R)

dents and new developments are treated, highlighting the need for greater fairness and accountability in governance. What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

If elected, I am committed to prioritizing the interests of the people by following a hierarchy of principles: Constitution, Constituents, Caucus, Conscience. I have actively engaged with these issues at both the county and state levels, providing testimony and information at public meetings. I recognize that my knowledge is going to be limited in all government areas, but I am dedicated to representing the community’s best interests with their support. Thank you for considering my candidacy.

the true details of these topics. What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

Throughout my professional and personal life, I have successfully encouraged others to practice effective communication. By asking thoughtful questions and providing thoroughly researched answers, I have developed a deep understanding of the issues. I am prepared to separate emotional scare tactics from solid, logical research to quell falsehoods and fear-based propaganda.

CATHI CARR Republican natrona county board of commissioners

GREG FLESVIG Republican natrona county board of commissioners

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

I live on a small farm outside Casper, being one of the only candidates who lives outside the city boundaries. Being born and raised in Casper gives me a full grasp of our city and county’s strengths and struggles. My career is in teaching where I hold two master’s degrees: one for special education and the other for school administration. I currently retain credentials in Psychological First Aid to counsel citizens involved in traumatic events. I hold certifications for the Incident Command Systems through Emergency Management and Adopting Trauma Focused Treatments. These are

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

As I’ve traveled throughout Natrona County and spoken with residents at their doors, community events, and local businesses, one concern rises above the rest: protecting our public lands and preserving the Wyoming way of life.

People care deeply about Casper Mountain, our reservoirs, open spaces, and the places where generations of families have hunted, fished, hiked, camped, and created lasting memories.

These places are part of who we are, and residents want to ensure they remain accessible for future generations.

Families are also feeling the pressure of rising costs, uncertainty about taxes, aging infrastructure, and concerns about the future of our local economy.

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The greatest challenge facing many Natrona County citizens in relation to the Treasurer’s Office is navigating property taxes—understanding how taxes are calculated, managing the financial impact of those taxes, and ensuring timely compliance with payment requirements. Rising property values in recent years have increased tax burdens for some homeowners, particularly seniors and those on fixed incomes. Recent statewide property tax relief measures have also created confusion about who qualifies for exemptions or reductions.

Many taxpayers are unclear about how their tax bill is calculated, what entities set the mill levies, and which portions of the bill the Treasurer’s Office controls versus the Assessor, County Commissioners, school districts, municipalities, and special districts.

Citizens frequently struggle with payment deadlines, escrow issues, ownership transfers, and the consequences of delinquent taxes. The Treasurer’s Office is responsible for collecting those taxes and conducting tax sales

to ensure I am both able to lead and support a community in times of crisis, however unlikely that may be.

The fact that we hear about fertilizer shortages, data center infringements, attacks on cattle ranching, supply chain shortages, along with high inflation and paying high gas prices makes each of us appreciate what we already have. It gives me the fortitude to want to protect that while helping to ease burdens. Natrona County is not immune to any of these issues, particularly the desire of corporations to build huge data centers in our small community.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

City and county governance are

Young people want opportunities to stay here, build careers, buy homes, and raise families. Seniors want to remain in the communities they helped build. We must ensure Natrona County remains a place where people of all ages can thrive.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

My priorities are straightforward: protect our public lands, defend local control, and create opportunities for future generations.

I believe decisions about Natrona County should be made by the people who live here. I will advocate for local control and work to ensure county government reflects the values and priorities of our residents.

I will also be a strong voice for protecting public lands and public access. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of

not the same. The primary role of the city council is to help the city prosper with growth. The primary role of a county commissioner is to protect what has already been established. As a county commissioner, I cannot change federal laws, but I will look for ways to bridge the gap between the tight squeeze of our federal government on the community and on our local policies. Additionally, I will look to encourage more local farmers to grow and supply cheap, organic, healthy foods for the community. This could offset the financial burden at the grocery store as well as providing healthy, nonpoisonous foods for our community. If elected, I will protect our community from data centers using precious resources and destroying our environment while burdening the citizens. For me, being fiscally responsi-

the land entrusted to us so our children and grandchildren can enjoy the same Wyoming experiences we have enjoyed.

Economic opportunity is equally important. I want Natrona County to be a place where young people choose to stay because they see a future here. That means supporting local businesses, attracting new industries, investing in infrastructure, and making thoughtful decisions that support long-term growth and stability.

Throughout my years of public service, I have learned that common sense, collaboration, and listening to people will always accomplish more than political theater.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I was born and raised in Casper, and Natrona County is home. The people, landscapes, and values of this community have shaped who I am.

ble is not just about paying bills. Fiscal responsibility is an ethical action. I will choose the betterment of public interest over corporate money. I will protect property rights over advancing county projects. I will be fiscally responsible by choosing people, not projects. I will protect your rights.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I know what time it is in our nation. I know how important our individual and property rights are, especially at this juncture. With all the other stresses from the federal government, your individual and property rights are one less thing you will have to worry about if I am elected. I am the candidate who has faith like Abraham but prepares like Joseph. Your security is my security.

I have served twelve years on the Casper City Council and have been honored to serve four terms as Mayor. During that time, I helped support the revitalization of downtown Casper, the creation of David Street Station, balanced budgets, and worked to strengthen the amenities and quality of life that make our community one of the best places to live in Wyoming. As a social worker, educator, and public servant, I have spent my career listening to people, solving problems, and bringing individuals together around shared goals. Natrona County has given so much to me and my family. I am running for County Commission because I believe deeply in this community and its future. “Rooted in Wyoming. Focused on Our Future.” reflects both my lifelong connection to this place and my commitment to ensuring the next generation has the same opportunities and strong sense of community that I have been fortunate enough to experience.

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

It is quite clear that the most crucial challenge facing Natrona County is the rapid adoption of large industrial projects. People believe that these projects are not being properly vetted, and we need to ensure that they are.

People are very concerned about hyperscale data centers and the gravel pit at the base of Casper Mountain. They also have serious concerns over the economy and taxes. They don’t feel that their money is being used properly by the government, and they are right.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I plan to address these projects by making sure that all industries are playing by the same rulebook. No fast-tracking, no taxpayer-funded incentives, no disregard for human safety, and the peace and quiet of our residents.

All industries must be held accountable and I will work with the other commissioners to make sure that they are. We can ensure that the zoning rules for industries are applied equally. We can’t afford to play favorites. No industry should be able to bypass common-sense regulations, endanger our people, and consume all of our resources.

If utility companies want to provide services to these projects, the companies receiving those services must pay the higher rates: not the people of Natrona County.

If these companies are not willing to put up bonds for new emergency equipment, govern-

ing bodies should not purchase it. Instead, they should insist that these companies provide their own on-site emergency services that can then coordinate efforts with our personnel. As far as taxpayer money goes, I will be the voice on the commission in favor of getting back to basics. We need to not waste money on new projects when we don’t have it. We need to focus on emergency services, roads, bridges, health and human safety, as well as retaining our talented county workforce.

I won’t be able to fix the taxes, but I will, with the other commissioners, look at any option we have available to help ease that burden.

I will also advocate for technological improvements in the county. I want to see fiber-internet offerings extended into the county. You shouldn’t be punished for living outside of the city.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I have worked in both the private and public sectors. I have been in the computer industry for my entire adult life and then some. From computer repair shops and the early ISPs all the way to managing the complete IT infrastructure for a city. In IT you have to be able to plan for disaster, research problems quickly, and apply the best solution with limited resources. I have, over the last decade, worked with the City Council in Mills to work from a balanced, modest budget. Looking for needs, not wants.

I would appreciate your vote. For more information, you can find me at www.cameronsavage. com.

when taxes remain unpaid.

The Treasurer’s Office also handles vehicle registration and licensing. Citizens often express concerns about registration fees, required documentation, and registration renewals.

Another concern we often hear is that members of the public have experienced difficulty reaching our office at certain times.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected, I will work to make property tax information more accessible by improving the format of our tax bills and distributing easy-to-understand materials that explain all available exemptions and qualification requirements.

I would like to make our website more intuitive and easier to navigate, helping citizens find the information they need more efficiently with motor vehicle licensing, sales tax and property tax.

To improve responsiveness and accessibility, I plan to establish a dedicated customer service team that will focus on answering calls, assisting taxpayers and completing transactions through phone and online services, reducing wait times and

improving the overall experience.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I have served in the Treasurer’s Office for 25 years, working under two different Treasurers who not only taught me the technical aspects of the job but also modeled what it means to be a leader worth following. I began my career as a property tax clerk and have since held every position in the office, including office manager, bookkeeper, supervisor, and ultimately Chief Deputy.

For the past eight years, I have been deeply involved in hiring, training, and personnel management, and I take pride in contributing to our office’s consistently low turnover rate. I have also played an active role in the development and implementation of the software systems used by the Treasurer’s Office.

My experience has given me a strong understanding of county government functions and processes. I work closely with the Assessor’s Office, the Clerk’s Office, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Trans-

JANEL MOORE Republican natrona county board of commissioners

RAY PACHECO Republican natrona county board of commissioners

CAMERON SAVAGE Republican natrona county board of commissioners

CITY OF CASPER

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

I believe that the cost of housing and housing availability affect our communities greatly. People keep expressing that they want to keep our youth here. I believe that they are here. However, there is little opportunity to become self sufficient enough to take the next step, because

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Ward 1 constituents span a broad socioeconomic range, but affordability, housing, and economic opportunity are central challenges for everyone. City Council decisions must be fiscally disciplined to minimize the financial impact on residents, especially those on fixed incomes, while helping young families see a realistic path to home ownership.

Affordability is also tied to the need to further diversify

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Casper residents face a variety of challenges depending on their individual circumstances, but several concerns arise consistently. Affordability remains a significant issue, particularly regarding water, sewer, and trash utility rates, especially for residents on fixed or limited incomes. Constituents also seek timely responses to questions

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

INDICATES NO RESPONSE

a higher quality of life for everyone.

they are unable to leave their parents home and afford housing, groceries and utilities on their own. When housing becomes unaffordable, it affects workers, businesses, and communities. I also believe that creating and maintaining beautiful spaces, supporting public safety measures, and ensuring access to recreational spaces will help keep and attract young families. This helps to facilitate and ensure a thriving community and

Casper’s economy and create employment opportunities that keep young adults here. This was an issue when I was in high school, and 45 years later it is still being discussed. It is time to move from discussion to results by supporting business expansion, strengthening partnerships with economic development organizations, and welcoming industries to Casper that can create stable, goodpaying jobs. Casper’s median age is around 37, and the largest age group is between 30 and 34. This large constituency deserves a strong advocate for housing, jobs, and long-term opportuni-

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected I would, in a bipartisan way, make it a priority to reduce unnecessary barriers that drive up construction costs. I would support first time homebuyers and work toward affordable housing options where they are needed the most. I would prioritize expanding responsible development, supporting infrastructure, and ensuring safe

ty. I will be that advocate.

Council decisions will require thoughtful prioritization among many worthy needs as our aging infrastructure of critical services requires repair and replacement. I will look for every available funding option to minimize the costs to residents.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I will address these challenges by listening to constituents, working collaboratively with fellow council members and City staff, and building stronger partnerships with agencies and organizations that can help Casper achieve measurable results. My focus will be on practi-

INDICATES NO RESPONSE TO CANDIDATE Q&A RECEIVED

transparent, and effective local government that listens and provides practical solutions.

neighborhoods for families. I would lend my support to essential community services like law enforcement, EMS, fire departments, and medical and mental health professionals. I would also support beautifying the city, as well as maintaining cultural development by supporting the arts. All of these priorities are connected. Safe neighborhoods, stable housing and cultural development supports local economies, economic growth, and ensures opportunities for future generations.

cal outcomes: improving housing affordability, supporting responsible growth, protecting taxpayers through disciplined budgeting, and expanding economic opportunity. Professionally, I have led teams by drawing on the expertise around me, asking the right questions, and bringing people with different skill sets together to reach the best possible decisions.

As a retired architect and planner, I would bring 35 years of professional expertise to Council discussions regarding growth, land use, ordinances, development, infrastructure projects, and difficult budget and priority decisions. My background working with contractors would also help to evaluate project scope,

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I have spent most of my life working in, and around, medical, mental health, and law enforcement employees. I have a deep understanding of the necessity for well maintained emergency and medical services. Safe places equate to places that people want to be. I am also a member of the community of Casper Wyoming. I work and live and play here. As an artist, I understand the correlation between a thriving community and

costs, schedules, and impacts on residents and businesses.

For example, the two-year closure of Poplar raises important questions about whether the project could have been phased to maintain traffic flow during construction. As a Councilor, I would ask tough, informed questions about coordination with WYDOT and City departments to ensure project planning best serves Casper commuters and area businesses.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

culturally friendly environment. I firmly believe that, by creating beautiful spaces and supporting public art, the community will grow, flourish, and come together. I am also a parent, and a grandparent. I understand the need for adequate jobs, reasonable housing, and clean- safe parks for all generations. Supporting businesses, infrastructure, job development, access to public lands for hunting, fishing and recreation, and creating affordable housing will help to preserve the Wyoming that we all know and love.

I understand Casper. I grew up here, my entire family lives here, and some are small business owners. I chose to retire back in my hometown because I love it here and wish to be a part of Casper’s positive momentum. I am involved in the community as a member of the Downtown Casper Business Association, the Casper Historic Preservation Commission, The Lyric building committee, and I am proud to be a board member with ART321. Leading a large K-12 education sector for an international architecture firm taught me how to build teams, work collaboratively, maintain a client’s trust, and act with the utmost integrity to best serve our clients and the broader community. I would bring that same commitment to the citizens of Casper.

about city services and a clearer understanding of the ordinances and regulations that affect their daily lives.

During my first term on the City Council, residents contacted me about utility costs, landfill access, street maintenance, neighborhood safety, traffic management, business development, zoning restrictions, and easement questions related to fiber-optic installation. While the issues vary, the common thread is a desire for responsive,

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

Over the past four years, I have worked diligently to represent Casper residents by studying issues thoroughly, asking thoughtful questions, and listening carefully to citizen input before making decisions. As a council member, I believe it is my responsibility to understand the financial, operational, and long-term implications of every ordinance, resolution, and budget decision that comes before

for generations to come.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

the council.

If reelected, I will continue to focus on fiscal responsibility while maintaining the essential services and infrastructure our community depends upon. I will ask difficult questions, evaluate proposed expenditures carefully, and work to avoid costly deferred maintenance. Just as importantly, I will remain accessible to residents—listening to concerns, researching solutions, and connecting constituents with the appropriate city departments when issues arise. Effective leadership begins with listening and is strengthened by informed, responsible decision-

where families can live, work, and thrive.

making.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

My qualifications are grounded in more than 30 years of leadership and public service. Through service on nonprofit boards, professional organizations, and my career as a teacher and school administrator, I have gained extensive experience in budgeting, personnel management, governance, strategic planning, and community engagement.

These roles required balancing competing priorities, making difficult financial decisions, and

ensuring resources were used responsibly. I also understand the challenges residents face because, like many in our community, I live on a fixed income and must make careful decisions about household spending. This perspective helps me approach city budgeting with both fiscal discipline and empathy. I recognize the importance of funding essential services such as public safety and infrastructure while thoughtfully considering investments in parks, recreation, and other amenities that contribute to our community’s quality of life.

Casper has a lot going for it, and I think most of us are proud to call it home. But people are facing some real challenges. The concerns I hear most often are public safety, the rising cost of living, and maintaining the infrastructure that keeps our city running.

I’ve also heard increasing concern about the continued impact of methamphetamine and the growing threat posed by fentanyl. Addiction destroys lives and hurts families, and it affects the safety and quality of life of the entire community. People struggling with addiction deserve opportunities for treatment and recovery, but communities also need order, accountability, and safe neighborhoods.

I also hear concerns about whether working families will continue to be able to afford to live, raise children, and build a future here. And maintaining our streets, water systems, and other infrastructure isn’t glamorous, but it’s part of being good stewards of the community we’ve inherited and preserving it for those who come after us.

Casper is a special place, and I believe one of our responsibilities is to address today’s challenges while ensuring it remains a place where families can thrive

If elected, I’ll focus on the things city government is responsible for. We need to support law enforcement and first responders, maintain the infrastructure that keeps the city running, and be responsible with taxpayer dollars. I believe in doing the basics well and making decisions with the long term in mind.

I also think people should know what’s happening in their city. Years ago, you could pick up the morning paper and have a pretty good understanding of what was going on in Casper. Today, people often have to follow a dozen different sources just to stay informed, and keeping up with the community has become a real challenge. I’d like to explore ways to improve communication and make local government more accessible, because city government works best when citizens stay engaged and leaders remember who they work for.

My goal is to provide practical, thoughtful leadership and help ensure Casper remains a place

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

Service has been a common thread throughout my life. I served in the Marine Corps, supported the federal government overseas, and have spent much of my career helping people and organizations solve problems.

I’ve also owned a small business and have developed a passion for improving how organizations work, especially breaking down silos and bringing people together to accomplish common goals. Those experiences taught me the importance of accountability, stewardship, and making decisions with long-term consequences in mind.

I’ve also learned that good decisions come from listening and working with others. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do believe in doing the fundamentals well, treating people with respect, and leaving things better than we found them. I believe those qualities, combined with a commitment to service, have prepared me to serve the citizens of Casper.

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

As the cost of living (goods and services) increases, Casper residents must choose what level of service (LOS) the city can continue to provide (what services at what level)? This includes vital infrastructure (roads, sewer, water, parks) and city services (fire, police, rec, garbage, specialty programs…).

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

In order answer the publics question, utilization of city staffs expertise and transparency with the public will be crucial to get to the correct answers and outcomes. Some form of visioning process needs to be developed to better understand what are the publics priorities. This vision-

ing process combined delivery cost of services should provide a clear direction for resource allocation.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

By education, I have a degree in Geography and Regional Planning from Easter Oregon University. I have spent many years in county and city planning on both long range (comprehensive-30yr. plans) and current planning (short termordinance implementation). I hold a commercial pilots license and worked in airport port management and development. I currently work in Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance for a midstream company here in Wyoming. This diverse background uniquely lends itself to the city council position in Ward 2.

MICHAEL BOND casper city council ward II

BRETT HOBZA casper city council ward I

JESSIE BELL

casper city council ward I

KEEGAN FOX casper city council ward II

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The biggest challenge that Casper, as well as all of Wyoming, has is the export of our youth. We all must work to reverse this trend, and as a Casper City Council member, I will work within the Council to continue the work towards efforts to do just that.

As a business owner, the hiring and retention of employees has been one of our biggest struggles. We must continue to foster a community where young people want to stay to raise their families, start businesses, and join in creating a better Casper. The same amenities that attract tourism to our area, our state’s second largest economic driver,

is the very thing that attracts residents to want to stay here. I am a parent to six amazing children, and I want my children to want to be here, and I want your children to want to be here.

Another major challenge for our community is stable funding for services. There has been an ongoing effort to consolidate funding authority to Cheyenne. We must work with our local legislators to retain the ability for the citizens in our community to determine what public goods and services that we want in our community.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

We all need to work together to create and sustain a vibrant community, one with opportunities, especially for our youth.

CITY OF CASPER

As a member of the City Council, I will work with the body to collaborate with our County Commissioners and members of the other five municipalities and our state legislators. For those who lived here through the 1980s and 1990s, Casper was hard hit by the drop in oil prices. Services were limited and houses and businesses were vacant. Those who proceeded us understood that we as a community were dependent on the price of oil, and they had the foresight to make decisions to help move away from the complete reliance on the industry. We need to honor their intent and be good financial stewards of public funds for our current residents as well as those who come after us. We all have oil and gas to thank for our standard of living in Casper, but we also need to continue to look at attracting other industries as well.

CASPER CITY COUNCIL WARD III: 4-YEAR TERM, 2 SEATS AVAILABLE

2026 CANDIDATES:

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I am a Casper native, raised in this amazing place. As a parent to children ranging from adult to school age, I understand the issues facing families in our community.

I am a petroleum geologist, and my professional background is in oil and gas. In addition, I am a business owner and also have experience in retail, real estate, tourism, and manufacturing. I understand the challenges the business community is facing.

I also serve on several boards, both in Casper as well as statewide, and I understand the challenges that nonprofits and governmental and regulatory bodies are dealing with as well.

My name is Shane True, I ask for your vote on August 18th for Casper City Council Ward II.

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

I believe the most crucial challenge facing our community is navigating rising costs while keeping our city safe, affordable, and appealing to the next generation. My priority is ensuring that Casper is a place where young adults can afford to live and actually want to stay. This means we must manage our existing city resources so we can protect essential services like public safety; maintain our infrastructure; and support the community amenities that improve our quality of life. I joined the council with these same goals, and if re-elected, I will work with city staff to continue our focus on these priorities.

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

I think this is a complicated question because many people prioritize different things based on their individual situation. However, cost of living is one of the biggest on-going issues, along with access to affordable healthcare and specialist care. There are also many families that struggle during summer months to ensure their kids have food to eat and affordable activities to do. These are larger issues, of course, and many families and individuals struggle in ways that cannot be neatly cat-

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are

RAY PACHECO

If

support continuing to make infrastructure repairs a priority. I would also look for innovative ways to off-set the cost of infrastructure repairs.

I like that the city is addressing the affordability of housing by selling unnecessary city-owned

ARTHUR YOUNGBERG

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

I believe the most crucial challenge for people of Casper is governments spending on projects it was never ment to fund. The government needs to spend the money it receives from tax payers as if it was their personal money.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I would be the person in the room trying to get back to the basics of government responsibility. When there is a vote I am going to vote for smaller government and letting the private sector work.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I spent several years at the coal mine in Wyoming. The biggest reason I am running is during 2020 during Covid i spent most of the year taking care of my father. He was put on a ventilator 3 times and he fought back from that all 3 times. I got a front row seat to how bad the government was at working for the people. The last conversation I had with him I told him I was going to run for office and try to change things.

BRANDY HASKINS (RE-ELECTION CANDIDATE)

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If re-elected, I will prioritize our budget on core essentials. As a strong advocate for public safety, I have supported adding police and fire staff to protect Casper. We must optimize our revenue to ensure safety and infrastructure needs are met first.

During my time on the council, we have actively encouraged new businesses by creating an Urban Renewal Authority to use TIF funding to drive investment. We approved conduit debt financing to allow for the use of industrial revenue bonds. We also utilized the voter-approved SPEC tax to fund major infrastructure projects without draining day-today funds. I have fought hard to keep the ski lift and the second sheet of ice alive by encouraging citizens to raise funds for these projects, ensuring our families

egorized. Part of the issue is that many people do not know what services and help are already available in the community or how to get in contact with those services. “Being in the know” is a different kind of challenge people face here.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

The first step to face off against some of these challenges is to help more people be “in the know” about the kinds of help and services that are already here in the community. While there are websites and some projects that have worked to centralize information, if people

buildings to developers to rehabilitate them and put them on the market as affordable homes. I do not support selling public lands.

Casper has a strong police force and fire department. Gaming brings significant revenue to Casper that pays in part for its general fund, public education, infrastructure, law enforcement & road maintenance. However, with that revenue comes adverse side effects. We need to explore reducing these incidents to keep our community safe.

Every resident needs to become individually educated when a potential company is looking at relocating to Casper. We need to ask our own questions and ask for clarification when we don’t understand something. We need to bring outside industry to Casper but we also need to protect our land, water, wildlife, fisheries and make sure it’s not burden-some to the community.

INDICATES NO RESPONSE TO CANDIDATE Q&A RECEIVED

have the high-quality recreational amenities they expect by offering assistance towards these projects without funding them entirely by the City. I will continue working with city staff to maximize our resources, protecting tax dollars while encouraging business growth and community attractions that keep Casper a safe, affordable, and appealing place for the next generation to live and play.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

During my time on the council, I have acquired a solid combination of financial and public safety experience, backed by a personal dedication to Casper’s future. During my first term, I participated in more than 10 different committees and workgroups that helped me learn more about the inner workings of our city. On the financial front, I worked with city staff to help implement Priority-Based

don’t know where that central information hub is, then it is useless to them. Out-reach and education about existing resources, gathering data on where gaps exist, and working toward closing those gaps can help resolve many challenges that individuals and families in Casper face every day. When people have their basic needs met, it will be easier to work on some of the larger ongoing issues in the community.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I am a lover of people, am passionate about creating community, and I want to see Casper thrive. I appreciate the experience and expertise of others around me and truly believe that

We need to be open-minded, and informed before we say no to any industry. We need to diversify the economy. I would work to make sure the community has multiple opportunities to become informed.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I am a small business owner that chose to return to Casper and relocate our business here.

I’m involved in Casper organizations that improve the lives of people in the community.

Director, Advance Casper Board of Directors, which works on economic development in the community.

Director, Wyoming Community Foundation, Local, Casper Board of Directors, where we learn about the needs in our community and give grants to non-profits in Natrona and Converse Counties twice a year.

Director, The Lyric Board of Directors. The Lyric will be a world

Budgeting. I also serve on the Finance Committee, where I have learned exactly what income we receive, how we invest it, and ultimately how we decide to spend or save it. This hands-on experience allows me to truly understand how our budget operates. In public safety, I have gained real-world insight by serving on the Dangerous Buildings and Opioid Epidemic Funding committees. Additionally, I have served as the council’s liaison for Public Health, Municipal Court, and Drug Court. This work keeps me focused on adding the public safety staff our neighborhoods need. My service on the City Council is not politically motivated; it is deeply personal. As a parent with three adult children, my ultimate motivation is keeping my family right here in Casper. I am fully prepared to spend my second term keeping Casper safe, financially sound, and inviting for the next generation and my grandchildren.

conversation, compromise, and teamwork are vital elements to bring about long-term solutions and success. While working at Casper College as a tutor in service to students, I have learned that the least of us have something meaningful to say and teach.

What I understand about any elected position is that the duty of the official is to listen to the community and represent their best interests within the decision-making process. Winning a seat in city council isn’t about the singular ideas that I have but rather giving voice to the thousands of constituents who I represent, ensuring that they are not lost or dismissed. I believe that I can take on this role and be a voice for Ward 3 in Casper.

class performing arts center that will bring a variety of theater and musical companies to the region and will give local artists a beautiful place to perform and will increase tourism and sales and lodging tax revenue.

Member, Natrona County Improvement Committee which seeks to educate the community regarding livability and economic development projects in Casper.

Member, Casper Rotary Club

Member, Casper Area Chamber of Commerce

Advocate, Visit Casper Professionally, I am an Accredited Public Relations Professional with over 30 years of experience, mainly in financial services and non-profit organizations.

I was born & raised in Casper, and have lived in numerous communities over the years. My husband and I moved our medical device company to Casper 5 years ago and we love being part of this vibrant community.

CARROLL TRADER

casper city council ward III

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

We are seeing an increase in Drug related crimes, theft and vandalism. We need to focus on raising awareness to our community on how to curb crime and hiring more law enforcement for one.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

Community awareness and law enforcement support is key. Monthly meetings with law enforcement and our communities have been successful in curbing crime and violence in areas I have served in law enforcement and have past resided. Commu-

TERRY

nity involvement is essential in this matter.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I retired after 20+ years in the Marine Corps as an O3 Master Sergeant. Many of the bases where I was stationed around the globe I was Military Police.

I am also a retired Deputy Sheriff in Beaufort South Carolina where I retired from Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot as a Chief Marksmanship Instructor.

I am an individual that likes to work with the community I live in. I am very outgoing and passionate about working with communities and their leaders.

WINGERTER casper city council ward III

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The residents of Casper want to know that they are safe and have their basic needs met for everyday living. To drive on wellmaintained streets; have reliable and affordable utilities; and know their emergency services are properly funded like fire, EMS, police and health facilities. They want to be able to enjoy our beautiful parks and sports facilities. All residents of Casper deserve a city council person who is available at all times and willing to listen and find a satisfactory solution to any problem no matter how small to any and all residents.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I have always been available in my political career and worked hard to find solutions and will do so when I am elected to the city council. I will work diligently with all city officials, agencies and departments for a satisfactory outcome. With my past experience, serving on the Casper City Council and on the Natrona County Commission, I have worked on over 28 budgets. I am looking forward to working with Casper’s new city manager, city staff, other city council members plus state legislators in the city’s budgeting process and to continue to provide an accessible and unified governing body for the city of Casper.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I have a vast and lengthy history in city and county government. I was elected and served eight years on the Casper City Council and then was elected to serve on the Natrona County Commission for twenty years. My interest in government began in my high school civics class. I worked as an aide in Washington D.C. for a Wyoming Congressman. I have volunteered for many local clubs and organizations. I am currently a driver for Meals on Wheels and a board member of Kiwanis Club. I have always been proud to serve my community in public service or as a volunteer. I have have never known a stranger and when I’m elected to city council, I promise to always be available to listen and do my very best to help with the concerns of the citizens of Casper. I have continued to attend city and county meetings in order to keep up-to-date with issues. As I mentioned before, I was involved with 28 city and county budgets and have served on almost all of the city and county boards. I am familiar with property tax levies, funding city and county services, how to promote public health, safety and public welfare and assisting the city manager with their concerns and city projects. Throughout the years, I have been given appointments by governors to serve on local government coordinated councils and was presented recently by Governor Gordon the Bronze Achievement Award in grateful recognition of a lifetime to selfless service and lasting impact.

SHANE TRUE casper city council ward II

BRANDY HASKINS casper city council ward III

KATHRYN MORGAN casper city council ward III

KAYCEE WIITA casper city council ward III

EVANSVILLE & MILLS

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

The #1 priority for the town of Evansville, as it is for any municipality, is for the safety and well-being of its residents. To do this we need to provide a healthy infrastructure, which means we need to maintain and improve our existing water, sewer, streets, and the fire and police departments. The challenge is

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

One of Evansville’s biggest challenges is balancing our limited revenue with the growing needs of our community. We must plan responsibly for replacing aging equipment, maintaining essential infrastructure, and addressing street repairs before small problems become much more expensive.

Just as important, our town has experienced some difficult and divisive times in recent years. We need to restore trust, strengthen communication, and bring back the sense of community that has always made Evansville a great place to live. By working together, we can make thoughtful decisions that protect taxpayers while investing in our town’s future.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected, I will work with the Town Council, our employees, and the citizens of Evansville to develop written annual, fiveyear, ten-year, and twenty-year plans that establish clear priori-

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

For the Town of Evansville, we have a number of challenges that we are facing now and in the future.

The 2 things that I hear most about is the Data Center and the Utilities associated with the cost rising. Most citizens and elected officals to my knowledge, are working hard to ask the hard questions before diving in on any decision. I will be doing the same.

The Data Center is a complex issue on many levels and I am still gathering information on all sides and working hard to get the answers that our citizens deserve along with their input before making a statement on their behalf if elected.

The utilities have had to be voted with an increase on water. But

to accomplish this and still have a balanced budget.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If re-elected, I will work with our very professional and excellent staff to accomplish these goals.

I will also seek and pursue any and all additional sources of funding available that are beyond our established revenue sources such as taxes and direct distribution.

ties and provide a road-map for our community’s future. Planning ahead allows us to make sound financial decisions, prepare for major equipment and infrastructure needs, and avoid unnecessary surprises.

I believe communication and transparency are essential. Before making significant longterm commitments, the public deserves to understand the costs, benefits, and alternatives. Rather than relying on general explanations like “inflation,” I believe decisions should be supported by clear facts, actual costs, and responsible financial analysis.

I also believe in finding solutions, not excuses. I don’t accept “it can’t be done” or “that’s the way we’ve always done it” as reasons to avoid improvement.

Evansville can respect its traditions while embracing new ideas that make our town stronger, more efficient, and better prepared for the future.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

My background has prepared me to approach the challenges facing Evansville with practical

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I am a 30-year resident of Evansville and have 8 years’ experience on town council prior to becoming mayor of Evansville on November 10, 2025. I am a previous small business owner and have held numerous management positions in my past business life. I served 6 years in the US Navy and presently serve as vice president of the Natrona County United Veterans Council.

experience, fiscal responsibility, and a focus on results. As a business owner and manager for many years, I have learned the importance of budgeting, longterm planning, accountability, and making difficult decisions while living within available resources.

I also served on the Evansville Town Council from 2023 to 2024, where I gained firsthand knowledge of the Town’s operations, finances, and the issues that matter most to our residents.

Earlier in my career, I served as Sports Coordinator for the City of Casper, working closely with the City Manager and City Council. During that time, I founded the Casper Recreational Leagues Association and helped transform the department from a cost center into a revenue-generating operation while reducing costs for participants. That experience taught me how to improve services, manage public resources responsibly, and build partnerships that benefit the community.

I am not a career politician. I am a practical, independent thinker who believes in listening, asking questions, making decisions based on facts, and always putting the best interests of Evansville’s citizens first.

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Mills residents are facing the effects of rising costs and increasing demands on public services. Families want to know their tax dollars are being spent responsibly and that their local government is stretching every dollar. Residents expect strong public safety services, reliable infrastructure, and a city government that is planning for future growth while fostering community live-ability that makes Mills a great place to live.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I have worked hard to identify operational challenges throughout the city and pursuing outside funding opportunities. During my term, I successfully renegotiated city leases for better revenue, established new lease agreements that generate revenue, found savings such as safety programs that reduced workers’ compensation costs, and revised policies such as landfill pass distribution to reduce abuse. Making taxpayers dollars go further.

I worked with the fire department to stabilize their revenue by creating an ambulance incen-

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

Right now in Mills the questions are Water with the drought, Infrastructure, the Pathway, Riverfront and Austin Project

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected I will attempt to revive the projects we had going like the River front Project, the pathways that run from Rob-

tive program and found an in house medical biller who works diligently to capture run payments from insurers.

I’m proud of the community events created that foster liveability and family fun. Movies in the park have been a big success. I upgraded two parks play ground equipment while saving money by repurposing old school equipment. Our service and sacrifice park is coming together beautifully and is funded by non profit donations.

I have also worked aggressively to bring additional funding into our community. These efforts resulted in the award of a federal COPS grant to support a patrol officer which allowed us to place a resource officer in the new school and $1 million in Congressional Community Project Funding towards the lower Mills infrastructure project. I have worked closely with Wyoming’s congressional delegation and federal agencies to advocate for an independent Mills ZIP code, helping strengthen our community’s identity and future economic opportunities.

If re elected, I will continue pursuing grants, improving operational performance, supporting public safety, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring Mills residents receive the greatest

ertson road to Amoco pathways and the Austin Project that is all but stalled at this point, improve infrastructure with actually doing those projects not just talking about them. We need to look at budgeting to make these a priority or we will not be able to catch up with it in the future, look at water rights and help to secure water for a growing and prosperous City, as we will eventually hit a max growth without securing more water at some point.

value possible from every tax dollar spent.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

Serving as Mayor has provided me with practical experience managing daily city operations, overseeing budgets, navigating complex challenges, and making decisions that directly affect taxpayers. I believe effective leadership requires being present, engaged, and willing to tackle difficult issues while keeping the long-term interests of the community at the forefront.

Throughout my term, I have built strong working relationships with local leaders, state officials, and Wyoming’s congressional delegation. Those relationships have helped Mills secure grant funding and advocate for community priorities. I am often in Cheyenne and Casper testifying in committees on bills that affect Mills.

Whether securing outside funding, strengthening regional partnerships, or advocating for Mills at every level of government, I have produced measurable outcomes for our community. I am prepared to continue that work and build upon the established progress.

Mills is the fastest growing city in Wyoming year over year and it’s the people who live here that make it a great place to live!

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

As a Professional land surveyor, Business owner, and President of the council I have the understanding of all these issues and with my experience in the Surveying and engineering field over the last 28 years I have a working knowledge of how to move these things forward and keep the ball rolling on them. If elected I will bring all my experience to the table to update infrastructure, balance budgets, improve parks and focus on the Future of Mills as a whole not personal agendas and projects.

even with this being done we are still far below Caspers rates and as I have seen and heard that with the increase, people will have a harder time paying their bills. The cost of living and pay rates do not show a fair value on what our citizens actually need to make ends meet much less thrive. After hearing all sides it was a tough decision to raise rates from the current Mayor and Town Council and they do not take it lightly. Unfortunately as a town, they had to do so. This along with other future decisions will be at the very least challenging.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

As a Town Council member it is our duty to ask the hard questions and make our decisions based only on what the citizens and our wonderful towns needs are. I will work as a team and a voice for our citizens to make sure that we are doing what is

best for the whole town.

Even when it is hard, our town and our people are our responsibility and I do not take that lightly. I would be honored if elected and will be open to anyone with conversation and action. And I will always be open and transparent with every decision.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I have run and started a small animal sanctuary over 20 years ago in a small town while living there. I had a home daycare that we owned for several years before moving to another state. I was a Correctional Officer and in the medical field. I have volunteered in different areas when needed and have been in charge of fund raisers. I always keep an open mind and believe that every “voice” should be heard and listened to. I cannot and will not make a difference or decision without each and every “voice” being heard first that wishes to reach out.

ERNIE BLACKFORD evansville mayor

PHIL GIERKE

evansville mayor

RHONDA STYPA town council

LEAH JUAREZ mills mayor

BRADLEY NEUMILLER mills mayor

BAR NUNN

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

For Bar Nunn residents, the biggest challenge is managing growth without losing the community feel that makes people want to live here. We are still a small town, but we are clearly on the edge of becoming a larger community. With growth comes pressure: traffic, infrastructure, public safety, housing, parks, pathways, and making sure we plan thoughtfully so our town continues to serve the people who live here.

Bar Nunn is close to Casper, but we have our own identity, and that identity is worth protecting. The challenge is making sure growth works for residents, not the other way around.

Public safety is also a concern.

Bar Nunn is the only municipality in the county without its own police department. I appreciate the Sheriff’s Office, but they cover the entire county. We need a strong local presence that fits our town and budget.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

I would focus on practical planning, fiscal responsibility, and clear communication with residents. Some level of growth is inevitable, but we still have a say in what it looks like. My goal is to help Bar Nunn grow in a way that protects our community, supports families, and plans responsibly for the future.

I support residential growth that helps families live and stay here, along with smaller businesses and services that make daily life

easier.

I would continue working toward responsible public safety options, including a local police presence that acts as a deterrent and community resource, not simply a ticket-writing machine. This has been discussed for years, and it needs to move forward carefully, transparently, and within a balanced budget.

I also want to keep pushing for safer connectivity, including road planning, pedestrian options, and future pathways that better connect Bar Nunn to Casper and surrounding areas. Good planning now can prevent bigger problems later.

What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I have served on the Bar Nunn Town Council and understand that local government is not about slogans. It is about bud-

gets, infrastructure, ordinances, public safety, and decisions that affect your neighbors.

Professionally, I work as a Purchasing Director for a hospital system, managing contracts, budgets, vendors, capital projects, and competing priorities across multiple facilities. That experience has taught me to ask good questions, compare options, control costs, and make decisions based on facts instead of noise.

I am also a husband, father, and resident who cares deeply about this town. My family has called Bar Nunn home for nearly 10 years. I am not running because I think I have every answer, or because I was looking for extra evening meetings. I am running because I enjoy serving this community and believe Bar Nunn has a strong future if we handle growth thoughtfully and work together.

• Be a U.S. Citizen, as evidenced by providing proof of U.S. citizenship*

Be 18 years of age on or before the day of the next election

• Be a resident of Wyoming, as evidenced by providing proof of Wyoming residency*

Be a bona fide resident of Wyoming for not less than thirty (30) days before the next election

• Not currently adjudicated mentally incompetent Not been convicted of a felony, or have had voting rights restored

• Provide your Wyoming Driver’s License number and acceptable identification. If you do not have a Wyoming Driver’s License number, provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number and another form of acceptable identification.

*Find list of acceptable voter IDs at natronacounty-wy.gov/elections

CONTACT THE NATRONA COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS: PHONE: 307.235.9217

EMAIL: countyclerk@natrona-wy.gov

TIM FICKEN bar nunn mayor