Not only do Wyoming residents vote for our federal and state representatives — they also choose their local representation at the county and city level. All Albany County positions are four-year terms with no term limits; all registered Albany County voters can vote on who fills them. Voting on Laramie City Council positions is limited to city residents.
Albany County has three County Commissioners who are in charge of the county’s master plan and setting budgets for roads, bridges and the sheriff’s office. Candidates for the two County Commission seats up for election are Tim Chesnut (D), who has previously served as Commissioner; Pete Gosar (D), a business owner and former Chairman of the Wyoming Board of Education; Jerry M. Kennedy (R), a lifelong Albany County resident who has previously served as Commissioner; and Heber Richardson (R), a lifelong Laramie resident who has also previously served as Commissioner.
The County Attorney prosecutes non-federal crimes within the county. Candidates are Peggy A. Trent (D), who has previously served as County Attorney and has practiced law for 30 years, and Tony S. Lopez (R), a Laramie defense attorney. However, 65-year-old Lopez died Oct. 9; his name will still appear on the ballot because ballots have already been printed. The Albany County Republican party has the option to name a successor who voters would need to write-in on the ballot.
The County Sheriff is the head of law enforcement in the county. Candidates for Sheriff are current Sheriff Dave O’Malley (D), who has served 38 years in law enforcement, and self-employed Laramie resident Tim Hale (R), who has not previously held office.
The County Treasurer is in charge of collecting, disbursing and keeping a record of money from taxes. Candidates for Treasurer are Tracy Fletcher (D), who has 15 years of experience working in the Treasurer’s office, and Michael J. Pearce (R), who has 10 years of experience in banking.
For several offices, candidates are running unopposed for reelection. These are Jackie R. Gonzales (D) for County Clerk, responsible for keeping records, including those related to population, property and local elections; Janice Sexton (R) for County District Court Clerk, who performs administrative duties in the criminal justice system such as maintaining court records and administering oaths; Jennifer Graham (D) for County Coroner, who investigates deaths within the county; and Grant Showacre (D) for County Assessor, who assesses property value for property taxes.
The Laramie City Council is a non-partisan office in charge of city legislation and strategic planning concerning projects and infrastructure. Seven council members are elected from city wards, one per ward, to serve a four-year term with no term limits. They choose the mayor and vice-mayor once every two years. Voters must residents of the ward of the candidate they vote for.
Candidates for ward 1 are Victor Bershinsky, engineer and Laramie resident of 45 years; Brian Harrington, small business owner and northern Wyoming native; Jessica Stalder, Laramie-born nurse; and Andi Summerville, current Mayor and city council member since 2014. The candidate for ward 2 is Paul Weaver, who has previously served on the city council and the city Planning and Zoning Commission. Candidates for ward 3 are Karl McCraken, a business manager who has previously served on the council; Erin O’Doherty, Laramie resident of 27 years with a science career; and Bryan Shuster, who has served three terms on the council.
Also on the ballot are candidates for Albany County School District No. 1 Trustees, who govern the schools; Albany County Fire District No. 1 Director, who helps set fire suppression policy and disperse tax money to volunteer fire departments; Albany County Hospital District Trustees, in charge of Ivinson Memorial Hospital administration and policy; and Laramie Rivers Conservation District Supervisor.
The ballot also includes a judicial retention vote where voters can choose if the Circuit and District Court judges in Albany County should stay in office. Voters will decide whether or not to renew Albany County’s 1 percent sales tax. The percentage is in addition to Wyoming’s state sales tax and has been in place since 1986 to fund county and city services.
