A questionnaire was sent to the following candidates for the 2020 election consisting of these questions:
- How should Albany County address the COVID-19 pandemic for the rest of 2020 and 2021?
- What do you think the role Albany County has in providing free COVID-19 testing and vaccines to its citizens?
- What is the common ground between Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter? How do we get there?
- With the state and university budget shortfalls, how will this affect Albany County? What are you prepared to do about this?
Here are each of the candidates responses:
(D) Sue Ibarra
- I will offer leadership on complying with health orders and recommendations. Getting our economy going again and returning to some level of normalcy, requires beating this virus, not ignoring it or denying it exists. Currently, Albany County leads the state in the number of cases. UW has set a good example in offering testing, but we need a comprehensive program of testing, contact tracing, capacity to isolate cases, and economic assistance for displaced workers. Much of such a program is beyond just the county’s capacity, but as a county commissioner, I will do my best to be part of the solution.
- Much of what is needed to fight the pandemic is beyond the reach of just Albany County, particularly with our limited budget. However, I will advocate for as much access to free testing as we can provide – for example, we could help publicize the state’s program for providing free test kits to state residents – and the same for vaccines, once proven vaccines become available. As a county commissioner, I will place priority on supporting Albany County Public Health in its efforts to provide information, education, and services to county residents and to seek outside funding for additional support.
- The common ground is respect for all human life. Both slogans summarize the beginnings of a difficult dialogue that we as a democratic society need to have. I agree that racism – along with many other “isms” – runs throughout our culture, often in ways we don’t recognize, particularly in this part of the country where the population is overwhelmingly white. Our first step is to examine how we view people different from ourselves. Then we need to examine if our actions based on our views are lending solutions or adding to the division. We can be united.
- There’s no doubt that state budget shortfalls will adversely affect Albany County; however, local governments are very limited in their options for raising additional revenue. Albany County has always been a “poor” county because we lack the mineral resources that have been the bedrock of Wyoming tax revenues for decades. I pledge to achieve as much efficiency and effectiveness as possible for taxpayers by working closely with city government to maintain services that the public needs and wants. Layoffs are a last resort because they just worsen the county’s economy and sacrifice expertise and experience that we need.
(R) Terri Jones
- We must not live in a culture of fear and dehumanization. When people are unable to work and cannot feed their families, pay their bills, domestic violence and child abuse escalates. With schools and businesses shut down, there is no safe place for battered spouses or children to find reprieve and a meal. Untold numbers of people have suffered irreversible harm from suicide, drug overdose and fear of seeking medical attention. People most at risk for COVID-19 must be afforded special precautions. Open our society, people need to go back to work, and children need to attend school full time.
- From the onset of COVID-19 Albany County Public Health has been instrumental in testing and when a vaccine is approved Public Health will be active in the administration of mass vaccinations for those citizens interested in obtaining said vaccination. Our County Health Officer works closely with County Emergency Management and County Public Health. County Commissioners are in a support role, to the County Health Officer. The Governor and Wyoming State Health Officer work directly with the County Health Officers, essentially leapfrogging over the County Commissioners. Public Health will follow directives from the State Health Office and Governor.
- The common ground between Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter is ALL LIVES MATTER. Using distinguishing colors to indicate different groups, IS DISCRIMINATION and pushes people apart. Drop the titles and relate to people without discriminatory names. People are people, every person is as important as the next, no one, or group is special.
- Albany County is always at the mercy of budget shortfalls with the University Of Wyoming and the State of Wyoming. One of two things will happen, either a drop in enrolment or an increase in enrolment. Currently with COVID-19 and the rules changing on an almost daily basis there is no way to predict the near or distant future. I will continue to be fiscally responsible, keep the government small and minimize new regulations thus promoting economic development. Albany County is very frugal; there is no fat to be cut. AC currently operates under staffed, while maintaining services and statutory requirements.
(I) Klaus Halbsgut
- Unfortunately, our nation has lacked a unified vision for our future. If we would have had leadership at all levels of government, federal, state, & local that promoted good common-sense practices that would have reduced the spread of COVID-19, we could have saved lives & our economy. I would prefer that residents would wear masks on their own, but since that did not happen, I would be in favor of protecting the residents of Albany County by requiring masks be worn in public. If we wear masks, businesses can stay open and quite frankly we need the sales tax revenue.
- Governor Gordon through the Cares Act has authorized 75,000 free in-home tests for the COVID-19 pandemic. You can go to https://tinyurl.com/wyohometesting to apply. Albany County should where possible partner with local healthcare providers to provide free testing for our residents who cannot afford it. Unfortunately, we are the poorest county in the state and without federal and state help we will not be able to serve as many residents as we would like.
- In my youth, I had my fair share of interactions with law enforcement. It is fair to say that they did not always go my way. That said, it was always my fault when it went the wrong way. I understand that my perspective is different from my friends in urban environments. I believe communication is the common ground. Yelling solves nothing, we have to start talking to each other in order to affect change.
- I love this question. As a business owner I understand that you cannot spend money you do not have. Because of the short sightedness of our state legislature we are faced with budgetary shortfalls for the university & the county. I am in favor of economic development, specifically renewable energy. If we do not attract new revenue streams, the county will have no other option but to raise property taxes, increase fees for services, cut budgets & services, etc…
