Rebecca “Becky” Riley is running for Laramie City Council in Ward 3 to incorporate more of a citizen’s voice into what she called “a narrow group of gentlemen that have business interests.”
Riley became involved in local politics when questions over development concerning the Indian Hills neighborhood brought her to address the Laramie City Council.
“We were told citizen comment does not matter,” Riley said. “My neighborhood asked me to run. We need a lot more representation on the council.”
Riley’s voting district includes a number of areas populated by students, including the Binford apartments, Buffalo Run apartments, The Grove, and the residence halls.
“What has been happening is that the council is having a narrow viewpoint presented to them. I think we have to figure out a way that more of our citizens are involved in the forums,” Riley said.
Riley said two of her priorities are to continue to protect the aquifer and to diversity the Laramie economy, so that “we are not completely dependent on the university for our economic progress.”
Riley was born in Laramie, raised in Cheyenne and worked at the University of Wyoming for 25 years. Riley has Bachelor’s of Science degree in family and consumer science. She is pursuing a second degree in history because “lifelong learning is a big deal for her.”
“The more you learn, the more know. Actually the more you learn, the more you don’t know,” Riley said.
One issue that Riley plans to address is what to do with the “Turner Tract,” a land area donated to the city, where the recreation center, the Albany branch of Laramie County Community College and the site of the proposed high school are located.
“A lot of my economic concern will be economic development,” said Riley. “I would like to see some open space in the Turner Tract and possible expansion of the rec center.”
