Brett Glass- City Council
Q: Where does UW fall in terms of your priorities?
A: It’s the job of a member of City Council to support the interests of all residents of Laramie, regardless of whether they are involved with a particular institution, organization or business. City Council should work to improve conditions for all members of the Laramie community, including UW staff, students, and faculty. Sometimes, this means wholeheartedly supporting the ambitions of the UW Trustees and administration; sometimes it means working to temper them so that unchecked institutional greed does not do harm to the community. When dealing with issues involving UW, members of City Council must be fair and unbiased, keep everyone’s interests in mind, and be unburdened by conflicts of interest. If UW employees do serve on Council, they must recuse from any vote which could affect their current employment or future career prospects.
Q: What can be done to make Laramie more inclusive and accessible?
A: Laramie is already far and away the most inclusive city in Wyoming, with a very strong anti-discrimination ordinance. It has also made efforts to improve accessibility to those with mobility issues; it recently spent a substantial sum to grind down irregularities and reduce trip hazards on city sidewalks. However, we do need to do more to make Laramie more accessible in a different sense. Did you know that there is no longer a single public bulletin board on the UW campus not even in the Wyoming Union where off-campus organizations or businesses can post notices of events, products, services, or job openings? The City should gently prod UW to prevent the campus from becoming completely insular and walled off from the rest of the community.
Q: What is your stance on open and concealed carry on campus?
A: I first learned to handle firearms at a firing range operated by the Boy Scouts located in the basement of an elementary school something that would be unheard-of today. And when I was an undergraduate at Case Tech, a midwest engineering school, I chose marksmanship as my PE elective. I did not just carry firearms on campus; I shot them on the school’s own firing range! I understand the damage that guns can do, especially if deployed in anger, and respect the Supreme Court’s dictum that government can control at least to some extent the “time, place, and manner” of the exercise of Constitutional rights. Right now, US states are divided into three roughly equal groups: about 1/3 allow campus carry; 1/3 prohibit it; 1/3 leave it up to the school. The ultimate decision as to what happens at UW will be made not by City Council but by the people’s representatives in Cheyenne. Hopefully, our state will listen to the people and honor their will with regard to possession of firearms both on the UW campus and in the Capitol, where the same controversy is now playing out.
Q: What plans do you have to address the high cost of rent in Laramie, especially for students and recent graduates?
A: As a tenant, a landlord, a homeowner, a builder, and a renovator, I am the only Ward 2 candidate who has decades of experience in the realm of housing and can address housing issues from all perspectives. I am also the only candidate who has advocated specific practical measures to deal with them.
Housing affordability isn’t just a Laramie problem. 300% increases in costs of materials, as well prevailing wage hikes, have made new housing unaffordable everywhere. We in Laramie have no control over the costs of these inputs. However, we have an ace in the hole we are not exploiting: a large stock of older housing which can be refurbished and expanded for a fraction of the cost of new construction. This requires time, effort, and craftsmanship. To do it, we must repeal recent regulations which have forced experienced longtime contractors out of the market, simplify the City’s Uniform Development Code (UDC), and remove bureaucratic obstacles to housing redevelopment. We should also oppose Amendment A on the current election ballot, which would allow the Legislature to give tax breaks to homeowners in which renters could not share.
Q: How would you make changes to support and improve tenant rights?
A: A few years ago, the City of Laramie passed a rental housing ordinance which purported to improve conditions for tenants. Alas, that ordinance is not working and in fact has been counterproductive. Landlords have stopped renting properties or turned them into vacation rentals rather than deal with city bureaucracy, worsening our housing crunch. City fees have drained more than $160,000 from renters’ pockets. And the ordinance does not and cannot handle the most common rental issues rental contract disputes, deposits, and evictions because Wyoming cities, while they have criminal courts, do not have civil courts (the kind of court which has the power to resolve these issues). Fewer than 25% of complaints made to the City have been addressed in any way, much less resolved. And strict enforcement of certain provisions of the ordinance, starting in January of 2025, is poised to take thousands of perfectly safe, habitable, and affordable units off the market, forcing evictions of tenants and creating a bona fide housing crisis.
To avert this, the City must rethink its approach to the issue of tenants’ concerns. Landlord-tenant disputes are often messy, with disputes over facts, details, and timelines. There are usually contradictory “he said/she said” accounts of what happened. An experienced, no-nonsense judge in a civil court, with the power to order financial restitution and “specific performance” (fulfillment of a contract), is needed to sort them out. Fortunately, tenants can a small claims suit for a mere $10 at the courthouse half a block from City Hall. Enforcing tenants’ rights at the state level, and perhaps modifying state law if the public feels that the statute is not sufficiently explicit, is the only way to do this effectively. What’s more, it is fairer, because it provides exactly the same remedies to renters who live outside the city limits as it does to those who live within them. Wyoming is the “Equality State;” our state constitution makes multiple references to the bedrock principle of equal protection. Tenants’ access to redress should not change when they cross the city limits. The City claims, in the preamble to its ordinance, that its goal is “to help renters and owners communicate with each other so they can resolve their issues without further city involvement.” It can best do this by providing services that actually facilitate communication, such as an ombudsman and direction to free legal services for tenants, and informing parties of their rights and responsibilities under state law. Regulation at the municipal level should be limited to planning, zoning, and similar tasks explicitly delegated by state law to cities. It should not burden either tenants or providers of housing – especially affordable housing – via unnecessary bureaucracy. Bigger government and counterproductive overregulation are not the answer. For more on this issue, see my essay at http://voteglass.org/tenant.html
Q: Many students rely on local roads and infrastructure for their daily commutes. How do you plan to address road maintenance issues that impact the entire community?
A: As a member of Council, I hope to direct City staff to prioritize the city’s most basic functions, such as maintaining infrastructure. The city needs to make purchases wisely and concentrate on the preservation of public health, safety, and welfare. City staff routinely flouts state statute by claiming that purchases of goods and services are contracts for “professional services” when they should, by law, go out for bid. The city frequently awards no-bid contracts, overpays for goods and services, and bypasses worthy local suppliers. The City Council should direct staff, by ordinance, to discontinue this practice.
The City of Laramie also spends so much money on exorbitant salaries for a large tier of middle managers (who make more than $100,000 per year) that it has not had sufficient funds to fix streets, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. Council should make the city’s currently opaque budgeting process more transparent and insist that the city “stick to its knitting.”
Q: What would you do to attract businesses that could provide part-time jobs or internships for college students?
A: In part, this is a communication issue. I have a business which is currently looking for part-time student help, but has had trouble reaching students who might be interested. (As I’ve mentioned elsewhere in this questionnaire, there is no longer a single bulletin board on the UW campus where off-campus employers can post job notices.) However, the City can attract more businesses (and facilitate the creation of new startups) by reducing the amount of needless bureaucratic barriers it imposes upon them. Currently, before one can even put up a small sign for a new business, the city requires a permit, plus the expensive services of a hard-to-find licensed contractor, plus an occupancy permit. Recently, several successful local businesses seeking to relocate to larger quarters have been unable to do so because the city has required thousands of dollars’ worth of unnecessary, expensive modifications to the new space. If we want Laramie to be business-friendly, we must reduce the amount of stifling red tape.
Q: Many students enjoy the local shops, restaurants, and cafes in Laramie. How would you support small businesses and ensure that they continue to thrive?
A: Again, better communication between students on campus and off-campus businesses and organizations is needed. As on other campuses throughout the country, the University should allow these community businesses and organizations to post notices on designated kiosks or bulletin boards in the Classroom Building, the Wyoming Union and the Buchanan Center and in the dormitories as well as on kiosks in Prexy’s Pasture. Students should be encouraged to use UW shuttle buses to obtain safe rides to and from downtown.
Q: How would you address the rising cost of living in Laramie and ensure that it remains a place where students can afford to live while attending the University of Wyoming?
A: The City of Laramie has raised living costs for ALL residents (not just students) via excessive regulation. A recently imposed contractor licensing regime, which does not take craftspeople’s experience into account and has driven many to work only in the county, has driven up the costs of building maintenance and improvements. Counterproductive overregulation of rentals has created scarcity and driven up rents. Restrictions on business development have prevented new businesses from opening, precluding price competition. The City of Laramie should protect residents’ health, welfare, and safety without imposing excessive bureaucracy.
Q: How do you plan to ensure that the voices of college students are heard in city council decisions?
A: College students rarely show up to City Council meetings (even though participation is available to all via Zoom), partially because of the communication gap between campus and the rest of Laramie and partially because Laramie’s city government is not sufficiently transparent. Agendas for Tuesday meetings are not posted until the prior Friday afternoon, limiting the ability of the press to cover them, and one must dig through a complex Web interface to find them. Many decisions are made via the “consent agenda,” in which packages of items are voted on with no discussion and little disclosure of their consequences. Agendas should be prominently published at least 5 days prior to meetings and carefully covered by the Branding Iron and other news outlets.
Q: What role do you think the city should play in creating events or activities that are accessible and engaging for students, fostering a sense of community between students and long-term residents?
A: The answer, again, is communication. The City’s recreational facilities are fully open to all, but again the communication gap between campus and the rest of Laramie prevents many students from learning about what is available. The University should also be mindful of scheduling on-campus events opposite local ones, cooperating with off-campus organizations rather than competing with them. (The Snowy Range Music Festival, which featured great acts such as Huey Lewis, shut down after being unable to draw students from campus. It cited direct competition from UW events, and difficulty in advertising to students, as the cause.)
Q: How would you address environmental concerns in Laramie, such as waste management, recycling, and energy use, to create a more sustainable community?
A: The City of Laramie has already embarked on a project to achieve “carbon neutrality” in the near future and has installed solar facilities south of town. It also offers recycling services at very attractive rates, and has worked extensively with the County on protection of the Casper Aquifer, one of our sources of potable water. Unfortunately, it lacks the ability to control much greater sources of carbon dioxide, such as the kiln at Mountain Cement and the University power plant, so voluntary cooperation from these entities would be key to doing more.
Q: What is your stance on community policing and building better relationships between law enforcement and college students?
A: The University of Wyoming has its own police department, which provides virtually all policing services on the UW campus. (Its officers are also sworn in as deputies, which gives them authority to act beyond the boundaries of campus.) However, City Council doesn’t have authority over the UW Police, and the city’s Police Advisory Board cannot oversee it as it can LPD. When students interact with LPD, they are treated as any other citizen would be, but now have the additional protections afforded by that board. Since the Police Advisory Board is new, it remains to be seen if other measures might improve relations.
Q: How would you work to improve access to mental health and crisis intervention services for students in Laramie?
A: Again, the answer is communication. These services exist; we merely need to ensure that students are informed about them. Better communication with off-campus organizations can help.
Q: How do you envision the relationship between the City of Laramie and the University of Wyoming? What steps would you take to strengthen this partnership?
A: Currently, the University is more insular than at any time in its history. Key to improving relations would be the lowering of barriers to communication. As mentioned above, the City should be more forthcoming with key information, and the University should ensure that communications from off campus are facilitated rather than prohibited.
Q: What opportunities would you create for students to get involved in local government?
A: City Council needs a legislative staff which is not part of the regular city bureaucracy. Internship opportunities should be created for students (particularly law students and students studying for degrees in public administration and administration of justice) to assist Council in researching ordinances in other jurisdictions and their consequences, so Council can make better decisions and adopt more informed and wiser city policies. Students studying for degrees in journalism and public relations should also be recruited to document City Council agendas and policies, so that residents on and off campus are better informed of upcoming decisions and activities.
Gary Crum- (R) Senate District 10
Q:What is your stance on rank choice voting?
A: I do not support rank order voting.
Q:How will you work to attract more stem jobs and businesses?
A: We need to support education that relates to STEM employment opportunities. It is imperative we utilize and champion our local and complementary industries that use STEM in their day-to-day processes. Examples include mining, agriculture, oil and gas exploration, utilities and refining along with many others. I’m also focused on fostering business growth, creating job opportunities, and attracting investments to bolster the local economy. Once elected, I will continue my work in supporting small businesses, entrepreneurship, and innovation for a thriving business environment.
Q:What are your stances on nuclear energy coming to Wyoming and our reliance on petroleum as an industry?
A: I believe nuclear energy is one of the long-term solutions to address energy issues in the United States and the world. I also believe in an “all of the above” approach to energy that encourages the use of both Wyoming legacy resources and renewables. These resources are critical to producing the energy our state needs to support job growth and economic development.
Q:What is your stance on the minimum wage and gender wage gap in Wyoming?
A: Equal pay for equal work and experience is very important and I fully support this. I also believe in, and will promote, “Fair Pay” for Wyoming educators.
Q:How will you support fire departments and preventative measures against forest fires?
A: It is important for Wyoming to focus on investing in rural emergency management services, vegetation and forest management as well as critical fire, medical and security resources.
Q:What are your plans regarding the safety of highway 287 and other transportation infrastructure?
A: One of my highest priorities is completing the US 287 four-lane divided highway project in Wyoming. Once completed, we should anticipate a reduction in the loss of life and serious injury.
Q:How will you improve mental health resources in Wyoming?
A: We need to support more mental health resources in Wyoming which includes an increased number of mental health professionals, easy access to care, enhancing in-patient facilities and sustained funding for crisis hotlines. The most important thing we can do is support healthy families and provide resources for those in need. I believe in ensuring access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare for all, especially in rural areas. I’m dedicated to supporting local healthcare facilities and expanding healthcare services in underserved communities as well as ensuring quality rural health care services and reliable emergency and ambulance services.
Q:What is your stance on the environment and potential Wyoming climate initiatives?
A: We have a responsibility to leave the earth better than we found it. As a longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America/Scouting America, I practice, and believe, in the campground saying, “Leave your campsite better than you found it.”
Q:Where does UW fall in terms of your priorities?
A: The University of Wyoming is a high priority for me. As a UW graduate, donor, volunteer and parent, I’m committed to a strong and growing University of Wyoming. I’m also committed to improving education by advocating for increased funding, teacher support, and modernized curriculums to ensure that every student has access to a high-quality education.
Q:How will you motivate more students to stay in Wyoming after graduating?
A: I’m committed to attracting more primary industries and jobs that will leverage students with skills and experience they received at the University of Wyoming. I will also encourage the University to focus and prioritize degrees that support Wyoming’s economy.
Q:What can be done to make Laramie more inclusive and accessible?
A: In my opinion, Laramie is inclusive and accessible. While we can always improve inclusivity and accessibility, the community works hard to make all feel welcome.
Jim Fried- City Council
Q: Where does UW fall in terms of your priorities?
A: I graduated from college and worked for many years at the University of Wyoming. There’s no secret that UW is a big player in our city. There is an interesting relationship between the two; we must first understand how UW impacts Laramie and vice versa and what control each entity has over the other. The unique tax structure of the University, it is a relevant topic in terms of housing and development decisions.
Q: What can be done to make Laramie more inclusive and accessible?
A: About a decade ago, we became the only city in Wyoming that has protections against discrimination “based upon an actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations.” The efforts don’t stop there, our community itself has created spaces that are inclusive and accessible. Other things, like requiring three readings of an ordinance and allowing public comment have helped with inclusivity of public opinion in city council meetings.
Q: What is your stance on open and concealed carry on campus?
A: As a gun owner, I support the Second Amendment in the protection of our guns. However, I believe there are inappropriate places, like schools, hospitals, and universities, that should remain gun-free. The City Council does not have any bearing on that decision.
Q: What plans do you have to address the high cost of rent in Laramie, especially for students and recent graduates?
A: A large factor behind the high cost of rent is housing supply in general for Laramie. As a councilor, I would explore creative public-private partnerships to attract more developers to Laramie and address our housing supply challenges.
Q: How would you make changes to support and improve tenant rights?
A: I’ve been a renter in this city for over a decade (in Centennial for one!). And, recently became a first-time homeowner here. I know, firsthand, how hard finding a safe, affordable place to live in Laramie is. That’s why I’m passionate about ensuring our rental code effectively keeps renters’ safe, while remaining low-burden on contractors.
Many students rely on local roads and infrastructure for their daily commutes. How do you plan to address road maintenance issues that impact the entire community? City department managers have inspected our infrastructure for decades; the Traffic Safety Commission has also been working on this issue. I know that updating roads become a multi-layered issue when you bring in water and sewer lines, pricing, and more. Figuring out how to do this sustainably, while advocating for bike lanes and public transit would be one of my goals.
Q: What would you do to attract businesses that could provide part-time jobs or internships for college students?
A: I would want to connect with the Business Council and small business owners to understand the needs and onerous ordinances that are currently in place. I think this question also touches on development and how Laramie can grow. It’s all part of the large, complex question of “what’s next for Laramie”?
Q: Many students enjoy the local shops, restaurants, and cafes in Laramie. How would you support small businesses and ensure that they continue to thrive?
A: As a community member, I enjoy those same shops, restaurants, and cafes. I have many friends who are small business owners in Laramie, and I would want to connect with them and others to ensure we strike the right balance for businesses and the funding and infrastructure of our city.
Q: How would you address the rising cost of living in Laramie and ensure that it remains a place where students can afford to live while attending the University of Wyoming?
A: Unfortunately, there are a lot of factors that are outside of City Council control: supply issues, inflation, and other extenuating factors. However, there are decisions that the City can make in its development plan to make use of mixed-use developments and more marketable and affordable rentals.
Q: How do you plan to ensure that the voices of college students are heard in city council decisions?
A: I aspire to be present in my community and transparent in my decision-making. I plan to keep my social media if I am elected, to bring information straight to our voters. A partnership with the Branding Iron could also be helpful in keeping college students updated regularly on City Council decisions.
Q: What role do you think the city should play in creating events or activities that are accessible and engaging for students, fostering a sense of community between students and long-term residents?
A: This is a great opportunity to collaborate with the University and connect where we can. Laramie already has a wonderful array of events, from the yearly Jubilee Days and Brewfest to our Dia de los Muertos that different entities partner to create. Connecting local organizations and the University clubs and schools could help further that connection in creating events.
Q: How would you address environmental concerns in Laramie, such as waste management, recycling, and energy use, to create a more sustainable community?
A: I have worked for the Wyoming Conservation Corps from the bottom up to becoming the Director of the program. Now, I work as the Medicine Bow Routt Coordinator for the National Forest Foundation. My life’s work is in conservation, recreation, and solving complex problems on a local, state, and federal level. I started the glass recycling program in Laramie during my time at the Wyoming Conservation Corps. First, it is essential to understand the wants and needs of our community when it comes to sustainable programming. Then, facing the realities of our budget to make those wants and needs come to fruition. As this is something that is my life-work, I am passionate about advocating for these changes.
Q: What is your stance on community policing and building better relationships between law enforcement and college students?
A: The City has made great strides by creating the Police Advisory Board. I support this Board to ensure that citizens have a voice in difficult conversations between law enforcement and stakeholders. Ensuring that college students are aware of these meetings and inviting them could be a good way to get them involved!
Q: How would you work to improve access to mental health and crisis intervention services for students in Laramie?
A: These types of issues require partnerships between state and local government to ensure we address our mental health provider problem in Wyoming. I’m more than willing to have those tough conversations, knowing that Wyoming ranks 1st for suicide deaths in the country. But it is something that many groups will have to partner and prioritize.
Q: What opportunities would you create for students to get involved in local government?
A: We could build on the Laramie Youth Council and model something that would include University students in local decision-making. Speaking with students and student clubs is a surefire way to get them involved in these processes, both of which I am willing to do.
Sylvia-Grace Fonfara – School Board
I oppose book banning. My mother and godmother were librarians, so I grew up running around well-supplied libraries reading everything I could. This showed me the importance of freely available, easily accessible information, including for children. Banning books on “controversial” subjects hinders students’ ability to develop critical thinking skills, which are essential in an era where disinformation is rampant. Putting every child at such a disadvantage, especially when the majority of people oppose such policies, does society a great disservice.
Public money belongs in public schools. Public school systems are already severely underfunded, and diverting the limited money districts do have towards private schools that have other sources of funding generally not available to public schools makes a bad situation worse. A majority of children do not attend private schools, and the schools they do attend need to be the top priority for government funding.
Every child is different – they learn in their own unique way, and my plan for ensuring all of Albany County’s students receive the comprehensive education they need centers on meeting them where they are and accommodating their individual needs as best as possible. Laramie’s school system does not have the best track record in this department, and correcting this problem is a main priority for the district going forward. I am on the autism spectrum and attended Laramie’s public schools for my entire K-12 education. I will use this insight to inform the other trustees on some of the challenges this historically underserved population faces and how they can support students through them.
Curriculums should be designed to include the content on these tests, and teachers must be allowed the flexibility and freedom to adapt their lessons to the needs of their students. Test scores will rise as a natural outcome of children being taught in the ways they learn best and understanding the material presented to them better as a result. The biggest part of my plan to make this happen is keeping listening to students, parents, and teachers a top priority and working the insight they provide into all policies the board creates. Nobody understands our students better than them, so they are a vital part of the process.
Public schools serve the public, and our communities are a diverse blend of cultures and religions. Pushing one government-sanctioned religion over all others infringes on the first amendment rights of families to practice their faith with their children as they see fit, in addition to crossing the line of indoctrinating students. Parents who want a religious education for their children have the right to enroll them in a faith-based private school to meet that need, and the rights of parents who do not want to send their kids to a religious school must be protected as well.
The Lab School’s closure is not guaranteed. The community has been passionately advocating for keeping a laboratory school on the UW campus, and their voices are being heard. Regardless of the outcome, ACSD1 has committed to meeting the needs of Lab School students and bringing the most beloved parts of this historic institution to all schools in the district. I attended the Lab School from kindergarten through ninth grade, and my first-hand experience of the school’s methods is a valuable asset. I have already shared a boatload of this information with the district, and elected or not I will continue to do so.
William Bowling- City Council
Q: Where does UW fall in terms of your priorities?
A: The issues facing UW and Laramie are inextricably linked. The University is part of the cultural and economic fabric of our community
Q: What can be done to make Laramie more inclusive and accessible?
A: Laramie already has the most inclusive city government in Wyoming. For example, we’ve passed a non-discrimination ordinance, and the council is vocal and present in its support of its LGBTQ+ citizen. I think those values of respect and inclusivity are inherent in our community. But accessibility is also defined in the means by which we take care of our community – how we house folks, what kind of social services we offer.
Q: What is your stance on open and concealed carry on campus?
A: I have been vocal about this both as a UW Faculty member and a private citizen. I am a hunter, and I own multiple firearms. I am also an educator. Firearms do not belong in education settings, no matter what.
Q: What plans do you have to address the high cost of rent in Laramie, especially for students and recent graduates?
A: Rents are set by markets, not by city governments. A better way to answer this question is to talk about our lack of housing and our increasing needs. We need to build denser, apartment style housing or we will not meet our demands by 2030. How? Lots of options on the table, including infilling existing lots, using principles of soft overlay to honor the spirit of neighborhoods, etc. But having ENOUGH housing will be directly correlated to rental rates.
Q: How would you make changes to support and improve tenant rights?
A: I am a renter. I’ve always been a renter. And the reality of my generation is that I will have a much harder time buying a house than those of my parents’ generation. Many Laramie residents will be lifetime renters. The existing rental ordinance is about basic public safety and common sense. Renters should have basic amenities and safe living conditions, and a mechanism to address issues that may arise. I would work to codify and strengthen the rental ordinance, and look for ways to add dedicated city staff to work on compliance. Our rental ordinance is a crucial public safety measure, and needs to be improved, not repealed.
Q: Many students rely on local roads and infrastructure for their daily commutes. How do youplan to address road maintenance issues that impact the entire community?
A: Laramie has an aging water infrastructure that needs to be prioritized before road repair, otherwise we’re putting the cart before the horse. This work is already being done, and water main breaks are down from something like over 140 to 40 a year. Work on water, then repair the roads.
Q: What would you do to attract businesses that could provide part-time jobs or internships for college students?
A: I would continue the tax incentive work being done by council to bring businesses like Home Base, Ulta and Ross.
Q: Many students enjoy the local shops, restaurants, and cafes in Laramie. How would you support small businesses and ensure that they continue to thrive?
A: Let’s chat about public transportation. If folks have an easier time getting downtown, they’ll be more likely to spend money downtown. I am also an arts and culture professional that believes that a vibrant and exciting place like Laramie benefits from cultural opportunities and access, and that working with local business to create engaging and well paying jobs means results in retaining a younger workforce, and improving quality of life for all Laramie residents.
Q: How would you address the rising cost of living in Laramie and ensure that it remains a place where students can afford to live while attending the University of Wyoming?
A: Simply put, we need more affordable housing units, and we’ll never be able to do that with just single family homes. We also need to make sure that the 54% of us that rent, including myself, have access to safe and affordable rental units. Housing is the most important and arguably most complicated issue facing Laramie.
Q: How do you plan to ensure that the voices of college students are heard in city council decisions?
A: Outreach. Council meetings are open to the public, but if Council isn’t regularly reaching out to RSO’s, students won’t know. I am also a UW Employee and part of the university community, so I’d make sure to leverage those relationships and make sure students can get involved.
Q: What role do you think the city should play in creating events or activities that are accessible and engaging for students, fostering a sense of community between students and long-term residents?
A: The town and gown divide is real and unfortunate. City Council members are ambassadors. Relationship building and closer communication with campus cultural institutions department heads would help.
Q: How would you address environmental concerns in Laramie, such as waste management, recycling, and energy use, to create a more sustainable community?
A: I support the city’s efforts around climate change measures, especially the emissions plan, and I’d commend the County Commission for also pursuing these measures. Implementation is a different ballgame, and it’s going to take time, money and likely compromise to bring some of the proposals into effect. I think the city should be pursuing additional solar projects, and electric vehicle charging stations.
Q: What is your stance on community policing and building better relationships between law enforcement and college students?
A: There are often issues police are required to respond to that would be better approached by other community professionals, counselors, mental health professionals, etc. This is about building a city staff infrastructure that can anticipate and offer those services. The Police Advisory board has started this work, but hasn’t been in operation a full year yet, so there’s really no way to assess its effectiveness in such a short amount of time. The board was essentially a compromise when the oversight proposal was rejected, and I think we owe it to the advisory board to give them some more time to work before we start exploring other possibilities.
Q: How would you work to improve access to mental health and crisis intervention services forstudents in Laramie?
A: Laramie has excellent mental health professionals, so it’s about connecting students with those resources, and then helping students negotiate insurance. The Albany County Community Health Clinic is a great place to start.
Q: How do you envision the relationship between the City of Laramie and the University of Wyoming? What steps would you take to strengthen this partnership?
A: UW is our biggest employer, and the success of Laramie and the success of students at UW are one and the same. That said, the city faces difficulties in providing infrastructure to support a state institution that does not pay property taxes, and I would work to facilitate a more cooperative relationship between the City and the University.
Q: What opportunities would you create for students to get involved in local government?
A: Let’s have the cities elected officials and UW’s elected student government meet regularly.
Joe Giustozzi – (R) Wyoming House District 14
Q: What is your stance on rank choice voting?
A: Rank choice voting is a complex and confusing system that is prone to errors and fraud. It also decreases voter turnout by making voting more complex. With rank choice voting, your ballot can be thrown out and your vote not counted at all.
Q: How will you work to attract more stem jobs and businesses?
A: Helping to build a strong Wyoming economy by enacting legislation at the state level to reduce the onerous regulations (both Federal and state) that discourage private investment in our state is the best way to attract more stem jobs and businesses to Wyoming. We must create a welcoming environment for businesses and industries (both home-grown as well as those from other states) to develop and thrive in Wyoming. We must also provide a similar environment for developers and home construction businesses to build homes for our present population and new workers coming here from other parts of the country.
Q: What are your stances on nuclear energy coming to Wyoming and our reliance on petroleum as an industry?
A: Nuclear power is a clean and reliable source of energy that generates nearly half of the nation’s emissions-free electricity. The nuclear industry supports nearly half a million jobs in the United States and contributes billions of dollars annually to local economies. It can do the same for Wyoming if properly managed by the private sector.
I am here to listen and learn about the problems Laramie Valley residents face. If I find that the majority of people in House District 14 are opposed to nuclear energy, I will oppose it.
Q: What is your stance on the minimum wage and gender wage gap in Wyoming?
A: The minimum wage not only discriminates against low-skilled workers and women but also is one of the most effective tools of racially prejudiced people everywhere. Our nation’s first minimum wage came in the form of the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931. During the legislative debate over the Davis-Bacon Act, which sets minimum wages on federally financed or assisted construction projects, discriminatory intentions were obvious. Rep. John Cochran, D-Mo., supported the bill, saying he had “received numerous complaints in recent months about Southern contractors employing low-paid black mechanics getting work and bringing the employees from the South.” Rep. Miles Allgood, D-Ala., complained: “That contractor has cheap black labor that he transports, and he puts them in cabins, and it is labor of that sort that is in competition with white labor throughout the country.” The Davis-Bacon Act, still on the books today, virtually eliminated African Americans from federally financed construction projects when it was passed.
Whether support for minimum wages is motivated by good or by evil, its effect is to cut off the bottom rungs of the economic ladder for the most disadvantaged workers.
In conclusion, I believe that state laws should be carefully reviewed and revised where necessary to ensure equal pay for equal work, and equal treatment of men and women with regard to ownership and control of property, credit, and other economic activities. Additionally, I support the current Wyoming laws that provide special protection for women in the labor force.
Q: How will you support fire departments and preventative measures against forest fires?
A: I fully support local fire departments throughout the state, including Wyoming Local Emergency Medical Service (EMS) units.
The legislature needs to develop a proper funding formula for both firefighters and EMS units at the county, city, and town levels. While I oppose mandating that counties, cities, and towns provide EMS service, this decision should be made at the local level, not the state level.
We also need to consider enacting laws requiring tax-exempt public hospitals to share fairly and equitably in funding EMS units. Most EMS units in Wyoming provide a significant amount of care to those unable to pay for these services. While EMS units provide excellent care for all parties serviced, they cannot continue to operate without support from hospital districts that reap the rewards of not paying income, property, and sales taxes.
Every rural town in Wyoming and throughout the West that has historically depended on ranching, forest, and mineral lands for economic survival is in serious jeopardy. All wealth ultimately comes from the land, whether directly or through the stable binding force that property provides for strong families to grow. We must properly manage our public lands at the federal and state levels. The current practice of managing public lands as a large park that no person can visit is a model that leads to fire and destruction. Our precious public resources are needed by our public schools and taxing districts to provide services like educating our children, firefighting, and EMS services.
Q: What are your plans regarding the safety of highway 287 and other transportation infrastructure?
Other than possibly lowering the speed limit, increasing the length of no passing zones, and posting additional signs warning motorists about the danger of passing on the two-lane portion of U.S. 287 as it leaves Laramie heading south, further study must be done to improve the safety of this highway.
A: How will you improve mental health resources in Wyoming?
The State of Wyoming must act to help those in need due to a mental health crisis. This is required by our State Constitution.
I am deeply concerned about the lack of mental health facilities in Wyoming. Our State Constitution requires the State to provide a safe place for vulnerable people. However, many mental health facilities have closed in recent years, forcing many patients onto the streets or into overcrowded county jails.
The root cause of this problem is new and increased Life Safety Codes published by the National Fire Protection Association that, in many cases, cannot be justified on the basis of patient safety concerns. These codes have already forced many local mental health facilities to close their doors for good.
The Wyoming Legislature is bound by our State Constitution to provide a safe place for these vulnerable people. If elected, I will look at sponsoring laws that will bring common sense back to the Life Safety Building Codes so that mental health centers can be motivated to reopen and serve our people who need these vital services.
Q: What is your stance on the environment and potential Wyoming climate initiatives?
A: Like many other human endeavors, protection of the environment requires a sense of balance. Man’s need for such essentials as the development of water resources and fire protection must not be sacrificed to the interests of alleged endangered species.
I support all reasonable efforts to solve the problems of air and water pollution and Wyoming’s other environmental maladies, but I oppose arbitrary, costly, or unreasonable interference by bureaucratic governmental agencies in the right of property owners to use and develop their own property.
Q: Where does UW fall in terms of your priorities?
A: The University of Wyoming is enshrined in the Wyoming State Constitution. To that end I will always support bills that support and uphold the original ideas of the Federal Land Grant Law.
I support UW President Seidel’s idea of lowering UW’s dependency on the State Legislature for funding. I believe that this is a worthwhile goal, and I am confident that it can be achieved.
To that end, if elected, I would like to organize a meeting with key UW stakeholders and people from House District 14 to discuss the idea of UW writing and publishing K-12 student and teacher text books and assessment tests to be offered for sale in Wyoming and the other 49 states. I believe that this concept could be a win-win for both the taxpayer and UW. The university has a lot of talent, and I am confident that we can make this idea a reality.
Q: How will you motivate more students to stay in Wyoming after graduating?
A: Helping to build a strong Wyoming economy by enacting legislation at the state level to reduce the onerous regulations (both Federal and state) that discourage private investment in our state is the best way to motivate graduating students to remain in Wyoming. We must create a welcoming environment for businesses and industries (both home-grown as well as those from other states) to develop and thrive in Wyoming. We must also provide a similar environment for developers and home construction businesses to build homes for our present population and new workers coming here from other parts of the country.
Q: What can be done to make Laramie more inclusive and accessible?
A: I believe in the inherent dignity of every individual. I welcome and encourage the participation in our community of people from all walks of life, ethnicities, races, and religious backgrounds. We should judge others solely by their character and abilities, just as we would want to be judged. Our common bond is our love of liberty and freedom.
As both a person and a legislator, if elected, I would use my position to share these beliefs with others.
Ken Chestek – House of Representatives
Q: What is your stance on rank choice voting?
A: Yes, big supporter. It solves the problem of voting for the “lesser of two evils” when there are more than two candidates on the ballot, and opens up possibilities for minor party candidates.
Q: How will you work to attract more stem jobs and businesses?
A: Support the University of Wyoming and its STEM initiatives. With a well-trained STEM workforce in Laramie, hopefully the businesses will follow.
Q: What are your stances on nuclear energy coming to Wyoming and our reliance on petroleum as an industry?
A: Given the scarcity of water in the West, and in Wyoming in particular, nuclear power that relies on lots of water is not practical here. But other types of nuclear power that don’t need as much water may well be practical. I’m particularly fascinated by the prospect of liquid fluoride thorium reactors, or LFTRs, as well as the new natrium reactor under construction in Kemmerer. Either way, we need to find ways to reduce our reliance on carbon-based, fossil fuel energy.
Q: What is your stance on the minimum wage and gender wage gap in Wyoming?
A: Big supporter of increasing the minimum wage in Wyoming, which is even lower than the federal minimum wage. We should raise our minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage, which is grossly outdated. Nobody can make a sustainable living at the current minimum wage.
Q: How will you support fire departments and preventative measures against forest fires?
A: I am not a forest scientist so I would defer to the experts in this field. All I know is that fighting fires is treating the symptoms of global warming, not the causes. Ultimately, we need to do everything we can to reduce all human-caused sources of global warming.
Q: What are your plans regarding the safety of highway 287 and other transportation infrastructure?
A: US 287 is a very dangerous road. I would support funding to make it four lanes all the way from the Colorado border to I-80.
Q: How will you improve mental health resources in Wyoming?
A: Like most public services, mental health resources in Wyoming would benefit from greater funding. We need to train more mental health advocates and make it feasible for them to set up practices throughout the state, and that will take money.
Q: What is your stance on the environment and potential Wyoming climate initiatives?
A: As indicated in my previous answers, attempts to reduce all human-caused contributors to global climate change is a huge priority for me. Anything we can do at the state level to support renewable energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels would be a major priority.
Q: Where does UW fall in terms of your priorities?
A: As a retired UW professor and former Chair of the University Faculty Senate, the University is very important to me. I will do everything I can to protect not only the funding for the university, but its commitment to academic freedom. The legislature has no business trying to control the academic programs or activities of the University.
Mike Selmer- Senate
Q: What is your stance on rank choice voting?
A: Ranked choice allows voters to choose their preferred candidate without feeling they may “waste” their vote on someone unlikely to win. I believe it is a minor, but important, step in reducing the hyper-partisanship that divides our country.
Q: How will you work to attract more stem jobs and businesses?
A: The people who own STEM businesses and those who work for or wish to become a part of such industries are intelligent and discerning. They accept science and the scientific process. Beyond the obvious necessity of having economic and regulatory policies favorable to STEM businesses, we must create a welcoming environment that recognizes the value of each human being. We need to avoid the type of extremist legislation that has been proposed, and sometime passed, by the legislature that makes Wyoming less inviting to those we wish to attract.
Q: What are your stances on nuclear energy coming to Wyoming and our reliance on petroleum as an industry?
A: While I don’t like the idea of Wyoming being a testing ground for nuclear technologies that are still in development, I think that, with careful oversight and regulation, nuclear energy can be an important part of our state’s response to the world moving away from burning fossil fuels to produce electricity.
Q: What is your stance on the minimum wage and gender wage gap in Wyoming?
A: People who work in service industries should not be treated as a less important part of our economy. They should be able to earn a living wage and have benefits that allow for a reasonable standard of living. Much of the gender wage gap comes from male-dominated professions such as coal miners, electricians or plumbers being paid more than nurses, teachers, or caregivers, where women make up a majority of the workforce. Equal pay for equal work is important, but so is eliminating the discriminatory valuation that operates in our economy.
Q: How will you support fire departments and preventative measures against forest fires?
A: Making sure all Wyoming communities are aware of the threat of forest fires and how to mitigate the threat is something that needs to be done in an organized, comprehensive manner. I will support measures to accomplish this, as well as the funding and resources necessary. Wyoming has the largest “rainy day” fund in the country, relative to our budget. While maintaining fiscal responsibility is vital, so is the safety of our citizens.
Q: What are your plans regarding the safety of highway 287 and other transportation infrastructure?
A: Wyoming, Colorado, the US DOT and all agencies involved with our highways need to come to the table immediately and develop a plan for completing a divided highway between Ft. Collins and Laramie. Highway safety in our state is important to all our communities and we need to maintain the funding necessary to make and keep them safe. I’m repeating a line from the previous question … Wyoming has the largest “rainy day” fund in the country, relative to our budget. While maintaining fiscal responsibility is vital, so is the safety of our citizens.
Q: How will you improve mental health resources in Wyoming?
A: By being an ally of those who recognize the improvements needed and working to see that each community has the resources to make those improvements. The cooperation between the Laramie Police Department and the Albany County Sheriff and the trainings that have been instituted related to de-escalation and dealing with incidents related to mental health are an example of the improvements that can be made.
Q: What is your stance on the environment and potential Wyoming climate initiatives?
A: Climate change is a threat to every community. Its impact is now being felt across Wyoming. Farmers and ranchers can attest to this. The empirical evidence worldwide shows that we in Wyoming need to accept this reality, the science behind it, and begin making our communities resilient to the coming challenges. Because we have buried our heads in the sand for over three decades, our economic reality is that we can’t easily move away from fossil fuels. It would cause significant harm to everyone in Wyoming. But we do need to work harder to diversify our economy and prepare for a future when we can wisely use our abundant resources in a way that doesn’t harm our environment and destroy our future.
Q: Where does UW fall in terms of your priorities?
A: UW is a vital part of our community. Protecting it from political posturing by the legislature is a priority. Its funding should not be used as a cudgel. Independence and academic freedom are essential to the future viability of UW.
Q: How will you motivate more students to stay in Wyoming after graduating? See #11
Q: What can be done to make Laramie more inclusive and accessible?
A: I combined questions 10 and 11 because I believe that making Laramie more inclusive and accessible is an important part of motivating students to want to stay after they graduate. We can do that by making our sidewalks, buildings, and activities friendlier to the disabled in our community. We should improve bike lanes and our local transit. Even more, we need to protect the rights and freedoms of every member of our community so that we all feel invested in its success. I will listen to and respect the views of everyone and work to support and improve the community that I love so that it is one that we are all proud to call home.
Karlee Provenza- House of Representatives
Q:What is your stance on rank choice voting?
A: Wyoming currently has a closed Primary Election, meaning that only registered party voters can vote in their respective primary. Before we can entertain other voting methods, we should open our primaries to allow voters to have a say in who represents them, regardless of party. This would be a step towards a more democratic voting process. While ranked choice voting may make sense, I am not sure it is the best solution for a state like Wyoming. Community and labor coalitions in other states are currently fighting efforts to pass ranked choice voting on the ballot because it would weaken progressive electoral power.
Q: How will you work to attract more stem jobs and businesses?
A: I will continue to work towards things like Medicaid Expansion, affordable healthcare, paid childcare, and affordable housing solutions so that businesses want to bring their workforce here. Many industries do not see Wyoming as a viable option because we lack the because we make it difficult for young people and families to live and work here. We need to support programs that support our communities.
Q: What are your stances on nuclear energy coming to Wyoming and our reliance on petroleum as an industry?
A: Wyoming desperately needs to stop having a death grip on the past and start looking for ways to support state revenues through industries that aren’t destroying the planet. But we shouldn’t be so desperate to try new things that we aren’t also concerned about the safety of new technology. Ultimately, our energy usage needs to drop, and we need to look towards a more sustainable future so we can conserve Wyoming’s open spaces and abundant wildlife for future generations. Nuclear may be an option, but I don’t support curbing safety regulations and putting our communities at grave risk to make it happen.
Q: What is your stance on the minimum wage and gender wage gap in Wyoming?
A: People should be paid what they are worth and they shouldn’t have to work multiple jobs to keep a roof over their head and food on the table. I’ve brought bills to increase our minimum wage, but legislative leadership didn’t give them a chance to be heard. There are solutions to closing our gender pay gap as well, but the political will power of Republican leadership in the House has refused to hear them. Wyoming’s legislature has very few women in it, so until we have more women and more working class people in the legislature, we are going to see hard working Wyoming families suffer by the inaction of most legislators.
Q: How will you support fire departments and preventative measures against forest fires?
A: I am proud to be endorsed by the Federated Firefighters of Wyoming! I have co-sponsored legislation that supports retirement pensions for fire fighters and I am committed to ensuring they have the funding and policies necessary to protect them from greater risks on the job, which is often related to dangerous chemicals. I support funding for preventative measures and also want to work more on climate resilience projects through my service on the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Trust Fund Committee that help our ecosystems avoid drought.
Q: What are your plans regarding the safety of highway 287 and other transportation infrastructure?
A: Highway 287 should be a four-lane highway, and we should support the Department of Transportation in making that happen. Additionally, we should further fund the Department of Transportation so that snowplow drivers are earning a living wage. Snow and ice are often culprits in crashes, so it is imperative that we adequately fund services to keep our roads safe and open.
Q: How will you improve mental health resources in Wyoming?
A: As a graduate of the University of Wyoming’s doctorate program in Psychology, I am deeply invested in supporting funding for things like 988, incentives that invite more mental health professionals to Wyoming to practice, and telehealth policies that make it so there are options for people who may be in a mental health desert. Additionally, I have been fighting for more funding in our public schools so that we can help young people who are struggling but may not have resources at home. Finally, I co-sponsored the only Medicaid Expansion bill to pass the House. Expanding Medicaid would give more than 19,000 people access to healthcare tomorrow if passed. This would provide many with mental health services that they desperately need, which would help reduce our suicide rate in Wyoming.
Q: What is your stance on the environment and potential Wyoming climate initiatives?
A: Wyoming lawmakers have spent millions of your dollars shaking our fist at the federal government because we refuse to get a grip on reality that climate change is man made and we are a large contributor. Before we can get the state to consider positive policies aimed at targeting climate change, we need to change how we raise our revenues. Most of our bills are paid for by oil and gas. Moving away from that would allow us to think about how we can create good jobs in Wyoming that don’t harm the environment. Ultimately, climate change is one of the greatest threats to humanity and we should be taking that threat seriously.
Q: Where does UW fall in terms of your priorities?
A: The legislature, for the most part, should mind its own business, particularly as it relates to educational programming and curriculum. We need to let education experts, students, and administrators focus on what they think the University should be doing. Legislators should respect academic freedom and butt out of students’ affairs. As the appropriator, our job should be to ensure that the money we allocate is being spent legally and responsibly, without micromanaging programs that are supported by students and staff.
Q: How will you motivate more students to stay in Wyoming after graduating?
A: I will continue to work to make Wyoming a place where young people want to live and can continue their lives here. The political climate of Wyoming is not welcoming to young people, and I am committed to mobilizing more young people to feel invited to participate in their government. Bans on abortion, attacks on academic freedom, and general unwillingness to do things about affordable housing and healthcare only turn young people away and I will continue to fight for young people because I am one and I know how hard it can be to stay here in the face of these challenges.
Q: What can be done to make Laramie more inclusive and accessible?
A: The first thing would be getting the University of Wyoming to stand up to the freedom caucus instead of bending over backwards to support their hateful rhetoric and fear mongering against inclusivity efforts. Beyond that, I would like to see the city and county provide grants to organizations that are invested in creating spaces and protections for queer folks, people of color, and people with disabilities.
Melanie Vigil- City Council
Q: Where does UW fall in terms of your priorities?
A: As the Assistant Dean of Students at UW, my connection to the university is deep. I attended UW as a student for both my BA and MPA programs and have worked in a professional staff role since 2019. UW is at the heart of Laramie, and its success directly impacts our community. I’m committed to ensuring that students feel supported and want to stay in Laramie after graduation. I will lend my connection with UW to the City Council to foster more collaboration between the city and the University.
Q: What can be done to make Laramie more inclusive and accessible?
A: Inclusivity means ensuring everyone has access to the resources they need. This means that students feel connected and valued, and affords the opportunity to truly thrive as their whole selves. As a West Laramie resident, I’m passionate about improving public transportation, especially for residents who may not have reliable access to essentials. I also want to continue advocating for affordable housing and making sure that Laramie is welcoming to all, whether you’re a student, a longtime resident, or someone just moving here.
Q: What is your stance on open and concealed carry on campus?
A: Campus safety is a priority. While I advocate for the rights of gun owners, decisions about open and concealed carry on campus need to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and faculty. Creating a safe environment for everyone should be our main focus while taking into careful consideration the broader consequences of any decisions made on University accreditation and the broader Laramie community.
Q: What plans do you have to address the high cost of rent in Laramie, especially for students and recent graduates?
A: The cost of rent is a big issue, especially for students, young professionals, and our elders. I believe we need to get creative—encouraging mixed-use developments and partnerships between private developers and nonprofits to increase affordable housing options. There are also vacant lots in Laramie that could be developed into affordable housing with the right approach.
Q: How would you make changes to support and improve tenant rights?
A: Renters need protections, especially in a city with so many students. I support Laramie’s rental ordinance and want to ensure there is clear communication between landlords and tenants. We need to continue advocating for strong renter protections, so everyone feels secure in their homes.
Q: Many students rely on local roads and infrastructure for their daily commutes. How do you plan to address road maintenance issues that impact the entire community?
A: Maintaining our roads is vital for everyone, from students to families. I’m committed to investing in road maintenance, improving public transit options, and ensuring that Laramie’s infrastructure supports our growth. It’s also important to focus on water management and other essential infrastructure upgrades.
Q: What would you do to attract businesses that could provide part-time jobs or internships for college students?
A: We need to create a business-friendly environment that encourages growth. I want to work with the University and local businesses to create more part-time job opportunities and internships for students. Collaboration is key to keeping students engaged and giving them real-world experiences right here in Laramie.
Q: Many students enjoy the local shops, restaurants, and cafes in Laramie. How would you support small businesses and ensure that they continue to thrive?
A: Small businesses are the backbone of Laramie’s economy. I’ll advocate for policies that support their growth, such as simplifying the permit process and offering incentives to help them thrive. By fostering a strong local economy, we can make sure that the shops and restaurants students love continue to flourish.
Q: How would you address the rising cost of living in Laramie and ensure that it remains a place where students can afford to live while attending the University of Wyoming?
A: The cost of living is a challenge for students and long-term residents alike. I’m focused on increasing affordable housing solutions and ensuring that development is sustainable. By supporting local businesses and ensuring essential services are affordable, we can help students and families continue to call Laramie home.
Q: How do you plan to ensure that the voices of college students are heard in city council decisions?
A: Students are a huge part of Laramie, and their voices need to be heard. I’d like to create student advisory roles within city governance and make city council meetings more accessible. I’m always eager to hear from students, whether it’s through formal channels, via social media, or just stopping for a chat on campus.
Q: What role do you think the city should play in creating events or activities that are accessible and engaging for students, fostering a sense of community between students and long-term residents?
A: The city should play an active role in creating events that bring everyone together. Whether it’s working with UW to co-host community events or supporting local festivals and gatherings, I believe we need to create opportunities for students and long-term residents to connect. A strong sense of community benefits everyone!
Q: How would you address environmental concerns in Laramie, such as waste management, recycling, and energy use, to create a more sustainable community?
A: Sustainability is a priority for me. I want to expand our recycling program(s), promote energy-efficient building practices, and continue protecting our clean water resources. Environmental stewardship isn’t just a policy—it’s about leaving our community better than we found it.
Q: What is your stance on community policing and building better relationships between law enforcement and college students?
A: Community policing is about building trust. I believe law enforcement and students need to have open lines of communication and regular dialogue. By fostering mutual respect and understanding, we can make Laramie a safer and more welcoming place for everyone.
Q: How would you work to improve access to mental health and crisis intervention services for students in Laramie?
A: Mental health services are crucial, especially for students. I support expanding partnerships between the city and UW to improve access to mental health care, and would work to build bridges between the two to ensure needs can be met.
Q: How do you envision the relationship between the City of Laramie and the University of Wyoming? What steps would you take to strengthen this partnership?
A: The city and the university are deeply connected. I want to strengthen this relationship through collaboration on housing, transportation, community partnerships, and economic development. By working together, we can create a Laramie where students not only want to study but also live and build their futures.
Q: What opportunities would you create for students to get involved in local government?
A: I’d love to see more students involved in local government. Whether through internships, student advisory positions, or volunteer opportunities, there are so many ways for students to engage. I’m committed to making sure they know their voices are important and valued in city decisions. Every Laramie resident, including students, locals, visitors, and others, will be well-served if I am elected to be your City Councilor.
