CASPER, Wyo. — The primary election is Aug. 20, 2024. Absentee voting opened July 23. You can access more information on candidates, races and how to vote with Oil City News’s primary election guide here.
Two four-year seats are opening up on the Natrona County Commission. Commissioner Dave North is up for reelection. Chairman Steve Freel did not renew his candidacy. Paul Bertoglio, Terry Wingerter and Matt Keating have served on the board in the past.
The field as reported by the clerk’s office is exclusively Republican, and the top two vote-getting candidates are expected to claim the seats.
If you are a primary election candidate who was not contacted, please contact news@oilcity.news.
The questions and responses here were delivered by email. Commission candidates also participated in a forum covered by Oil City News.
What is your professional background, including any boards, commissions, or other civic posts? What did you learn about leadership from those experiences?
I have a diverse background that aligns strongly with Wyoming values. I have worked farming/ranching jobs, I’m self motivated and a self starter with a strong work ethic. I worked in the Oilfield for 10 years in Rig moving, as an equipment operator on high-pressure pumping jobs for well completions along with being a Crane Operator. I controlled the high-pressure manifolding for stimulation jobs and oversaw other employees while communicating to the treaters, engineers, rig crews, and company men on location. Laboratory testing and designing fluid systems Quality Assurance and Quality Control, reporting, training/safety assessments of other employees, parts ordering, communication, documentation, budgeting, preventive maintenance, and I am very detail oriented.
I have my own business in art and agriculture. I’m mechanically inclined, I have some experience in building and construction. I’ve been politically active for 2 years; wrote 1 petition/circulated it to reduce Property Taxes and helped circulate a second, The People’s Ballot Initiative.
I’ve testified at numerous County Commission Meetings, Legislative Meetings, PSC Meetings against RMP rate increases, the SLIB Board and Minerals Committee Meeting against the proposed gravel mine on Casper Mountain.
I have learned that there is no “I” in team, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the more knowledgeable others are, the easier the job becomes for everyone. The people, no matter how inexperienced can contribute something and are the best resource to solicit for gaining perspective. Any leadership role means effectively conveying information, a good leader must be competent, able, and willing to do this at all times.
What is your understanding of the responsibility and authority of the county commission?
The Board of County Commissioners represent the County and all its residents. The Commission has a duty to manage affairs of the entire County as prescribed by Wyoming Statute and other duties prescribed by law.
Commissioners are responsible for adoption of the annual Budget and expenses of the County. They allocate the Levied taxes collected against all Property and Special Districts. General oversight of the funding, construction, and maintenance of roads, infrastructure, and other county departments within preview, preferably without micromanaging and encouragement in reducing the burden to the Citizenry. Adoption and enforcement of minimum regulatory codes such as the Building Codes, Mechanical, Electrical, and Fire.
The Commission is responsible for board appointments of Commissioner members and members of the public to other county boards. Direct supervision of County offices, departments, and operations. Responsible for holding public hearings when making decisions for matters of planning and zoning which should be limited to only that which creates a financial burden for the taxpayers.
Would you support a county-administered property tax relief program, as statute allows?
No, the State implemented the program and granted authority to the individual counties ultimately as a way for the [Legislature] to defer and deflect the responsibility of the State Governmental Body of lawmakers. As the program currently outlines, it would be entirely funded by the County Budget alone without contribution from the City or Municipalities of the County. This comment is consistent with the fact that most other counties have not implemented the program.
Do you think residential development will continue in unincorporated areas, and what challenges does that pose?
I believe that developers and lending institutions will absolutely encourage this type of growth. It presents a larger tax burden to the residents to fund essential services and infrastructure when not kept adjacent to current infrastructure and development. I believe in the long run, it presents risk to losing the ability to be self sustaining in agricultural production and has the probability to diminish water rights. It also increases property values and assessments, which promotes and encourages other land owners to subdivide and sell adversely affecting the residents and future generations.
What are some county government issues that you think are overlooked?
The Commission Meetings and City Council Meetings being held at conflicting times with one another, not allowing for the people’s attendance and comment. The overuse of Consent Agenda items to disallow and discourage Public Comment and attendance particularly in large budget issues. Those like the airline subsidy, the over budgeted Health Department, the approval of pushing the Optional 5th Cent through without the voters, allowing a bypass of the regulatory signatures requirement for a ballot initiative, to create a Special Service District. It was brought forth by Pat Sweeney and the Senior Center which will increase Property Taxes, they say they want to help seniors but that will hurt them financially.
Finally, the approval of the 6th Cent Sales Tax to be placed on the ballot without the vote of the County residents. Dave North consistently voted conservatively correctly, by voting NO. In a commission of 5, only 1 person voting the right way is not enough. I find this to be a huge issue, as the Board of County Commissioners is elected to work for the people.
What are some issues the BoCC has tackled in the last few years that are of particular interest to you?
The sale of the County Hospital to Banner Health by Chadwick, Bertoglio, Milne, Hendry, and Kaufman. The Zoning Resolution Rewrite that was passed without a clean copy available for review by Bertoglio, Nicolaysen, Milne, and Hendry. The same Resolution that changed Zoning on Casper Mountain in from non permissable to Mountain Residential I and II permissable through a Conditional Use Permit. The County Heath Department that is currently over budget and had cheaper alternatives for location, which would have reduced the cost for Taxpayers.
Is there anything else you’d like the voters to know?
Property taxes have been a huge ongoing issue for me and the Residents of Wyoming for the past 6 years. The lack of involvement by many of our elected representation, engaging in the demands of the people and educating the people is concerning. The senior citizens on fixed incomes and limited budgets are most impacted.
Anything that will increase Property Taxes is not helping the seniors as any increase incurred by business will also be passed onto those who can afford it the very least. There’s been entirely too many increases and no increase in the median household income and VERY little increase of the cost of living adjustment through Social Security. What little was given in one hand is being taken out of both hands and more.
The 4th Separate Class Constitutional Amendment that will appear on the November 5 Ballot will increase revenue for the Government and increase the cost to the Taxpayers irregardless of the promotion that the State can reduce the 9.5% State Level of Assessment of Residential Properties.
