County commission candidates raised nearly $41K

The five candidates for the Albany County Commission’s two available seats raised nearly $41,000, spent almost $31,000 and tallied more than 22,000 votes.

With a majority of Albany County Commission seats on the table this election cycle, both parties spent big to keep or take county leadership.

All told, there were five candidates competing for the two available seats — four on the general ballot, plus another candidate knocked out during the Republican primary. Collectively, the candidates raised nearly $41,000, spending less than $31,000 of that.

Democrats and Republicans offered competing visions for the future of county leadership, competing opinions about how closely that leadership should work with the city government, and competing perceptions about the threat posed by COVID-19.

Ultimately, the status quo held. The commission will retain the 2-1 partisan divide that currently favors Democrats. Democratic Commission Chair Pete Gosar was reelected, while Republican Terri Jones replaced Commissioner and fellow Republican Heber Richardson. The results lock in another two years of Democratic control on the county’s highest board.

The biggest fundraiser and spender was Gosar, who raised $14,000 and spent $9,000. He was followed closely by Jones, who raised $13,000 and spent $8,000.

During the Republican primary, candidate Tony Kirchhoefer raised $10,000 and spent about the same. But only two of the three Republican primary candidates could advance to the general; Jones earned about 4,400 votes, Richardson about 3,400 and Kirchhoefer just 2,500. So despite his hearty spending and widespread support among anti-wind farm activists, Kirchhoefer was knocked from consideration during the Republican primary.

Richardson claimed no fundraising and no spending during either his primary or general campaign.

On the Democratic side, Gosar was the only candidate to file before the primary election. But Klaus Halbsgut earned enough write-in votes during that Democratic primary to see his name printed on the general ballot. During his general election campaign, Halbsgut raised about $3,300 and spent most of it.

The final general election vote totals were:

• 6,067 for Peter Gosar

• 5,891 for Terri Jones

• 5,187 for Heber Richardson

• 4,847 for Klaus Halbsgut

A significant portion of Gosar’s fundraising came from a $5,000 loan, while the majority of Jones’ fundraising came from her. Jones spent almost $9,500 of her own money to secure her spot on the commission.

Jones served as a commissioner and as commission chair previously, but was unseated in 2020 by Commissioner Sue Ibarra. The Jones-Ibarra contest was decided by just 57 votes of the total 18,744 cast. The race was so close, in fact, that it triggered an automatic recount and has been the subject of local conspiracy theories.

Jones herself has amplified conspiracy theories about Black Lives Matter protests and the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Gosar keeping his seat and Jones replacing Richardson, the commission will remain in Democratic hands. Democratic control has implications for aquifer protection regulations, renewable energy development, climate change response and housing reform.

Below are the cumulative fundraising and spending totals for general election candidates, drawing from both general and primary campaign finance reports.

Pete Gosar (Democrat) 

• Raised: $14,389.99

• Spent: $9,466.46

• Average donation: < $221

• Own money: $1,819.15

Contribution breakdown:

• $1,819.15 — Immediate family/personal 

• $6,714 — Individual

• $500 — Political Party

• $25 — Anonymous

• $331.84 — In-kind

• $5,000 — Loans

Top donors:

• $500 — Megan Hayes, Laramie resident and attorney

• $300 — Sue Ibarra, fellow county commissioner 

• $250 — Keith Rittle, Laramie resident 

• $250 — Lew and Donna Bagby, Laramie residents

• $250 — Jennifer Wilson, Lander resident

• $250 — Alyson Hagy, Laramie resident

• $250 — Hattie and Jim Geesey, Laramie residents

• $250 — Brett Kvenlid, Laramie resident

• $250 — Frances Price, Laramie resident

Klaus Halbsgut (Democrat)

• Raised: $3,271.60

• Spent: $3,109.48

• Average donation: $89.38

• Own money: $341.60

Contribution breakdown:

• $341.60 — Immediate family/personal

• $1,430 — Individual

• $500 — Political Party

• $1,000 — Loans

Top donors:

• $500 — Donal O’Tool, Laramie resident

• $200 — Debbie Rieger and Bob Van De Rostyne, Laramie residents

• $100 — Sree Nair, Laramie resident

• $100 — Sue Ibarra, Albany County Commissioner

• $100 — Bern Hinckley and Sarah Gorin, Laramie residents

Terri Jones (Republican)

• Raised: $13,188.98

• Spent: $7,952.44

• Average donation: $266.67

• Own money: $9,488.98

Contribution breakdown:

• $9,488.98 — Immediate family/personal 

• $3,200 — Individual

• $500 — Political Party

Top donors:

• $1,200 — Joe Ahrenholtz, Laramie resident 

• $500 — Henry Richter, Laramie resident

• $250 — Corrine Sheaffer, Yoder resident

• $200 — Paulene Dunnuck, Laramie resident

• $200 — Juanita Engen, Centennial resident

• $200 — Dale Robbins, Medicine Bow resident

• $200 — Sandra Eike, Laramie Resident