Majority of county commission seats up for grabs

Two of the three commissioners face re-election this year. If Democrats hold onto one of those seats, they’ll retain control of the commission, but Republicans could flip the county’s highest board.

Welcome to the Laramie Reporter’s 2022 Elections newsletter. This newsletter seeks to introduce Albany County and Laramie residents to the candidates who have filed to run and to explore the issues surrounding what promises to be an interesting, impactful local election.

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Albany County’s highest level of government is the Albany County Commission. The three-member board oversees the county budget and infrastructure, approves or rejects large-scale construction projects and, in recent years, has reevaluated regulations surrounding industrial siting and construction above the Casper Aquifer.

Two of the three seats on that board are up for election this year. Commissioner Sue Ibarra’s term lasts until the 2024 election; she in fact holds the only county-wide elected position that is not facing an election this cycle.

Her fellow commissioners, Pete Gosar and Heber Richardson must win in 2022 to keep their seats. Ibarra and Gosar form the commission’s Democratic majority, and that majority has been interested in strengthening the Casper Aquifer Protection Plan. Holding the majority also meant that when the commission approved the Rail Tie Wind Project last summer, the need to take action on climate change was explicitly listed as a reason for greenlighting the project.

Richardson, a Republican, also voted to approve the Rail Tie wind farm, but for very different reasons — he did not believe it was the commission’s place to halt a company following the letter of the law.

Throughout their shared tenure on the commission, Gosar and Richardson have frequently butted heads when their divergent, almost archetypal, views on government clash.

Gosar is the director of the Downtown Clinic, a healthcare facility established specifically for those without insurance. In that role and on the commission, he has voiced the belief that the government ought to actively help people to remain healthy and flourish.

Richardson co-owns Honeywagon Sanitation Pumping with his wife and has consistently stated that while the government has some role to play in preserving and supporting the community, it helps individuals most when it keeps out of the way and avoids “micromanaging” the people under its jurisdiction.

Joining the race for county commission are former Commissioner Terri Jones and newcomer-to-politics Tony Kirchhoefer.

Terri Jones was unseated by Sue Ibarra in the 2020 election. Just a month before the election, Jones had spoken during a militia-recruiting rally at the Albany County Fairgrounds, repeating misinformation about the George Floyd protests and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kirchhoefer has spent his career advising investors in the financial services industry and has not run for political office before.

With two of the three commission seats on the table, Republicans have a chance to flip the commission by retaining the seat they already hold and taking the one held by Gosar. Democrats need only re-elect Gosar to maintain the majority.

The commission flipped during the last election from Republican control to Democratic control.

With two seats open, the primaries would normally narrow the field to just four candidates (two from each party). But there is only one Democrat running — Gosar — so he will most likely win the primary and see his name appear on the general ballot. A write-in campaign could get a second Democratic candidate on the general ballot – but at the moment, it appears Gosar will be the only Democrat listed.

At least one of the Republicans, however, will be knocked out during the primary. Jones, Kirchhoefer and Richardson are all Republican, and only two can appear on the general ballot. The two with the highest vote counts during the primary will advance; the third place candidate will be eliminated.

Gosar, Jones, Kirchhoefer and Richardson answered a series of questions from the Laramie Reporter about their backgrounds, opinions and hopes for the 2022 election.

Laramie Reporter: What should voters know about your background, profession and interest in politics?

Pete Gosar: I live in Albany County because of its outdoor opportunities and the sense of community that is so important. As a small business owner and non-profit director, I bring experience as a manager of people and budgets in the private, public and nonprofit sectors, and those skills are critical to the work of the Albany County Commission. As a commissioner, I work hard, I listen and will enlist the talents of people with different perspectives to find solutions.

Terri Jones: I am Wyoming born and raised; I have two sons, two granddaughters and have been married to my husband Brad for 29 years. We owned and operated a masonry construction business in Albany County until our recent retirement. As a Wyoming native and resident of Albany County for a lifetime, I know the people, the issues and Wyoming values. I find working people fascinating. I build relationships and as a result I am a good leader. Prior to being elected county commissioner in 2017, I had never been politically motivated. In about 2014, I was astonished at the brazen overreach of government. I believe people will do the right thing, given the chance.

Tony Kirchhoefer: I have 34 years in the financial services industry, 25 of those years as a senior executive. My entire career has been focused on the individual investor and helping them ensure the achievement of their dreams. I have never run or even considered running for public office.

Heber Richardson: I have extensive experience managing people, policies and processes successfully, in public and private settings. Jennifer and I own a local business and are raising five children in Albany County. I'm interested in sound policy and proper management. I respect individual rights, civil rights and private property rights. I lead with restraint. I trust people to act in their own best interest without government micromanagement. I believe in the rule of law. At the same time that I understand and appreciate the political process, I am not a politician. I really dislike politics.

Reporter: What does the county do well? What should it improve upon?

Gosar: The elected officials and employees of Albany County are extremely dedicated, talented and are passionate about doing a good job. The services provided in Albany County are delivered efficiently and are amongst the most affordable in Wyoming. In the past two years, the Albany County Commission has made a concerted effort to work with people and entities to find solutions, and if I am re-elected, we will continue to improve upon the collaborative work.

Jones: Albany County does well in meeting all of the statutory obligations, takes care of the county employees so the employees are able to give the people of Albany County the services they need with kindness and compassion. There is always need for improvements and repair on county roads, bridges and buildings as limited funds allow.

Kirchhoefer: Albany County is blessed with vast natural beauty, including a plethora of outdoor activities and history. The county needs to be a part of sharing this hidden gem to help boost tourism and thus increase revenue for the county.

Richardson: Albany County does its state-delegated duties very well. County employees are professional, courteous, creative and productive. They are very good stewards of limited funds.  The county needs to continue improving roads and bridges, the county library, the fairgrounds, the fire district and the airport. Albany County needs to adhere to its own planning and zoning rules and regulations and eliminate onerous, subjective requirements.

Reporter: What role should the county government play in addressing climate change?

Gosar: The county should play a leading role in addressing climate change by using hard-earned tax dollars efficiently. The recently completed emissions audit done in collaboration with students at the University of Wyoming and with help from employees at the City of Laramie, the county has begun to make investments in energy efficiencies and renewable energy production. These are smart investments that will not only produce a high return but will reduce the county’s impact on the environment.

Jones: Albany County addresses climate change issues whenever possible and economically feasible, this may include making upgrades to be more energy efficient — new lighting, windows, doors and heating and cooling units.

Kirchhoefer: Every one of us needs to be good stewards of the wonderful planet Earth for which the good Lord has blessed us. Decisions made by county government should never lose sight of those whom we serve, the people of Albany County. Every decision made should focus on benefiting the people and future generations of Albany County.

Richardson: Albany County should only take measures that make financial and operational sense.

Reporter: Should the county government encourage wind development here? Should siting regulations for wind farms be altered in any way?

Gosar: Albany County is blessed with high-value solar and wind resources and the county should ensure that renewable energy development is done responsibly and regulated using the best available science. The commercial wind and solar regulations are currently being reviewed and there is a need to have more scientific data available so that smart regulations can be adopted that ensure that the wild bird and animal populations in Albany County will not adversely be affected by unmitigated development.

Jones: I do not believe it is the job of county commissioners to either encourage or discourage wind development. The desire for wind development comes from the people, the landowners receiving the leases and the energy companies. All regulations for developments need to be reviewed from time to time. I would be interested in the State of Wyoming looking at increasing the rate from 11.11 cents per kilowatt hour to at least the national average of 13.99 cents, or even as high as 15 cents.

Kirchhoefer: The county has approached the “wind” decisions in a transactional manner. A moratorium should have been put in place allowing time for careful study of rapidly changing technology. As a result an overlay map for wind development, similar to industrial zoning rules, should have been established. This would encourage appropriate wind development, as wind companies would know exactly where development can take place and streamline their application process. Proper restrictions should have been put in place to protect the people, land and wildlife of Albany County not just for today but for 20+ years as this technology is evolving many times faster than our regulations.

Richardson: I don't think Albany County should encourage or discourage wind development.  Ranchers and wind developers make business decisions within state and local regulations according to what works for them. The current wind generation regulations are adequate now that commissioners changed them to require radar-activated lights at night. Commissioners might do well to re-evaluate turbine setbacks.

Reporter: Does the Casper Aquifer need further protection?

Gosar: The Casper Aquifer is an amazing resource and because it is the clean water source to an overwhelmingly majority of the residents of Albany County, it must be continuously monitored. The recent scientific-based additions to the Casper Aquifer regulations were a good first step and will be assisted with the release of an updated Casper Aquifer Protection Plan (CAPP). As a part of the CAPP, public comment will be added to the recommendations of scientific professionals to improve Casper Aquifer regulation.

Jones: The City of Laramie mails an annual water report to the citizens of Albany County. This report shows the water quality has been essentially the same for 60 years: excellent water quality. This report shows the Casper Aquifer is well protected and does not need further protection. Groundwater belongs to the State of Wyoming, not Albany County or the City of Laramie; therefore, it is out of their jurisdiction to regulate its protection.

Kirchhoefer: The current aquifer plan is 132 pages demonstrating what is wrong with government today. To properly protect the aquifer, one must identify the five to seven most likely/critical threats and implement steps to mitigate them. The current plan is a rambling 132-page document with no strategy to identify or mitigate our largest threats, thus doing little to protect such a precious resource.

Richardson: Our groundwater is an invaluable resource. The Casper Aquifer is protected more than adequately in most places. The vulnerabilities are not uniform across the protection zone. The land uses are not uniform either. The I-80 Telephone Canyon is not adequately protected. The rest of the aquifer is overprotected. Current regulations are similar to the government's COVID response in that the restrictions they impose far exceed the risks in the aquifer recharge zone. This causes unnecessary burden and expense to land owners. I believe it amounts to a taking, by regulation. Many citizens and elected officials expect landowners on the aquifer to bear the burden of protecting water used by all without compensating them for their loss. This is not good policy.

Reporter: Should local law enforcement be overseen by a civilian oversight board or use-of-force review board?

Gosar: I believe all entities are made better when their stakeholders are allowed to give input and empowered to help change their institutions. I think that the Albany County Commission, the Laramie City Council, local law enforcement and other governmental entities should embrace the public’s feedback and ensure that their comments and concerns are addressed in a timely manner and there exists a process for good ideas to be implemented.

Jones: [Did not answer.]

Kirchhoefer: Our county sheriff department is in dire straits. It’s imperative to all residents of Albany County that we turn the situation around immediately. This will take a combination of law enforcement and county leadership, as well as civilians. Potentially, additional funding to attract the experienced officers will be required to right this enormous mess that has been left at the people of Albany County’s feet.

Richardson: My opinion is irrelevant in this matter. Commissioners have no supervisory or operational authority over the elected sheriff. There is no provision in Wyoming statute for a civilian oversight board. Wyoming county sheriffs' authority and duties are described and delegated by the legislature in statute. The voters are the oversight board at election time. Municipalities have a different legal status as local governments than counties do, called Home Rule. They have the authority to create this type of board as a management tool, where the counties do not.

Reporter: What role should the county government play in addressing the housing shortage seen in Laramie and other communities?

Gosar: In response to the housing shortage and in an effort to create a future growth plan, the county began working with the city on a Growth Management Plan early in 2022. This plan should be completed by the end of this year and will assist the county and city governments in making informed decisions. Incentivizing innovative approaches to housing, like tiny home communities and allowing additional dwellings, can help in the short term but the GMP will be necessary for long-term solutions.

Jones: Currently there are too many arbitrary regulations placed on the building and development in the City of Laramie and Albany County. Both the city and county vote according to what makes them “feel good,” disregarding the rule of law. A builder needs assurance of the regulations to know what the real costs are prior to application. The beauty of capitalism is it will fill the voids when government gets out of the way.

Kirchhoefer: The county needs to stop treating decisions as a series of disconnected transactions and put together a strategy for long term housing growth that is targeted to ensure we maintain our western heritage while leveraging what makes Albany County special. The entire plan needs to be delivered in the “light” rather than in darkness and secrecy as too often the current county leaders prefer.

Richardson: Government's role in affordable housing and any other type of development is limited. Housing is a private, market-driven endeavor. Regulations, infrastructure and process are the things the local governments do. Local regulations are fairly reasonable, but staffers, planning commissions and elected officials take liberties when applying them. Their departure from the rule of law lengthens, complicates and unnecessarily interferes in the market process. This creates timeline and cost uncertainties for builders and developers and makes investing in Albany County and in the City of Laramie challenging.

Reporter: Do you own or manage rental property?

Gosar: I own rental property in Laramie and support the City of Laramie’s recent and sensible rental property regulations. I believe that every rental should be safe, clean and conform to a basic standard for individuals and families in Albany County.

Jones: No.

Kirchhoefer: No, It’s imperative that any county leader not only maintain a void of conflict of interest, but even the appearance of a conflict of interest. If this exists, the said leader should recuse themselves from voting on any matter that may/will impact their personal business.

Richardson: Jennifer and I do. Fortunately, our rental property is outside city limits. We rent to a family that lost everything but their lives in the Wade's fire in West Laramie a few years ago. I met them at the emergency meeting after the fire. They had a big family, jobs, kids in school, and had nowhere to sleep that night. We loaned them a vehicle, helped them get clothing, dishes, and furniture. They lived rent free for a year with no deposit. We now charge 1/4 the market rate for rent.

Reporter: If elected, what would be your priorities in office?

Gosar: If elected, I will build upon the work that has been done in the past few years and I will continue to work with the elected officials and employees of Albany County to improve the efficiency and quality of services. I will continue to reach out to the municipalities in Albany County and other entities to find innovative solutions to difficult issues like housing, mental health, property taxes and aquifer protection.

Jones: My first order of business is to restore confidence in county employees, that they are greatly appreciated for their dedication and hard work. Spend time with new elected officials learning their needs and goals to make all transitions as smooth as possible. Return to the findings in fact and conclusion of law in all appropriate actions taken by the county commission. The U.S. and Wyoming Constitution, personal and civil rights, as well private property rights must be respected and upheld.

Kirchhoefer: Ensure Albany County has a vision for the future and a strategy to achieve this vision. Improve transparency and inject fairness into the process at every step. If this is done, each person in Albany County should be able to see what we are trying to achieve together while always being left with the feeling that they were treated fairly and with the respect they deserve.

Richardson: My first priority is to continue the excellent fiscal and operations management at Albany County. I will also continue to make sound policy decisions, exercising restraint, staying within commission authority, respecting the rule of law and rights of citizens. We will continue to focus on county infrastructure, too. I intend to fine tune development rules and processes to attract builders and developers.

Reporter: Finally, why should the residents of Albany County vote for you?

Gosar: My background, expertise, willingness to listen and focus on collaboration have been necessary to crafting solutions for Albany County. In the past two years, the commission has completed long-overdue contracts that address the detention center, emergency medical services and various important management plans. I have worked hard, communicated frequently and listened to understand other people’s perspectives. I have helped to make critical investments in first responders, families living in poverty and infrastructure, and would appreciate your vote!

Jones: I am very qualified as I was elected Albany County Commissioner in 2017 to a four-year term and served as chairwoman in 2019 through 2020. During my tenure, we went from a budget shortfall and layoffs to giving step in grade pay raises for employees, placing money in the emergency fund and in savings. Criminal justice reform, a nationally recognized mentor drug court and enhancing the drug court to include minors and families, working with the Wyoming Game and Fish to acquire access to the Meeboer Lake fishing area show I am a problem solver. I have vision shown by the culmination of the Pilot Hill Recreation and Wildlife Area, new Laramie Regional Airport Terminal and new ADA-compliant and safe Courthouse North Entrance.

Kirchhoefer: If you are not happy with the direction of Albany County and think we can do and deserve better, I ask that you consider voting for me and the vision I have for the county. I greatly appreciate your consideration and your support.

Richardson: It is clear to me, having been an elected official through COVID, that government imposes too great a role in people's private lives. This has conditioned the populace to look to government for solutions it cannot and should not provide. I stay within the authority granted to county commissioners by the state legislature. I do not pander, patronize, or make empty promises to anyone. I speak and act clearly. I am experienced, I make decisions based on good stewardship and the rule of law, not based on ideology or politics.