Fremont County voters face crowded field in August primary elections

(Fremont County, WY) – The filing period for the August primary election closed last Friday, revealing contested races for the majority of open positions locally.

County

All of Fremont County’s open Commission seats will be contested this year, according to the final filings report from the Fremont County Clerk.

Incumbent Commissioner Clarence V. Thomas, who has filed for re-election in Commission District 1, will face challenger David Mossburg, while incumbent Commissioner Ron Fabrizius, who filed for re-election in Commission District 3, will face two challengers: Ryan W. Preston and Shanell Stanley.

All of the candidates filed as Republicans.

Commissioner Mike Jones did not file for re-election to his District 4 Commission seat this year, but five other Republican candidates signed up to fill the position: J D Carper, Christy Hirasawa Gabel, Steff Kessler, Jim Taylor, and Jeffrey A. Young

Four Republicans remain in the race for Fremont County Sheriff: Eric S. Murphy, John Zerga, Mike Hutchison, and Ross H. Giles.

No candidates emerged to challenge Fremont County’s Assessor Tara M. Berg, Attorney Micah Wyatt, Clerk Julie A. Freese, Clerk of District Court Amanda R. Sanchez, Coroner Erin Ivie, and Treasurer James A. Anderson, who all filed for re-election this year. 

Municipal

All of Lander’s open seats are contested this year.

Three people filed for mayor in Lander: Alan McOmie, Michelle B. Motherway, and incumbent Mayor Missy White. 

Four candidates filed for the Ward 1 seat currently held by Lander Councilmember Josh Hahn, who did not file for re-election: Mike Box, George Case, Oakley Corsick-Boycott, and Jenny Young.

Two candidates filed for the Ward 3 seat currently held by Lander Councilmember John Larsen, who did not file for re-election: Michael Kusiek and Sarah L. Schlosser.

Incumbent Lander Councilmember Chad Cassady filed for re-election in Ward 2 and will face challenger Jesse T. Grosinger.

All of Shoshoni’s open seats are contested this year, too. 

Incumbent Shoshoni Mayor Joel Highsmith filed for re-election and will face challengers Ronald W. Ankeny and Councilmember Jordan A. Whitener, and four people have filed for the two open seats on the Shoshoni Town Council: incumbent Councilmembers Tammi A. Hardtke and Jacob Z. Stetler and challengers Linda (Kat) Manz and Jennifer Y. Schanno.

In Riverton, two people filed to run for mayor: Ward 3 Councilmember Michael V. (Mike) Bailey and Daryl West.

Incumbent Riverton Councilmember Kyle M. Larson filed for re-election in Ward 1 and will face challengers Piram Duran and Levi Shull, while Riverton Mayor Tim Hancock is running unopposed for the Ward 3 seat Bailey currently occupies, and Chancey Wilczewski is running unopposed in Ward 2.

The mayoral seat in Dubois will be contested this year, with incumbent Mayor Patricia Neveaux filing for re-election against challenger David Furman.

Mike Strasser and incumbent Dubois Councilmember Amanda Ysen have filed for the two open seats on the Dubois Town Council. 

Four people have filed for election to the two open seats on the Hudson Town Council: Jerrica B. Flom, Daniel (Danny) Svilar, Jerry D. Tucker, and incumbent Helen J. Gordon.

Hudson Councilmember Zeke Bonella did not file for re-election, and neither did Mayor Sherry Oler.

Marilyn V. Robinson is running unopposed for election as Hudson mayor, and all of the local races in Pavillion are currently uncontested, with Lester R. Emerson unopposed for mayor and Mandi Reynolds and Jacque L Stoldt unopposed for two open seats on the Pavillion Town Council. 

Legislature

Two state lawmakers from Fremont County will face challengers this year: Incumbent Wyoming Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, filed for re-election in Senate District 25 and will face Republican challenger Lisa Wilson of Lander in the August primary, and incumbent Wyoming Rep. Lloyd Charles Larsen, R-Lander, filed for re-election in House District 54 and will face challenger Jeff Martin of Lander.

Wyoming Rep. John Winter, R-Thermopolis, did not file for re-election in House District 28, but four other Republican candidates signed up to fill the position: Allen Hogg of Meeteetse, Carlin Jones of Otto, Marshall Keller of Thermopolis, and Roland Luehne of Thermopolis.

Wyoming Rep. Ivan D. Posey, D-Ethete, is running unopposed in House District 33, Wyoming Rep. Pepper L. Ottman, R-Riverton, is running unopposed in House District 34, and Carl Manning of Riverton is running unopposed in House District 55.

Statewide

Three Fremont County residents have signed up to run for statewide elections this year.

Qwenton Eagle Oviatt of Hudson filed as a Republican for Secretary of State along with Republicans CJ Young of Cheyenne, Jason Fearneyhough of Cheyenne, Rachel Williams of Cody, and Robert Short of Douglas and Democrat Bryan McCarty of Worland.

In the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sergio A. Maldonado Sr. of Lander filed as a Democrat along with Democrat Ana Cordova of Cheyenne and Republicans Chad Auer of Cheyenne, Steve Harshman of Casper, and Tom Kelly of Sheridan.

Elena Del Real of Lander filed as a Democrat to represent Wyoming in the U.S. House of Representatives, as did Democrat Lisa Kinney of Laramie and Republicans Bo Biteman of Ranchester, Secretary of State Chuck Gray of Casper, David Giralt of Mills, Frank Chapman of Moran, Jillian Balow of Cheyenne, Keith B. Goodenough of Casper, Kevin Christensen of Casper, Reid Rasner of Casper, Richard Dodson of Sundance, and Steve Friess of Cheyenne.

Wyoming’s current U.S. Representative, Republican Harriet Hageman of Cheyenne, is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Cynthia Lummis, who has announced she will not seek re-election.  

Others running for the open U.S. Senate position include Republicans Jill M. Edwards of Laramie, Jimmy Skovgard of Casper, John Holtz of Laramie and Sam Mead of Jackson and Democrats Billy Benavidez of Sheridan and James Byrd of Cheyenne.

Wyoming’s current Superintendent of Public Instruction, Megan Degenfelder of Cheyenne, has filed as a Republican for Governor, along with Republicans Brent Bien of Cody, Curt Blake of Centennial, and Eric Barlow of Gillette, and Democrat Kennth R. Casner of Elk Mountain.

Incumbent State Treasurer Curt Meier of La Grange has filed for re-election as a Republican and will face challenger Scott Smith of Lingle in the primary.

State Auditor Kristi Racines of Cheyenne is running unopposed for re-election as a Republican.