Jerika Preston sworn in as Ward 2 Riverton City Councilmember

(Riverton, WY) – The Riverton City Council voted Tuesday to appoint Jerika Preston to the open Ward 2 seat that Councilmember Rebecca Brothers recently vacated.

During her interview with the council this week, Preston introduced herself as a mother of three who has lived in Riverton since she was 6 years old.

For the past six years, she has worked at the Hampton Inn and Suites, where she currently serves as the Assistant General Manager and Director of Sales – a position that she said has given her experience “working with the community, working with businesses, (and) problem-solving with guests.”

For example, Preston said her role at the Hampton requires her to work directly with local business owners to negotiate rates and sponsorships.

The Hampton Inn also works “really closely” with local schools when they host sporting events in town, Preston said, and it serves as the host hotel for the annual Riverton Rendezvous Balloon Rally.

“I love being able to support them and being able to do the pilot dinners and things when they come to town,” she said. 

In her letter of interest to the council, Preston said her role at the Hampton Inn has helped her develop “extensive experience in leadership, budgeting, customer service, problem-solving, strategic planning, and building relationships with businesses, visitors, and community stakeholders.”

“My position requires balancing competing priorities, making sound decisions, and working collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes, all skills that would serve me well as a member of the City Council,” she wrote.

In her personal life, Preston is a member of the Riverton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors – an organization that has provided her with “insights into the needs of our local businesses and the opportunities and challenges facing our community,” according to her letter of interest.

The letter also indicates that she is a graduate of the Leadership Fremont County Class of 2024 and currently serves on that organization’s Board of Directors as well.

“Through these professional and volunteer experiences, I have developed strong connections throughout Riverton and Fremont County,” Preston wrote. “I believe my background in business, tourism, leadership development, and community service would allow me to contribute meaningful perspectives to the Council’s discussions and decision-making process.” 

In response to a question during her council interview this week, Preston pointed specifically to her experience on the Leadership Fremont County Board as a time when she worked with others who held different opinions to reach a positive outcome.

“When I joined that board, it was a lot of people that had been there for many, many years and were kind of stuck in their ways,” she explained. “We did the same things every single year, and my biggest approach to all of that was I wanted to switch it up. I wanted to show different parts of the community and take out things that didn’t work.”

Preston said she received “a lot of pushback” for her ideas from more tenured members of the board, who “wanted things to stay the same” – so she adjusted her approach and began presenting her proposals “in a way that wasn’t necessarily taking away from what the organization had already done, but just trying to make it better.”

“I had to approach it in a way where I came with solutions – not just saying, ‘Here’s a problem; we need to fix it,’” she said. 

Asked to describe the most important issues facing the City of Riverton and her strategies for addressing them as a member of the council, Preston said her highest priority is public safety.

In order to increase the level of public safety in Riverton, Preston said she would listen to her constituents and gather their ideas so local residents can “come together and find ways to better our community in that way.”

Another priority is responsible economic growth, Preston said.

“I know that we have a lot of things coming into our area, and it’s exciting, and the growth is great,” she said. “But we do need to make sure that our infrastructure can sustain that and be able to grow in a way that will benefit families and our whole community.”

In her letter of interest, Preston referred to herself as “a lifelong advocate for our community” who “can bring a valuable perspective to the council.”

“I have a vested interest in the future of our city and in ensuring that Riverton remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” she wrote. “Most importantly, I am passionate about serving our community. I care deeply about Riverton’s future and am committed to thoughtful, responsible leadership that supports residents, businesses, and future generations. If appointed, I would work diligently to listen to constituents, collaborate with fellow council members, and make decisions that are in the best interest of our city.”