I believe that a vibrant and exciting place like Laramie benefits from cultural opportunities and access., Working with local businesses to create engaging and well paying jobs results in retaining a younger workforce and improving the quality of life for all Laramie residents. For example, in 2022, I launched a nationally-funded arts program called Play/Write program in partnership with ACSD1, that teaches creative writing and theater skills in Albany County Elementary schools. The program created several cultural sector jobs and employs several teaching artists. I am dedicated to finding additional creative ways to improve quality of life, and protect and strengthen basic social services.

The current City Council already has adopted the strategy of changing zoning regulations to allow for more housing on a single lot - “additional dwelling units” in zoning lingo. My wife and I rent a house on a property where this has been done, proving the success of existing policies. As a city councilor, I would continue to investigate ways that the city can promote affordable development, such as building out water and sewer connectivity. For example, the north side pressure tank and pipelines enhances water capacity and promotes development. We should look at redeveloping vacant properties within the city. However, I’m not prepared to compromise on regulations that ensure residents’ safety or quality of construction.

It’s in our community’s interest to promote development to generate jobs and increase tax revenues. In my work as an arts educator, I’ve brought national grant money to Laramie creating cultural sector jobs, because creativity and culture contribute to the fabric of our community in a way that attracts other job creators. The City Council and County Commission have demonstrated a commitment to maintaining a clean water supply, which is a critical part of economic development, and I certainly will continue that commitment if elected. But development needs to be supported by infrastructure and job creation, needs to be environmentally sustainable, and shouldn’t result in higher property taxes and higher rents.

As mentioned earlier, a top priority for me is keeping our drinking water clean - which means following through on the recommendations of the recently updated protection plan for our aquifer. I also support the work of the current City Council in adding solar panels to government buildings and implementing other ways to achieve energy efficiency. The question of how to provide needed services to city residents while paying close attention to short- and long-term costs doesn’t have a simple answer, or we would have done it already. I will be looking for innovative and cost-effective projects to improve water and energy supplies, recreational opportunities, and safe, accessible movement around town for our aging population.

My background is in health care, and I initially decided to run for City Council because I care about people and my community. I’ve learned skills in communication, organization, community engagement, and problem solving from my work and from volunteering. I’ve applied these skills during my first term in office, particularly with sustained efforts to bring mental health training into community policing. I’ve also advocated and voted for aquifer protection, recycling and sustainability projects, and renter safety. I am committed to meaningful public participation in government decision making. I believe honesty, accountability, respect, and kindness should govern our actions as elected officials and as citizens of a democracy.

The City Council already has amended city zoning to allow higher density housing (for example, adding accessory dwelling units to a residential lot), and has built out water and sewer infrastructure to encourage new housing. Collaborating with private developers and non-profit organizations can help leverage additional resources and expertise. But we can’t get into such a rush that safety or habitability are compromised. Involving the community in planning and decision-making processes is essential to ensure that the options pursued will meet local needs and gain public support. By implementing these strategies and being an active participant in the process, the Laramie City Council can help address the needs of its residents.

An intense effort by the City Council and partner organizations brought HomeBase to Laramie, and it will soon be joined by two other new businesses in that area. It’s expected that these new businesses will encourage economic growth and job creation, and have already resulted in increased tax revenues. Businesses need good infrastructure, and Laramie has made major strides in addressing the backlog of water system maintenance, which will then lead to street improvements (it is wasteful to repair a street if it’s going to be torn up to fix the water main). We’re now studying how to improve stormwater management. But we need to be selective in what development we encourage, to ensure we don’t damage the environment that makes Laramie special.

Water infrastructure is a top priority, and the new North Side Tank & Lines will support new housing on the north side of Laramie. This development is important not only for strengthening Laramie’s housing market, but also to direct city growth to the north, west and south so that we protect water quality in the Casper Aquifer to the east. As we complete water system improvements, we can turn our attention to streets. I will advocate for clear markings and “traffic calming” mechanisms to promote bicycling and walking. Even in our climate, these are feasible options for most of the year. Continued investment in parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities will help maintain a healthy quality of life in our community.

My background is in small business. I have owned small businesses for the last 30 years. I have a degree in business and law from UW. I understand how to prepare/manage budgets, set priorities, make tough fiscal decisions, and provide good customer service. My legal work in private practice and with the State of Wyoming has prepared me to ensure quality of services are delivered through the thorough drafting of procedures, policies, and local ordinances. In addition to these technical skills, I have a vision. As a Wyoming native and resident of Laramie for 22 years, I am committed to the success of this state and this city by creating a business-friendly environment that will provide opportunities for our children.

Is this really a function of city government? The single most important thing the council can do is to make sure they are not doing anything to increase the cost of housing. One idea is to create a task force composed of local builders tasked to identify where inefficiencies caused by regulations and zoning ordinances exist. From this the council could do a cost benefit analysis to determine any impactful changes.

Again, is this really a function of city government. Our quality of life is top notch. We have fresh air, good water, outdoor activities, beautiful scenic views and quality education. What the city can do is to make sure we have great infrastructure, good roads, parks and services so that developers, businesses and families will be attracted to the area.

Basic services as outlined in the city charter, including building and maintaining streets and parks, functional and updated water and sewer systems, snow removal, affordable trash collection services, and proper funding of our library. This is the basic function of city government. First things first, for the benefit of our citizens and prospective businesses it is imperative that we have first rate infrastructure in place. We should have lower water rates, no potholes, and timely snow removal.

I have attended most Laramie City Council meetings for the last year and a half. Through this attendance I have learned what I could bring to the city of Laramie as a City Council member. My wife Lynn and I have run more than 6 different businesses over our lifetime. My primary background has been in Radio Broadcasting. We moved to Wyoming about 30 years ago to own and operate two radio stations in Cheyenne. We ran those stations for about 11 years before selling them. During that time, I was President of the Cheyenne Depot Board, President of the Laramie County Library Foundation Board and a board member at the Red Cross. After selling the radio stations we moved to the Laramie area to build and run a bed and breakfast near Laramie.

The best thing Laramie can do to encourage affordable housing is to get out of the way. We need to analyze current regulations that inhibit builders, developers and contractors. I have heard far too often from developers that would like to work in the area, that our Unified Building Code drives up costs so much in the Laramie area that it puts housing out of reach for many residents. The other issue is processsing time of applications. Complaints of months of application approval wait times is very costly for builders. We need to get wait times down to a few weeks rather than months.

City council needs to continue to promote quality of life issues in Laramie. We have so many things that people who move to Laramie are looking to enjoy. Hiking, biking, music and cultural events are just a few of the many resources we have to offer. We need to continue to protect these resources when possible. and encourage others to do the same.

By improving our quality of life, we will automatically promote good development.

Streets, Streets and Streets. This would mean paving many miles (10% of all streets) that have been unpaved, sometimes for decades. Sidewalks should be included in this as this a barrier for people with disabilities and the elderly. Other infrastructural projects (such as the $22 million spent in the 3rd Street Public Works building the the $1.4 million spent on the City Hall renovation). We need to get our priorities in order in Laramie when it comes to infratructure spending.