I have lived in Victor, Idaho for 30 years. It was a still a quiet farming community with very dark skies and minimal traffic when I arrived to conduct field research on great gray owls for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Growth in those years was mostly slow, steady, and manageable. However, the growth that has occurred in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of challenges for Teton County including budget constraints, water quality and quantity issues, housing affordability, employee retention, loss of working farms and ranches, traffic and degradation of transportation infrastructure.
I recognize that there are limits to growth, and that we can not let outside interests take advantage of us. We need to manage growth it in a way that creates opportunities for the people who live here while protecting the unique cultural and natural history of this spectacular valley.
I have been a Teton County Commissioner for 10 years. My knowledge, experience, and relationships are an asset to the County, and I will continue to advocate for Teton County residents and businesses on the local, state, and federal level. I currently serve as Board Chair which involves organizing and running meetings, public hearings, and departmental work sessions as well as serving on the Council of Governments with the mayors of Victor, Driggs, and Tetonia.
I will hold strong on my commitment to Teton County’s Comprehensive Plan and policies that provide affordable housing for locals, establish safe and efficient transportation networks, protect our natural resources, preserve our agricultural heritage, and help Teton County pay for the increasing cost of infrastructure and services resulting from the unprecedented growth. During my next term, I also plan to engage the community in discussions around how we can be more resilient to climate change and natural disasters.
I only have one phone number (my personal cell phone) and residents know that I answer my phone when they call. I also answer emails. I consider what I do outside of the courthouse an important part of my job.
I initiated Town Hall listening sessions this year so that citizens would have more time to talk to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) about whatever is on their mind, outside of a regular business meeting. The BoCC keeps track of the issues that are important to community members and works toward addressing them as best we can.
We recently finished a major overhaul of the Teton County website which should make it easier for residents and visitors to find what they need online. We continue to allow anyone to Zoom into our public meetings and make public comments remotely. I am proud of figuring out how to manage that as Board Chair instead of eliminating remote access post pandemic like a lot of jurisdictions have done.
