NOVEMBER 5, 2024|
Photo – Voting booth – Bigfoot99 file photo
Today is election day 2024.
While Americans choose the next president of the United States, Carbon County voters also must decide on local issues, such as the proposed taxpayer-funded healthcare district for the Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
If passed, the hospital district is expected to generate an additional $1.5 million annually for the medical center through a 3-mill property tax levy on real estate in Rawlins, Sinclair, and Hanna. Speaking at the September 12th informational meeting in Hanna, Memorial Hospital Director of Strategic Operations Stephanie Hinkle explained how much additional property taxes residents can expect to pay.
Memorial Hospital officials have said that the added funds will be used strictly for maintenance of the 52-year-old building and to upgrade medical equipment.
At the same time, voters within the proposed hospital district will be asked to choose five candidates to run the district board, should it pass. Current Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees members Rod Waeckerlin and Mark Kostovny are running against Rawlins’ physician Dr. Stephanie Chui and office manager Vanessa Peterson for one of two four-year seats on the proposed hospital district.
Memorial Hospital board members Jerry Steele and Garry Goergen are running against restaurant owner and search-and-rescue volunteer Mike Lujan and Deputy Fire Warden David Gier for the three open two-year spots on the proposed hospital district board.
Voters living within Carbon County School District One are being asked to renew the existing special school district. Passed every four years since it’s 1993 inception, the special school district imposes a half-mill levy to help fund the Carbon County Higher Education Center in Rawlins and Baggs.
Also on today’s general election ballot is Constitutional Amendment A.
Speaking to Bigfoot99 last month, County Carbon County Assessor Renee Snider explained that the purpose of Constitutional Amendment A is to allow the state legislature to adjust residential and commercial property taxes independently.
Wyoming has three property tax classifications: mineral production; industrial; and all others, which includes residential and commercial real property. Constitutional Amendment A will allow lawmakers to assess residential properties at a different rate than commercial. Currently, both types of property are appraised at 9.5% of their fair market value.
For the single open six-year senate seat, long-time Republican Senator John Barrasso is running against Laramie Democrat Scott Morrow.
Republican Congresswoman Harriet Hageman is running again for Wyoming’s single congressional seat. Hageman will face off against Democrat Kyle G. Cameron, Libertarian Richard Brubaker, and Constitution Party candidate Jeffery Haggit.
Voters living in House District 15, which encompasses Rawlins, Sinclair, and unincorporated areas north and south of the city, have a single candidate to select. Due to a lack of Democratic candidates, Rawlins Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Pam Thayer is the sole candidate running to replace Don Burkhart in the Wyoming legislature, who is stepping down from public service.
In House District 47, which covers the rest of Carbon County, as well as a significant portion of Sweetwater County, incumbent Republican Bob Davis is running against Democrat James Wilson.
All Carbon County voters will choose three county commission members to sit on the board. Current commissioners Sue Jones and John Espy join County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett on the ballot. If elected, Bartlett will unseat Commissioner Garrett Irene, who was appointed to the board last December, following the resignation of Byron Barkhurst.
In Rawlins, Ward One candidate Derek Elliott is running against DeShann Schinkel. Ward Two voters may select between sitting city council member Darril Garner and Stanley Bugg.
For Rawlins Ward Three, current councilman Chris Weisenburg’s run for another term was seemingly stopped when both Terry Patterson and Patrick Gonzales received enough votes in the primary election to be on today’s ballot.
In Sinclair, Brennan Dunlap and Michelle Serres are running for the two open four-year council seats. Nancy Sanders is running unopposed for the single unexpired two-year term.
Rawlins, Muddy Gap, and Sinclair residents can cast their votes at the Jeffrey Center, located at 315 West Pine Street in Rawlins.
The Medicine Bow mayor’s seat is up for election today. Current Mayor Justin George is facing off against local business owner Troy Maddox. Meanwhile, sitting councilmembers Kristi Wickizer and Lee Cook are running against write-in candidate and former mayor Lucy Schofield for the two open four-year terms. Councilmembers Crystal Mayfield and Trevor Strauch are on the ballot for two unexpired two-year seats.
Voting will occur at the Medicine Bow Community Center, located at 221 Pine Street.
In Hanna, Orville “Oats” Briggs is running against write-in candidate Charlie George for the mayor’s seat. Meanwhile, Paul Cruz, Donna Pipher, Nathan Seegmiller, and Ellen Works-Freeman are vying for the two open four-year town council spots.
Unlike in previous years, voting in Hanna will not occur in the town’s recreation center. Instead, the polling station has been moved to the Hanna Town Hall, located at 301 South Adams Street.
Two four-year Elk Mountain council seats are up for election today. Voters will select two candidates from among Angie Hobbs, Brett Larson, and Joseph Neel. The Elk Mountain polling station is located in the town’s senior center, at 208 Bridge Street.
In Saratoga, current council member Mike Cooley is running against Cory Oxford, and “Chia” Valdez for one of two open four-year positions on the governing body. Bub Barkhurst, who was appointed in May following the death of Jacob Fluty, is facing off against Sophia Borg for the remainder of Fluty’s two-year term.
Saratoga voters will cast their ballots at the Platte Valley Community Center, located at 210 West Elm Avenue.
Stas Banach, Dale Davis, and Susan Munson are on Encampment resident’s ballots. Voters will select two candidates to sit on the town council for the next four years.
Riverside voters will see Linda Brown and Mark Helwick on their town council ballots. Both candidates are running for the two open four-year spots on the governing body. Lisa Lorenz is the sole candidate on the ballot running for the unexpired two-year term.
Voting for both Encampment and Riverside residents will take place in the Encampment Opera House, at 622 Rankin Avenue.
In Dixon, Ryanne Mikesell and Caleb Owens are running for the two four-year spots on the town council.
Two four-year positions are open on the Baggs town council. However, only Michael McAllister is listed on resident’s ballots. No candidates are listed for the single unexpired two-year term.
Little Snake River Valley residents will cast their votes at the Valley Community Center, located at 255 West Osborne Street in Baggs.
All races are open to write-in candidates.
Polls open at 7:00am and close at 7:00pm. If you are in line to vote when the polling station closes, remain there. Everyone will be given a chance to cast their ballots.
Be sure to bring your identification with you when you go to vote. Speaking to Bigfoot99 back in August, Carbon County Deputy Clerk Lisa Smith explained the types of ID poll workers will accept.
Your ID does not need to display your current Wyoming home address.
