Candidates speak on several district positions

Among the local races under contention is a four-year seat on the Hot Springs County Fire District, and Linda Cowger and Ken Smith have thrown in their names for it.

Cowger described herself as an “oil field brat,” her family having moved around quite a bit. Though she completed high school in Montana, she returned to Thermopolis and attended the Technical College of the Rockies. With her marriage to her husband, Jim, she began at 40-plus year long relationship with the fire department.

“The firefighters are very near and dear to my heart,” Cowger said, adding that she knows we have one of the finest fire departments in the state. In order to do that, there needs to be money, which comes from tax dollars, and the district fire board is the keeper of those funds.

Cowger is passionate about the department and the district because the safety of the firemen is extremely important, as is the safety of the community and the people. She plans to work so tax dollars are spent in the very best way possible to keep the department running smoothly with the best equipment possible.

Ken Smith is originally from Michigan, but has owned property in Wyoming for about 17 years; he bought his house on Jones Road about eight years ago, and four years ago retired and came out here full-time.

“The fire district shouldn’t have a political platform,” Smith said, so instead he chose to share qualifications and what he could bring to the position. Smith was self-employed and ran his own company for 24 years, and that ownership provided him opportunity to gain valuable experience in administration, accounting, purchasing and other aspects of management that he believes would be helpful.

Also, while in Michigan, he was a 33-year member of a volunteer horseback unit While in the unit, he held various administrative and command positions. He mentioned the time with the unit, as he believes that experience would be beneficial in working with the volunteers on the fire department.

There are five on the ticket for the position of Hot Springs County Cemetery District Director, with three four-year terms being voted on.

Linda Berry said she has lived in the community for over 40 years and taught in. in the district and the Wyoming Boys School. As to why she’s running for the Cemetery District position, Barry said years back she used to work for Weed and Pest. They used to spray for the Cemetery; at that time, it was more thistle than grass. Later on, she had a friend whom she helped put out flowers and bring them back. Over the years, she saw how much more beautiful it is now, and she chose to give what time she could to help the district.

Julie Lehman has three reasons for running. The first is for public service, she said, as everybody owes their country and their community at some point in their lives. The second reason is, this year she became a regular visitor at the cemetery, and has experienced firsthand how the board treats its visitors. “I can do better,” she said, pointing out some of the candidates running for office have been on the Cemetery Board several years, and she would bring progress and a fresh perspective. The third reason Lehman is running has to do with Hawk’s Avenue of Flags, as it was the first time the Cemetery Board has had to work cooperatively on a project of this magnitude, and she is eager to develop a good working relationship with the board as the project grows.

Also on the ballot are Jeanie Love, Rose Watkins and Cindy DeVries.

There are three director spots with regard to the Hot Springs Conservation District — Rural, Urban and At-Large

Sonja Becker, who is vying for the Rural Director is s fourth generation living in Hot Springs County, and a third generation running the Becker Family Stock Farm. She spent four year in the Army as a quartermaster supply sergeant, and another three years with the National Guard, and she has a degree in outdoor recreation and natural resources management.

It is possible to make a living here farming, Becker said, and she also wants to help the community to provide for the resources here. “We have a lot of resources in the community,” she said, and the soil, water and other resources need protection. She further added this does not just apply to the rural people, but also the community.

Larry Bentley, also going for the Rural position, has been here since 1980, and worked at various ranches in the community. For the past 12-14 years he’s been consultant for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, in the Natural Resource and Policy section. He said the experience he’s had there would help him to guide the county. He noted he has been on the Conservation District once before, and was named a supervisor of the year during that time.

Jim Andreen, running for the Urban position, mentioned his time in the Navy, and the fact that he’s worked with Weed and Pest for the past five years, and has a good working relationship with them, as well as other water improvement districts. He noted he is also a volunteer fireman, EMT, and does coroner duty.

Lee Campbell is also on the ballot, for the At-Large position.