Local races heat up with close of filing period

The political races in Thermopolis and Hot Springs County are heating up as more folks waited until the filing deadline last Friday to sign on the dotted line, putting themselves in the race.

Some have remained the same on the county ticket as we reported last week, Daniel Webber for County Assessor, Jerry Williams for County Attorney, Terri Cornella for Clerk of District Court, Mark Mortimore for Coroner and Julie Mortimore as County Treasurer.

However, your choices for the two open spots on the County Commission are now Tom Ryan, Steven Shay, Sonja Becker, Jack Baird, Michael Liesch and Carl Leyba.

The County Clerk race has grown as well with incumbent Nina Webber being challenged by Rosemary Deseyn and Joe Martinez.

The Hot Springs County Sheriff’s race has settled down to Jerimie Kraushaar, Tom Christensen, Daniel Pebbles, Pat Cornwell and Michael Nelson.

For the Town of Thermopolis, incumbents John Dorman Sr. and Tony Larson have submitted their names. They will be on the ticket with newcomers Joshua Brown, Krista Raymond and John Fish. Vying for the position of Mayor are current mayor Mike Mortimore, Michael Chimenti, Forrest Coleman-Weisz and Bradyn Harvey.

In East Thermopolis, town council incumbents Dolores Bush and Sybil Hannah have filed, as well as Debra Lackey. Current mayor David D. Peake has filed for the mayoral seat.

For Kirby, Alberta Hurley, Kim Graham and Corey Walk have put in their names for the three four-year council spots and Sam Mead has submitted his name for the four-year mayoral term. Council member Jessica Slagle still has two years on her term.

On the state level, Anthony Van Risseghem, Charlie Hardy, Dave Dodson, John Holtz, John Barrasso, and Roque De La Fuente are on the Republican ticket for senator and Gary Trauner is on the Democratic. David Dodson has filed as an Independent. For U.S. Representative, Blake Stanley, Liz Cheney and Rod Miller have filed on the Republican side, with Greg Hunter and Travis Helm on the Democratic.

For Governor, Bill Dahlin, Foster Friess, Harriet Hageman, Mark Gordon, Sam Galeotos, Taylor Haynes are on the Republican ticket, and Kenneth Casner, Mary Throne, Michael Green and Rex Wilde are on the Democratic.

Edward Buchanan is running as Republican for Secretary of State and James Byrd is running as Democratic.

Nathan Winters is running against Kristi Racines on the Republican ticket for State Auditor, with Jeff Dockter on the Democratic ticket. With Winters vacating the seat of District 28 Representative, Howie Samelson has submitted his name on the Democratic ticket, and John Winter and Tim Morrison have filed on the Republican.

Republicans are the only party filing for State Treasurer and Superintendent of Public Instruction, with Curt Meier, Leland Christensen and Ron Redo on the Treasurer ticket and Jillian Balow putting in her name for Superintendent.