Two running for HSC County Commissioner

Two candidates appear on the general election ballot who are running for one open seat to serve as a Hot Springs County Commissioner, a four year term. Bob Aguiar is running as a Republican who advanced from the primary election Jack Baird joined the race following the primary election and is running as an Independent.

The information included here is what each candidate presented during the Chamber of Commerce/Farm Bureau candidate forum held in early October.

Bob Aguiar:

Good evening everyone. My name is Bob Aguiar. Some of you have listened to me speak before. For those of you who haven’t, I’ll try to give you a brief rundown.

I have spent 35 years in management, mostly, production management. I have finished my career as a human resource manager, so I am very familiar with budgets. I’m very familiar with projects, teamwork and getting things done.

I am a conservative Republican, and if you would like to know what my values are, refer to the Republican Party platform. I am also the state committeeman of the Republican Party. I have worked with 4-H. I am currently the chairman of the shooting sports program. I’ve been involved with 4-H for 22 years. So I’m very involved with children.

I want to serve as a commissioner in this county because I want our voice to be heard, the children, the seniors. I want to see three distinct opinions whenever something has to be decided upon. Right now, I don’t see that. I think most people know what I’m talking about, so I won’t divulge too much on that.

I have five children, 18 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. My children are not living in Wyoming, most are in Colorado and some are in Arkansas.

I am a conservative Republican. I believe in our platform. I believe in the values of conservatism and also equality. As a commissioner, it doesn’t matter what party you belong to, we all have rights and we’re all individuals. Thank you.

Jack Baird:

Good evening. I’m glad to see you all here, I think. It would be easier if not all of you were here, but hey.

I’m Jack Baird. I’m a fourth generation Hot Springs County resident. I graduated from Hot Springs County High School. My wife Ellen and I bought our family’s ranch in 2004. We work the ranch with our son Shawn, daughter Kaylee and her husband Sam, and their four kids.

The future of Hot Springs County is dear to my heart. Prior to 1999, I rode much of the county on horseback when my dad was in partnership with his family. We had cows on Washakie Needles on the west, Lysite Mountain to the east, Copper Mountain on the south, and Gooseberry Creek to the north. Most of the time those cattle traveled from place to place. We need a community that works together for the better of all people. Not creating division as it seems that some are trying to do.

I realize how much our county is changing. We need to embrace change and look to the future and be prepared. This includes the land use policy that works to create the best future for our county. Tourism is an important part of our economy and we need to be sure we promote a county that is united and positive towards one another. I will be very strong in protecting private property rights.

I’m very much my own person. I have my own mind and not afraid to voice my opinion. I am not going to go with the majority just because. I quite often seek advice from friends, family, neighbors with more knowledge.

With saying that, I would be foolish not to take advice from someone who runs a company with one of the biggest payrolls in Hot Springs County. He has a very good business head on him, and has experience as a commissioner and a big vision for Hot Springs County. That would be chairman Tom Ryan. With saying that, it does not mean I will vote with him on every issue. When I was a commissioner before, I voted against him on the redistricting of the precinct.

I think it is important for someone to be on the commission that makes a living off land, knows the value of the natural resources we have, and uses them, protects them.

From my past time on the commission, I have knowledge of the job. I am reasonable, have common sense and am very approachable. I’ll make a great Hot Springs County Commissioner. Thank you.

What role and or authority does the Board of County Commissioners hold with regards to other local government bodies? For example, the school board, fire district, town council, hospital, district, water district. And since we formed senior citizens for this district?

Jack Baird:

All right. What authority does the Board of County Commissioners hold over local governing bodies? School board, zero. Fire district, zero. Town Council, zero. Hospital district, zero. Water district, zero. Senior citizen’s district, zero. I mean, we have no control over them at all. So I guess that was easy enough.

Bob Aguiar:

It’s hard to follow that with a bunch more zeros. But they’re all zeros and again we don’t hire, we don’t fire, we don’t control any boards. We might have a little say on land use, but that’s about it. But these boards, we have no say. Primarily, I think we pay a lot of bills.