Barney resigns from county race

A field of five Democrats drops to four after one of the candidates announced his plans to drop out of the race.

Ted Barney, currently a Green River City Councilman, announced his intent to withdraw from the election Tuesday evening.

Barney said he’s withdrawing as a result of personal issues.

“An unforeseen development has arisen this week and after verifying the events, it is with regret that I have to announce my withdrawal from the Sweetwater County Commissioner race for 2016,” Barney wrote in a press release.

“I wish the candidates the best of luck and I hope the voters continue to look to the future that we as a community can build together.”

With Barney’s announcement, the Democrats primary race for county commissioner is between Gary Bailiff, Mark Peterson, Bodan Janota and Holly Dabb. Voters will choose two of the four Aug. 16 to continue on to the general election.

Barney’s main campaign issue focused on pushing for economic diversification in the county.

“I hope one of these days, we won’t have to worry about a boom-and-bust society and not have to rely on the cycle,” Barney said in an interview two weeks ago.

Barney believes the county could benefit from a glass-manufacturing facility and thinks the county, attracting businesses to process natural resources taken from the ground, would be able to break the boom-and-bust economy. He also believes diversifying the economy would keep water rights in Sweetwater County.