(Editor's note: this article was corrected to reflect Island Richards' roles with the Rock Springs Soccer Association and Avengers Soccer took place in the past.)
A number of residents have announced their campaigns for offices in Sweetwater County over the past few weeks, many being affiliated with the Republican Party. On Monday, Sweetwater County Sheriff John Grossnickle announced his intent to seek a second term. Grossnickle, who has spent 25 years with the sheriff’s office, said in a press release the office has accomplished a lot over the past four years, but sees a number of other positive projects still being worked on.
“Walking away now would be shortsighted and an absolute disservice both to everyone involved over the last four years and those we strive to serve each day,” he said in his announcement.
Grossnickle credits a lot of the work being done to make the office one of the leading law enforcement agencies in the state to the team he works with.
“Together, we have worked tirelessly in a painstaking effort to get this house of cards in proper order,” he said.
Grossnickle won’t be unopposed in his upcoming campaign. A deputy with the sheriff’s office, Chris Sutton, has announced his intent to seek election. Sutton’s campaign website does not disclose which party he belongs to, but identifies him as a conservative. Sutton has worked at the sheriff’s office since 2016, recently working as a detective and field training officer.
“My first priority will be to provide solutions to the toughest challenges we face in our everyday lives. The office of the sheriff should be non-partisan, so that decisions are based on community needs and nothing else,” Sutton said in the biography on his website.
For the three Sweetwater County commissioner terms expiring at the end of the year, local businessman and longtime GOP supporter Island Richards has announced his candidacy. Richards, a 46-year resident of the county, said he wants to run because he loves Sweetwater County and being a county commissioner is the next level of service he wants to give.
“I’m excited to get into this race. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for quite awhile now, and I think this is the right time to get involved,” Richards said. “The current members of the Sweetwater County Commission are all intelligent and capable individuals, but something isn’t working with the current makeup of the board. I hope I can bring a different dynamic to the group, and work with them to really dig down and find solutions to the problems facing Sweetwater County.”
Richards has served on a number of local boards and organizations, including the county’s planning and zoning commission, the White Mountain Water and Sewer District and Sweetwater County Fire District No. 1, the Wyoming Retail Association. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Wyoming State Liquor Association and has served multiple roles with the Rock Springs Soccer Association and Avengers Soccer.
Richards isn’t the only GOP member seeking election to the board of county commissioners. He is joined by Lester Mauch and Jeffery Ramaj. According to Mauch’s Facebook page, Mauch wants to manage tax dollars with fiscal responsibility, ensure local law enforcement has the resources needed for safe and secure communities, help create responsible economic diversification in the county and protect the county’s water resources.
According to his campaign materials, Ramaj is running on a platform of lower taxes and spending, reduced regulation, and promoting economic growth.
The three incumbents currently serving, Jeffery Smith, Randy Wendling and Roy Lloyd, have not yet announced an intent to seek reelection.
In the upcoming races for state office, Secretary of State Ed Buchanan has announced his intent to run for reelection.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of Wyoming. Four years ago, new to the office, I set goals for us to achieve in terms of our business division and our elections division. My team has met those challenges, as we saw year to year revenue increases of over 9% each year out of our business division, helping us to remain a tax-friendly state,” Buchanan said in his announcement.
Buchanan said he has ideas on how his office can give customers “world-class service” and ensure elections remain secure and efficient.
In the upcoming race for Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction, Casper native Megan Degenfelder announced her candidacy April 7.
She is a sixth-generation Wyoming resident and identifies herself as a conservative business leader and is a former executive at the Wyoming Department of Education. If elected, she intends to work with local industries to ensure graduates are prepared for the workplace, prioritize classroom funding over funding to districts’ central administration offices, focus on K-3 literacy rates and fight against anti-American curriculum and policy.
“Too often, we are told that our children are leaving Wyoming and our industries are dying. But, we can and we will give our children the opportunities to build a successful future in Wyoming,” she said in her announcement. “Having lived in several different communities across the state, I know that decision making is best left to the local level.”
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