CASPER, Wyoming – The primary election will be held August 20, 2024. Voting by mail begins July 23. For more information on candidates, races and how to vote, visit Oil City News’ primary election guide here.
Two four-year seats are becoming vacant on the Natrona County Commission. Commissioner Dave North is up for re-election. Chairman Steve Freel has not renewed his candidacy.
Candidates Paul Bertoglio, Terry Wingerter and Matt Keating have served on the board in the past. Arthur Youngberg, Casey Coates, Curt Simpson Jr. and Rozmaring Czaban are also vying for seats.
If you are a primary candidate who has not been contacted, please contact [email protected].
The questions and answers listed here were submitted via email. Commission candidates also participated in a forum reported on by Oil City News.
These questions and answers were received via email.
- What is your professional background, including any boards, commissions or other positions in public administration? What have you learned about leadership from these experiences?
I served on the Natrona County Predator Management Board with Don Dodds and Rob Hendry’s son for a term or two. I learned that no matter how simple things seem, there are many complications, big and small, that make it harder to do the right thing. And then all you can do is use your best judgment.
- How do you understand the responsibilities and powers of the district commission?
The authority is established by law. The responsibility is much more extensive than most people can imagine. Pretty much everything legal goes through the board. In addition, the entire infrastructure of the district is partly under its supervision, either directly or indirectly.
- Would you support a county-administered property tax relief program, as allowed by law?
I would have to know the details of such a program before I could say that I would support it.
- Do you think residential development will continue in unincorporated areas, and what challenges does this bring?
Yes, it certainly will. The hardest part will be to support this development and keep it organized without being intrusive. The infrastructure needs to be controlled without being managed in detail.
- What problems of the district government do you think are being overlooked?
The Natrona County Library. It’s not so much overlooked as it has been pushed aside for far too long. This should have been addressed years ago. Still, I wish more attention was paid to the residents of the county as a whole rather than to the seemingly specific groups that always get all the attention.
- Which topics that the BOCC has dealt with in recent years are of particular interest to you?
The hospital, commercial air traffic and the “green energy” projects. And also the chaos surrounding property taxes and the wrongly introduced revision of planning and zoning regulations.
- Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?
I live in the county north of Casper. I was born in Casper and am a retired working man who wants to help the citizens.
