Two Women League of Voters members mediate the final forum on for the 2020 primary elections in July.
As community readies to elect an entire school board, two commissioners and a “strange” number of councilmen, League of Women Voters President Susan Knesel expects eventful forums for the general elections.
Local candidates in the general election will have the opportunity to formally introduce themselves as well as their ideals, credentials and goals for the community during the general election forums that the Campbell County League of Women Voters (CCLWV) is hosting over the next few days.
CCLWV President Susan Knesel said the forums provide an opportunity for the public to become familiarized with each candidate running for office. She explained Wednesday that the 2020 election forums were scheduled much earlier than in previous years to better accommodate absentee and early voters in light of COVID-19.
“There was an influx of absentee ballots during the primary elections,” she said. “And with that, early voting starts Sept. 18. So, we want everyone to at least know who’s running before then.”
COVID-19 isn’t the only thing shaking up the forums this year either, she added. The lineup truly is one of a kind for a variety of reasons.
Thursday’s forum will feature the Campbell County School District Board of trustees and the Mt. Pisgah Cemetery Board.
The candidates for Campbell County Conservation Board received invitations to the forum, however, each of the offers were rejected due to personal reasons and scheduling conflicts with the candidates, Knesel said.
“We took a lot of the candidates by surprise,” she explained.
Candidates for the Campbell County Board of Commissioners, Gillette City Council and Wyoming House of Representatives District 32 will appear at the forum on Monday night, an event that Knesel thinks everyone could benefit from watching.
This year, the city council election is particularly interesting, according to Knesel, since there will be four council seats filled, rather than the typical three. City council staggers its terms for each of the six members, seeing a new member elected every other year. The councilmen and women serve four-year terms, representing their respective wards, but this year both seats for Ward 3 are currently up for grabs. After being appointed to vacant Ward 3 seats, incumbents Laura Chapman and Nathan McLeland are now running for election against opponents Shay Lundvall and Bob Vomhof.
“You usually don’t see both seats open at the same time,” Knesel said. “So, it’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.”
With an abundance of potential councilmen, the two republican candidates up for re-election to their two Campbell County Board of Commissioner seats will not be making an appearance at the forum on Monday, Knesel said. Since the incumbents attended CCLWV’s forum for the primary elections, they “respectfully declined this offer (to participate).”
Democratic candidate Wes Johnson, however will be attending the forum to answer any questions that voters may have regarding his policies stances, vision and goals for the board.
Either way, the forum will go on, she said.
Knesel has worked with the CCLWV since moving to Gillette in 1987 and says that the elections forums provide an unbiased platform for the public to familiarize themselves with local candidates.
“Obviously, all elections are important, but I don’t think people know how vital the councilmen and commissioners are,” Knesel commented.
“They oversee everything from trash to roads to cash, so everyone should know who they’re voting for.”
