GILLETTE, Wyo. — The 2024 election season is well underway, and County 17 has sent a list of questions to each candidate who has filed to run for a municipal office.
These questions are designed to give readers a better understanding of the people behind the names on the ballot. Except for minor grammar editing and clarifications, all candidate responses submitted to County 17 are republished as they are received.
Below, get to know Chris Smith, who is running for a seat on the Gillette City Council as a representative of Ward 1:
Who are you?
Thank you for this question! I would say that Chris Smith enjoys the quietness and obscureness of life. Enjoying time with his family, his son, his four grandsons, who are amazing and different in every way. A daughter-in-law who is a beam of joy to myself, her husband, and her lil boys and the most creative and fun person I know! Chris enjoys the time with his parents and sharing in their wisdom and his dad’s fine cooking. Chris further enjoys the successes of his nephew’s Scouting career, his education, and his interest in all things including transformers! Yet there is more to Chris, he is humble, he is optimistic, and he is loyal. I would say that I often look out for others well-being before my own. Which is in part of why I am running, as there are lots of needs in our community. Many of which government cannot fix but government can get of way.
Why have you chosen to run for office and what do you hope to accomplish should you be elected?
In short, I have chosen to run for City Council b/c I care more about the prosperity of our ppl than I do of the government. I am frustrated watching the government prosper and continue to ask for more. While the families of Gillette struggle to pay for food, struggle to pay for electricity, struggle to pay for fuel, and struggle to pay for life. There is a giant problem w/ government bodies who hold onto over 49 million dollars w/ an annual budget of under 2 million dollars and continue to tax its ppl (Cemetery board). There is a giant problem w/ government spending when public safety i.e. (Gurley Overpass) takes a backseat to the precedence of endless vanity projects. There is giant problem when a splash pad can run an endless amount of water while the ppl of Gillette cannot afford to water their lawn.
How do you plan on accomplishing your goals?
What I hope to carry out is to speak to our current council and explain to them that the current direction of our city’s plan is unsustainable and unattainable w/ the current population size of our city. Further it is my great hope that they are in agreeance and redirect their aim towards a more attainable goal that aligns themselves with the ppl of Gillette and not just the special interests of the bureaucratic cartel.
What about you, or your experiences, would make you a good steward of taxpayer dollars and a good representative of your community?
I am a former self-employed business owner, responsible for the cost of projects, timely completion of jobs, and meeting payroll so my employees could pay their bills. I was fortunate to serve on the Rockpile Museum Board as a Vice Chairman and a Secretary all while getting a front-row seat in the learning of the history of our great community! I served as the Vice Chairman of the Wyoming Republican Party. Working on several committees to provide solutions to better our WYGOP, often with people of many varying political opinions and was able to bring all sides together to get our job done. I also am the former Chairman of Campbell County Republican Party. Looking back that was my most memorable position. The many ppl I was able to meet and enjoy conversations with and getting to know them. Gillette has some exceptionally fine ppl who take interest in politics. I hope I left a positive mark on the many I met as they left w/ me!
What major issues do you feel are prevalent in your community and how do you plan to address them?
I would say having been out meeting Gillette residents in Ward 1 would be that Gillette residents cannot afford to water their lawns. Yet the splash pad has and endless supply of water at the cost of the taxpayers. It is my opinion we could solve this unfair crisis by dedicating our 1% dollars as they were originally intended. Investing them to our infrastructure offsetting the unfair double taxation to the residential user. Crime is another issue that has been increasing I feel in our community and across the State. I am greatly bothered that our Peace Officers are experiencing greater danger than when I was young.