2008 Teton County wrap up

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

By Jake Nichols

Jackson Hole, Wyoming - The more things change (on the national level), the more they stay the same (in Jackson Hole). Even while the numbers proclaiming a Democratic tidal wave rolled across television screens and computer monitors, Teton County voters sent mostly incumbents back to office at the local level. So much for the change sweeping the nation.

A perceived discontent with the pace of growth in the town and county roared at the polls only loud enough to throw a scare into frontrunners in a few local races. Mayor Mark Barron succeeded in his endeavor to become Jackson’s longest-serving mayor ever, if he finishes his fourth two-year stint in 2010.

Barron went from cruise control in August, when he ran uncontested in the primary, to peddling a bit as challenger Mike Lance pushed him on issues of commercial growth and density zoning at the town’s core. Considering Lance was not even on the ballot three months ago, the relatively close race opened Barron’s eyes and ears to the distress of ‘slow-growthers.’

“I just want to thank my good pal Mike Lance for running such a great campaign and I do hear the people,” Barron told KMTN radio election night. “Sometimes you think you are in tune with all your constituents’ concerns. But there is always room to listen more. I will continue to make myself available to all.”

The contest for two available seats on the board of county commissioners was a three-horse race, with a filly hot on the heels of two old studs. Leland Christensen retained his spot on the board to at least ensure the commission included two Republicans – Christensen and Paul Vogelheim. He was the top vote-getter owing in part to his favorable voting record and relentless ground campaign.

Incumbent Andy Schwartz (D) edged out upstart Claire Fuller (D), 24, in a razor sharp finish decided by 304 votes.

The only new face to the major local political scene will be Greg Miles. The former planning commissioner snared 28 percent of the vote for town council allowing him to step in alongside the reelected Mark Obringer. Longtime public servant Abe Tabatabai and newcomer Louise Lasley were easily outpaced in the chase for two open seats.

Once again, it was déjà vu for Congressional hopeful Gary Trauner (D). The Wilson businessman found himself the surprise dark horse in a close race against Barbara Cubin (R) in 2006. Trauner enjoyed a little hometown cooking in Teton County where he trounced Cubin, capturing two-thirds of the vote. The rest of the state bled red for the incumbent, however, and Cuban won the race even while losing the respect of many of her constituents for her increasingly nasty behavior.

The 2008 campaign took on a familiar theme. Again, Trauner was pitted against a female Republican, Cynthia Lummis, who concentrated on attacking the former New Yorker for being out of touch with Wyoming. Trauner stuck to the highroad but, in the end, even a late endorsement from Gov. Dave Freudenthal wasn’t enough, even though the Democrat enjoyed similar success with Teton County voters with 67 percent of the vote going his way.

Trauner told Jackson Hole Radio News he was exhausted by the race and will likely end future political aspirations.

Change? Perhaps not in Teton County, though the tremors were certainly felt. It was an important year to exercise one’s patriotic duty and right as evidenced by the 97 percent turnout of registered voters in the county. Hope? Sure. Maybe now that the long campaign is over we can get back to the truly import topics of fall in the valley. “Got yer elk, yet?”

Photo by Andrew Wyatt: Bonnie Parker, Karin Ralph, and Ashley Hogge, with Jack Stout and Dorothy Cavanaugh in the back watch pensively as John McCain concedes the election



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2008 Teton County wrap up | Planet JH News Article: General News

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