BHC GOP discusses write-ins

Death of Chair Sharon Hall shifts leadership

The Big Horn County Republican Party voted to send an invitational letter to the top write-in candidates for each precinct’s open committee positions at their regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 15. In the case of a tie, both candidates will receive a letter, to be selected by the committee pending the candidates’ acceptance. 

On the ballot for Basin, Bob Brewer received 417 votes and RoxAnne Brewer 422 votes, leaving two open seats for both committeeman and committeewoman. Dan Scott of Basin received 21 write-in votes. He attended Tuesday’s meeting and accepted the nomination in person. Joe Hobmeier, runner-up, received ten write-in votes. For the women, Terri Hobmeier received nine write-in votes and Barbara Anne Greene seven. 

In Greybull, committeemen Luke Zeller (448 votes) and Eddie Sjostrom (300 votes) were elected. There was some discussion among the GOP regarding Zeller’s political standing, with allegations that he holds a Democrat ideology. RoxAnne Brewer, serving as chair, stated that she would assure his attendance at GOP meetings. One remaining committeeman position would go to Steve Helburn with seven write-in votes should he accept. Top nominees for committeewomen were Kay Mattis (8), who presently serves on the committee but did not file for re-election, Mackenzie McDonald (5), Lisa Dalin (3) and Sarah Zeller (3). 

For Lovell, Scott A. Brown (684 votes) and Dymon Hall (622 votes) were elected committeemen. Kristi L. Defuentes (717 votes), Sharon N. Hall (666 votes) and Raelene Wood (530 votes) were elected committeewomen, though Hall’s seat will remain open due to her passing on September 9. Lovell must fill five seats; for committeemen, presently serving Addison Aagard (8 votes) and Gary Welch (4 votes) were the top write-in candidates. Kevin Walker, Bruce Morrison, Allen Harvey and William Hiser all tied with two write-in votes for the remaining seat. For committeewomen, top three write-in candidates were Linda Morrison (3 votes), Elaine Harvey (2 votes) and Judy Richards (2 votes). 

Cowley elected Rik Mettes with 284 votes, with one remaining committeeman position open. Owen Wantulok and Garrett Pike each received three write-in votes. To fill two committeewomen seats, Rose Ames was the top write-in candidate with six votes, followed by Wendy Fuller and Janice Wantulok each with five. 

Emblem elected committeeman J. Gordon Preis (43 votes) and committeewoman Karen Preis (42 votes) with no qualifying write-ins. 

In Shell, Burlington, Otto, Hyattville, Manderson, Byron, Frannie and Deaver no candidates filed for committee election. Write-ins were as follows:

Shell - One seat. Top candidates Stan Flitner (15 votes) and Mary Flitner (14 votes). 

Burlington - One seat. Top candidates Randall Gormley (3 votes), Susan Davidson (2 votes), Carrie Preator (2 votes) and V. Louise Cara (2 votes). 

Otto - One seat. Top candidates Craig Jones (3 votes), Chris Bullinger (3 votes) and Camilla Hancock (7 votes). 

Hyattville - One seat. Top candidates Tyler Greer (7 votes) and Madison Schadegg (4 votes). 

Manderson - One seat. Top candidates Chris Saunders (3 votes), Judy Bury (2 votes), Leanne Vigil (2 votes) and Thea Saunders (2 votes). 

Byron - One seat. Top candidates Brett George (3 votes) and Lexi Sanders (4 votes). 

Frannie - One seat. Top candidates Jerry Durt (2 votes) and Deidre Clendmen (3 votes). 

Deaver - One seat. Top candidate for committeeman Don Wenstrom (2 votes). Committeewomen tied seven ways with Jane Allred, Alicia Troutman, Shelia Wenstrom, Sheri Wambeke, Kayla Gruell, Ramona Sorenson and Diane Wambeke all receiving one vote. 

Committeemen and committeewomen are decided in the primary and will not be seen on the general election ballot. Candidates will be ratified at the GOP’s October meeting. The committee decided Tuesday that if top candidates do not accept their write-in nominations, the runner-up will be contacted. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The county GOP’s leadership shifted Tuesday, as Chair Sharon Hall sent her resignation September 2 before her death September 9. The committee voted to send condolences to Hall’s family. Vice Chair RoxAnne Brewer moved to chair, with Tom Olmstead nominated and approved for temporary vice chair. 

Kay Mattis, the committee’s treasurer, though not present, had requested that the board appoint another treasurer if possible. She also requested that the committee’s bank be switched from Security State Bank to Big Horn Federal if she were to continue in the position, as SSB has no Greybull branch. The committee agreed to switch to BHF. Committeeman Brown hoped that “new blood” brought in with the upcoming election might fill the treasurer position. 

Secretary Tam Groth will be moving out-of-county, leaving her position open. Raelene Wood volunteered to take her place. Brown gave the only joking “nay” in her appointment. 

PRIMARY RESULTS

“I think as a county, we did drop the ball,” Rox Anne Brewer said regarding the primary. The committee acknowledged that their top picks for state candidates did not make the cut in the primary, with Brewer alleging that “Wyoming went blue.” A main point of contention was with the victory of Eric Barlow for the Republican gubernatorial candidacy, with the GOP endorsing Brent Bien. It was suggested that the party look at creating election guides in the future. 

OTHER NEWS

Big Horn County Republican Party will seek poll watchers for the general election, with training upcoming. 

Mattis gave a written report on hand counting primary ballots in Big Horn County. She stated that the hand count was initially off by one vote, which turned out to be human error and was corrected. 

Sjostrom moved that the GOP send a 2¢ check to Barlow, Robert Short and Steve Harshman for their campaigns. The proposal was shot down, and when Sjostrom asked for a recount, it was again defeated two ayes (Sjostrom and Brown) to six nays.