The Casper Journal :: Casper's Community Newspaper

It's that time again when the seeds are sown that will produce the next crop of elected officials.

The individuals who are willing to run and who are elected will give direction and definition to government. Those who don't run will be on the sidelines.

Starting with six open seats on the school board all the way up to the U.S. House and both U.S. Senate seats, Casper residents will be stepping up to declare their willingness to serve.

People run for office for different reasons. Often, it is because they have time and believe the office will be interesting.

Other times, the decision is made because they feel that local government is in need of new blood or because they want to address what they see as a pressing issue or become a catalyst for change.

Still another common reason is to keep things the same.

But no matter what the reason, individuals signing up to fill seats on boards and in offices are at the foundation of our freedom.

So how about you? Have you considered running for public office? Would you like to drive? Then you have to get behind the wheel.

The window of opportunity is May 15-30 to file for federal, state and county offices. This includes U.S. House and Senate, legislative seats, district attorney and the County Commission.

What are your chances of being elected? Consider the U.S. Senate as an example. In Wyoming, there are only about 219,000 registered voters.

Since there are two seats to fill, your chances start at 1 in 109,500. And chances are good that you personally know one of our two senators.

Compare this to California, where both of their Senate seats also are open this year. With more than 15 million registered voters, their chances start at one in 7.5 million. Those races will cost somewhere in the $10 million range and chances are slim that you would personally know them.

In Wyoming, we have real opportunity to participate. Locally, there are six seats to fill on the school board and four on the college board. There are two four-year spots on the County Commission.

And if you are interested in city and town councils, there are five Casper City Council seats, two Mills Town Council seats, two Evansville Town Council seats and three seats open on the Bar Nunn Town Council.

Maybe you would be good.

For voters, the best-case scenario has multiple choices for every seat. With an unusually high number of open seats, that may not happen.

But today, at the starting line, the only thing we know for sure is that the individuals who will become the elected decision makers next November are the ones who sign up today.

For more information, call the Natrona County clerk elections office at 235-9217.

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