JACKSON, Wyo. — Democrat Karyn Chin has entered the race as a candidate for the Teton County Board of County Commissioners.
Chin — who has spent 18 years in Jackson — has worked as a national park ranger and a wildlife guide, at a hotel front desk and with a local conservation nonprofit. Until recently, she worked with a local campaign firm in strategy and communications. She stepped away from this job to focus full-time on her county commissioner campaign.
“I’ve built a life here, raised my daughter here, met my wife here, and found deep friendships and chosen family here,” Chin told Buckrail in an email. “Over the years I’ve worked [in] jobs that gave me a chance to connect with locals and visitors from all walks of life. Now, I’m ready to serve this community in a new way.”
The community is changing rapidly, Chin said, and conversations with voters have often brought up issues of housing affordability, workforce retention and sense of community. People tell Chin that they want a community where neighbors can stay, succeed and feel connected. She wants to work to build that kind of future, and ensure that people who live and work in Teton County can continue to build their lives here — a goal she still works toward every day.
“I’m committed to listening carefully, showing up consistently, and helping our community navigate change while holding on to what makes this place special,” Chin said. “Beyond responding to today’s challenges, we need a shared vision for the future and a plan to get there.”
Through her experience teaching grassroots organizing skills to local up-and-coming leaders — as well as through local door-knocking campaigns and encouraging participation in local issues — Chin has learned the value of listening. She believes her conversations have allowed a deeper understanding of “hopes, frustrations, and priorities” of people in the community, “including people I don’t always agree with.”
With the filing period officially over, there are six Democrats and two Republicans in the running for three open seats on the Board of County Commissioners. Chin will face off in the August primary against Democrats Ali Dunford, Dr. Brent Blue, and incumbents Mark Newcomb, Luther Propst, and Wes Gardner. Two Republicans are also running: Vicky O’Donoghue and Melchor Dylan Moore.
