JACKSON HOLE, WYO – As we head to the polls for next week’s Primary Election, how do local candidates stand on conservation issues? We’re glad you asked. And glad the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance asked county commission and town council hopefuls those exact questions.
The Alliance releases its 2018 Candidate Questionnaire as part of a launch of what it is calling Vote Conservation. After actively engaging voters in the 2014 and 2016 elections, the new initiative strives to educate local government candidates and voters.
“Our local elected representatives have the power to shape the future of our wildlife, wild places, and community character,’ the Alliance stated in a press release today.
In 2016, the Alliance found that better than 90% of community members consider themselves to be “conservationists.” While conservation has a unique meaning for each person, the Alliance calls “conservationist” a badge of honor worn by those who steward our community and environment.
According to the Alliance, being a conservationist is a year-round role based on a certain awareness, attitude, and set of actions—showing up, speaking up, and every couple years, voting—to protect our ecosystem.
“Many of the most important decisions impacting wildlife and conservation in our valley happen at the local level, and one of the best ways for conservationists to make a difference for their values is to cast an informed ballot,” says Alliance Civic Engagement Fellow Tiana Wilson, who is leading Vote Conservation.
The goal of Vote Conservation is to empower community members to be fully informed. By sharing educational resources like a voters’ guide and holding “get out the vote” events, the Alliance hopes to help residents consider how their democratic right and responsibility of voting can support the conservation and community issues they care about.
Launching in conjunction with the 2018 election cycle, this educational campaign aims to make voting accessible, fun, and easy for everyone. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Alliance does not support, endorse, or oppose candidates, but it does work to ensure our community members can cast well-informed ballots.
In addition to the candidate questionnaire, the Alliance will publish candidates’ answers in a Voters’ Guide this fall.
Also this fall, the Alliance is partnering with Buckrail to host a “speed dating” candidate forum on October 3 at Hand Fire Pizza beginning at 6pm. Voters can get to know candidates for town and county positions as more than names on a ballot by chatting with them in a casual setting. Intentionally candid, there will be no formal forum-style questioning, but rather one-on-one or small group conversations in a relaxed atmosphere.
