JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue will be facing off against a full slate of candidates in the Teton County Board of County Commissioners race later this year.
Blue, a Democrat, was first elected as coroner in 2014, and his third term will end in January 2027. The physician told Buckrail that his time as an elected official has allowed him to witness the inner workings of county government that might not otherwise be seen from the outside. He believes there are some “major inefficiencies” and many areas where cost savings could be implemented into the budget.
“I decided to run because I think that the board can use some new ideas and some fresh directives,” Blue said. “I’m also of the opinion that just because money is granted, it doesn’t mean it has to be spent.”
Having lived in the valley for 44 years, Blue has seen the community change both in character and physical structure. He said local government must thread the needle when dealing with controls over development and housing.
“We used to say, ‘Don’t Aspen-ize Jackson Hole,'” Blue remembered. “And unfortunately, we have been Aspen-ized. That toothpaste is out of the tube.”
Blue takes the topic of employee housing seriously, but sees issues with the current approach. To him, the 90 Virginian Lane project is in “total disarray” and might need to be started over from scratch. He said that it is “financially impossible” to offer affordable housing to every worker in the county, and that some tough decisions need to be made.
“I think that it’s fine for the county, the hospital, the school to build housing for their employees,” Blue said. “But I don’t think that the county, our government, should be responsible for building housing for employees of private enterprise. I think that should be done by the private entities.”
The Wilson Active Transportation Improvements Project is an example of money that does not need to be spent, Blue said. He questions the safety in trying to create a walkable and bikeable community when there is a “major highway going down the middle of it with 10,000 cars going through [per day].” He also believes that the County Sheriff Matt Carr should be convinced to stop cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“The way this national administration has gone — it’s unconscionable,” Blue said. “I think Matt has done a good job in every other regard. I’m just a little surprised he did this.”
Three seats on the board are up for grabs this year. Incumbent commissioners Mark Newcomb, Luther Propst and Wes Gardner, all Dems, have filed paperwork to run again. Also in the running: Hole Food Rescue founder Ali Dunford and Democrat Karyn Chin.
