JACKSON, Wyo. — Ahead of the primary election, candidates for Teton County’s Board of County Commissioners participated in a forum at the Teton County Library on Wednesday, July 17, fielding questions from reporters and audience members about their positions on affordable housing, commercial development, property taxes, conservation measures and more.
Democratic candidates Len Carlman, Natalia D. Macker and Jim Rooks took questions posed by the Jackson Hole News&Guide’s Jasmine Hall and KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney. Recent Jackson Hole High School graduate Elizabeth Prince moderated the conversation. The three maintained a respectful and convivial tone as they passed the microphone around.
Carlman, the political newcomer of the three, contended that there was value in bringing a fresh face to local politics.
“I’ve been an active citizen for the last 41 years,” Carlman said, adding, “I will bring civility and advocacy and my training as a lawyer to the continued service of the community.” He shared ideas for new conservation measures in the county, including charging fees for private aviation users that could be applied to climate mitigation, and “harnessing falling water from Jackson Lake Dam” to generate energy for Grand Teton National Park.
Carlman praised the way Special Excise Tax (SPET) initiatives allowed voters to direct their taxes to specific projects.
“That’s citizen control right there on the ballot,” he said, adding, “We have done a beautiful job on investing in our community infrastructure. I look forward to having our community continue … in that direct engagement through the ballot.”
Macker, who has served as a county commissioner for the last nine years, touched on gender equality more than once in her responses.
“I first ran for office because I visited the legislature and wondered where all of the women were,” she shared in her opening remarks. Later in the evening, she added, “Our state is not equal for women, and we have work to do, and we need women in the rooms to do it.”
Macker stressed that balance and collaboration were crucial to her approach to solving many of the county’s issues. She suggested that a potential option for mitigating the housing crisis could be negotiating with existing rental property owners to charge affordable rents for a number of their units in exchange for tax benefits. She also insisted that every conversation about affordable housing needed to include discussion of affordable childcare.
“Between my husband and I, we have three, sometimes four jobs to make it, to pay our mortgage and pay for childcare,” Macker said. “Many people don’t have time to weigh in with public comment — they’re trying to get everyone fed. … I have taken it as a great honor to try to represent that perspective.”
Rooks, who has served on Jackson’s Town Council since 2020, spotlighted his long-standing relationships in the community and in the state of Wyoming in his remarks. He said he considers Gov. Mark Gordon a friend, stating that he gave the governor the gift of a belt buckle when he was visiting Jackson five years ago.
“I think I was born to do this job,” Rooks said. “I have such deep connections with every segment of this community.” Later, he added, “Ultimately, we’re in the service industry. We’re here serving the community.”
Rooks called himself a “straight-up townie” and said he was in favor of minimizing development.
“There’s no way to lock the gate, but I’m real tempted,” he said. “If we are going to develop, it needs to be priority-driven. I am not for a 300,000-square foot hotel run by a multinational corporation.”
The three democratic candidates were united when asked whether there was room to raise property tax mills in the county.
“Technically, there is room,” Macker said. “Is there the capacity to do so? Sure. Is there the desire? Absolutely not.” Rooks and Carlman also stated their opposition to raising property taxes.
An audience member asked the three to share their stance on the future of the fairgrounds. Rooks said he did not support the development of the fairgrounds for affordable housing, praising the location’s “rich Western heritage.” Both Macker and Carlman said they’d be open to finding a new home for the rodeo and fairgrounds elsewhere in the county if the right location could be identified.
The event also featured prepared statements from Republican candidate Melchor Dylan Moore and Independent candidate Vicky O’Donoghue.
“My platform is community, heritage and providing for your children without putting a zipline from the airport to Teton Village,” Moore said. He added that he was aiming for a balanced platform to appeal to more voters. “I’m trying to be in the middle somewhere so I can not be yelled at on a porch.”
O’Donoghue’s remarks focused on the housing crisis.
“I am very concerned because I live in the county, and my son has moved to Cincinnati because he could not get a house here,” she said. “My concern is this: We need to take care of our residents who live here now. We are being forced out.”
Macker had the last word at the event, offering closing remarks that quoted a Martin Luther King, Jr. sermon as inspiration for surviving the polarized political landscape.
“This is a moment in our nation that really needs all of us to act,” Macker said through tears. “I hope each of you start by voting.”
The event was presented by the League of Women Voters of Wyoming, Teton County Library, the Jackson Hole News&Guide, KHOL Radio and Buckrail.
