JACKSON, Wyo. — Another Republican has entered the race for three open seats on the Teton County Board of County Commissioners: Vicky O’Donoghue.
O’Donoghue, a longtime valley resident who worked as a teacher and sports coach before becoming C.E.O. of Jackson Hole Driving Academy, also ran for the position in 2024; that time, she ran as an independent. O’Donoghue told Buckrail she switched to a Republican affiliation this time around because the party shares her priorities.
“I didn’t want to look at myself as a politician,” she said of the 2024 run. “I wanted to focus on the people — my politics aren’t about a party, it’s about people. This time I ran as a Republican because it aligns with my values I’ve tried to live throughout my life: faith, integrity, personal responsibility, service and community.”
O’Donoghue shared that she would want to focus on affordability issues if elected. Through her work teaching young people, she said she has observed a lot of concern about the price of putting down roots in the valley.
“Jackson Hole is very special to me, and I love my kids that I teach, and I love the families and the young people — for the future generation, it’s gonna be tough for them to live here if we don’t slow down,” O’Donoghue told Buckrail. “It hurts my heart to see how things are going and some of these people aren’t being listened to and that’s why I’m doing this. I love the community and I want to see it stay as a Western-style community.”
To O’Donoghue, preserving the “Western character” of the area means supporting the rodeo, supporting local businesses, and supporting wildlife by slowing development that encroaches on wild spaces.
O’Donoghue joins a crowded primary ballot. Other candidates in the running include Democrats Dr. Brent Blue, Karyn Chin and Ali Dunford; incumbents Wes Gardner, Mark Newcomb and Luther Propst; and Republican Melchor Dylan Moore.
