CHEYENNE, Wyo. — In this edition of “Meet the Candidates,” Don Hollingshead shares with Cap City News how he envisions governing Laramie County if elected as commissioner. Hollingshead was one of seven Republicans running for commissioner. He received enough votes to move onto the general election. However, no Democrats ran for a seat on the board, and so Hollingshead is set to be sworn in by the county in January.
The following are responses that Hollingshead shared with Cap City News. To view Q&As of other candidates in the general election, click here.
What are your strategies for promoting economic development and job creation in Laramie County?
One of my campaign platform planks is being Pro-Laramie County; this includes promoting economic growth, which benefits all residents in the community. As a lifelong resident of Laramie County, having worked with county government for nearly three decades, I am keenly aware of how the board of commissioners functions and the options available to aid in the overall economic growth of the county. As it is not the job of the commissioners to actively recruit businesses or create jobs within the private sector but to create favorable conditions for them to grow their businesses within unincorporated Laramie County, I will support LEADS and the Counties Economic Development Board as well as review the Laramie County Land Use Regulations as needed for planning and development to aid in supporting not only large businesses but also small ones making it easier to have in-home businesses in the county.
How do you plan to improve and maintain essential county services and infrastructure, including roads, healthcare, and public safety?
This one will be a challenge with the passed property tax relief measures and the decline in oil and gas production within the county. As property tax revenues decline, providing essential services such as law enforcement and county administration will be even greater. Recruiting additional businesses through LEADS and keeping the county business-friendly will help maintain revenue levels.
Property taxes do not pay for road maintenance; only the salaries of the public works employees are paid out of the general fund. County road maintenance is paid for through gas and fuel taxes and the county road fund. These are distributed through the state using formulas to determine how much Laramie County will receive each year. The 5th penny tax, voted on and approved by Laramie County residents over the years, pays for much of the Public Works equipment. Grants also help with equipment purchases; ARPA grant funds have been utilized in the past few years.
Health care is not the responsibility of the commissioners. Cheyenne/Laramie County Health Dept. It serves all the residents of Laramie County through several programs, including vaccination clinics, mosquito control, environmental health, and mother and baby care, to name a few. CRMC is a county hospital, but it operates independently of the commissioners. Due to Wyoming and Laramie County’s rural nature, fewer doctors relocate here as less densely populated areas do not support the number of patients needed to pay off college loans quickly. Therefore, telehealth services can play an integral role in ensuring that health care and mental health services are available.
What is your approach to managing the county’s budget and ensuring fiscal responsibility while meeting the needs of the community?
The County Clerk and the County Finance Office set the budget. From my time as Jail Captain, overseeing the 14-million-dollar jail budget and striving each year to squeeze the most out of every dollar allocated and paid for by the voters of Laramie County, I have an excellent grasp of budget management. Over the years, I have had numerous conversations with the County Finance director and understand how the overall county budget operates. It is the county’s practice to estimate expenses high and revenues low. This practice is how the county has been able to maintain solid reserves that aid the county to weather periods of economic downturn. Looking over this year’s budget on the county website, you can see that monies have been set aside in reserve for infrastructure, capital projects, emergency reserves, and an employee reserve for salaries needed during an emergency. As commissioner, I will work with the other board members to continue this fiscally responsible course of action, ensuring that the county remains financially strong.
How will you address land use planning and environmental sustainability to balance growth with conservation in Laramie County?
I am Pro-Laramie County, and as a dedicated advocate for Laramie County, I am committed to ensuring our community remains a thriving place to live and raise a family. This commitment is underscored by my focus on carefully managing our valuable resources, with water being one of the most crucial elements in our planning and environmental sustainability.
What is the proper land use density for a sustainable recharge of county aquifers? Currently, all new county lot sizes are set at 5.25 acres. This number was derived from a Laramie County well water study completed in 2014 by the State Engineer’s Office, which owns the water in Wyoming. The lot size allows for the natural recharge of the county’s aquifers from yearly rain and snowfall soaking into the ground.
I researched this issue after hearing residents’ concerns during public comments at the commissioners’ meetings when new subdivisions were being considered. The residents feared that additional strains on the county aquifers may adversely affect wells on their properties.
After hearing the landowners’ concerns in each case, the commissioners cited the well study and said that current land density regulations allowed for proper recharge of the county wells. During my research, I spoke with the original authors of the study. In their opinion, the study is outdated and should be updated to ensure that the current land density regulations are still appropriate to adequately recharge the aquifer.
This study is an enormous undertaking, and it should be done with a state/county and possibly federal partnership to pay for the updated study, which needs to be done countywide, especially in eastern Laramie County.
The Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities completed a study of their well fields in 2023. This information will be very valuable in updating the data on the aquifers in western Laramie County.
Recognizing the importance of private property rights, I am fully aware of the challenge in balancing the rights of landowners to sell or develop their property with the rights of neighboring landowners. If elected as your commissioner, I am committed to taking all available information into account and giving thoughtful consideration when making these decisions, ensuring that your interests are always at the forefront.
The county is currently rewriting its land use regulations. The first draft is slated to come before the commissioners in July and should be completed by the end of the year. I spoke with County Planning Director Justin Arnold about the land use regulation update, and he indicated that one of the measures in the regulations would encourage water-wise native plants in commercial and private development to promote water conservation. Public comment will be held during a County Commissioners meeting on the land use regulations before board approval.
How do you intend to engage with the community and ensure transparency in the decision-making process of the County Commission?
I am Pro-Communication. If elected, I will use my formal training from the FBI National Academy in Public Information/Media Relations, and my experience as a Public Information Officer during my career with the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the public is well informed and transparency in the process is maintained. I will hold community discussion sessions numerous times yearly, inviting citizens to share their thoughts and opinions on topics affecting the county. I will also utilize call-in radio programs and media platforms to share information with the public to ensure people have all the relevant facts, which will help alleviate possible misconceptions on some hot-button issues. Taking these steps, as time allows, ahead of significant decisions by the commission will help maintain public trust and help ensure transparency.
Is there anything else you’d like voters to know about you?
The role of County Commissioner is not just a job, but a chance to continue profoundly serving our community. With a significant portion of my adult life dedicated to public safety, I am deeply committed to ensuring the well-being and security of the people of Laramie County. As your Commissioner, I will focus on ensuring public safety and maintaining Laramie County as a wonderful place to live and raise a family. For more about my campaign, visit hollingsheadforcommissioner.com.
