Meet Your Candidates: Cheyenne City Council

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - A survey was sent out to each candidate for Cheyenne City Council. Below are there responses to the survey, sorted by the ward that they are campaigning for.

Ward 1

Scott Roybal

Age: 63

Occupation: Sales at Halladay Motors

Political Experience: City Council 1996-2000 2014-2018 2018-Present

How long in Cheyenne: 41 Years

Why am I running: To try and help the city run smoothly and be where the tire meets the road for our constituents so the feel like they have a voice in local government.

Biggest Challenge: To keep pace with the growing population with infrastructure and services. We need to keep ahead with Police, Fire and City services.

Cameron Karajanis

Age: 32

Occupation: Assistant Director for Comea Shelter & Resources

Political Experience: I believe politics and City Council do not belong together; City Council is and should be viewed as a non partisan service to our community. I feel politics should not play a role in City Council.

How long have you lived in Cheyenne? Born & Raised

Why are you running? I am running to continue Cheyenne’s path forward, to have a community focused council with a renewed and emphasis on leadership and representation for Ward 1

What is Cheyenne’s Biggest Challenge? I believe that Cheyenne’s biggest challenge is, after talking with local businesses, finding staff. We need to make sure our community is being taken care of and that Cheyenne is an inviting community for those looking to re-locate from out of state or other towns in the state. This will be a focus for trying to get the workforce needed for our community. In order to accomplish this, it will require dedication and leadership from our Council to support our businesses and community.

Additional Information: I have dedicated many hours to committees and boards with the Downtown Development Agency, Cheyenne Police Department, and Cheyenne Frontier Days. Professionally I have been in administrative roles in both the non-profit and the private sectors.

Michael Blakeley

Age: 58

Occupation: Retired

Political Experience: I have been a candidate for Garden County Treasure, Oshkosh, Ne. In Oshkosh, Ne I was a candidate for Oshkosh City Council, Oshkosh, Ne. I lost all 3 elections.

How long have you lived in Cheyenne? 5 1/2 years

Why are you running? As a concerned citizen in Cheyenne, I see a lot that is not being done concerning streets and sidewalks. I want to help the city for future leaders. By this to I mean to build a city that is truly prepared for the 21st century. Increase police funding for equipment and extended training for the experienced force and for new police officers. I’ll protect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I will not allow agencies tell the good people of Cheyenne what to do during the past two years. I want to revitalize older neighborhoods and breathe new life in the community and revitalize in a comprehensive downtown entice new businesses to open a business in the vacant buildings downtown. The homeless is an issue I want to help with.

Ward 2

Dr. Mark Rinne

Occupation: Dentist

Political Experience: Past member and President of the LCCC Board of Trustees, Past President of the SE District Dental Society, Past President of the Cowboy State Games, Past President of Cheyenne Sting ( Prior to the merger with CSA ), Past member and President of the Downtown Development Authority, Past City Council Rep to the Airport Board, Board member of the Friends of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, Current Council Rep to the Cheyenne/Laramie County Economic Joint Powers Board, Current Member and past President of the Cheyenne City Council, representing Ward II

Why am I running?: As a Council member, my focus has always been on how we can continue to improve the Quality of Life for those of us that have chosen to live in Cheyenne. First of all, we need to continue to support our Police and Fire Departments and to maintain and improve our streets. Knowing that we are safe and protected is an important part of our Quality of Life.

However, for a City to offer a good Quality of Life, we need to do more than just tne basics. The City Council must promote improvement in Cheyenne’s appeal to prospective business owners and CEO’s that are considering moving or expanding their businesses. This means that we must continue to work on the appearance of our City. We are always looking at improving our infrastructure. In addition, the City has undertaken the beautification or upgrade of many of it’s facilities. The construction of the new Municipal Court Building and Civic Center Commons are two examples of quality projects on the part of the City. I think that we should be setting an example to private industry to do the same with their projects.

I believe that we need to continue to expand and upgrade our Greenway and Parks System. We have developed the CivicCenter Commons as I mentioned earlier. It has created a green space as well as an additional entertainment venue close to downtown. We have also added a new 100 acre park on the East side of Cheyenne.

Continued support of the Botanic Gardens is important. It is one of the gems of our City. We need to look at increasing the number of ball fields or provide lighting for our existing ball fields in order to meet the current demand. We are looking at providing more Pickle Ball courts. It is supposed to be the fastest growing sport and the number of players in Cheyenne has overwhelmed our facilities. Those are a few specific projects that I have supported, but generally, I have always been a proponent of improving our facilities and expanding our programs wherever possible.

Although, I represent Ward II, I have always believed that the the success and vitality of our Downtown Core has a tremendous impact on how well Cheyenne succeeds as a community. Cities are judged by their Downtowns. We need to continue to invest in our Downtown wherever possible. We are already working on repairing curbs and streets in the area. The 17th street lighting is an example of a City effort to improve the area. I would continue to support the DDA in their efforts to help Downtown property owners upgrade their facades and rehabilitate their buildings.

I support the Council goal to continue to push for new development in the Reed Avenue Corridor. In addition, we need to be supportive of the newly formed Urban Renewal Authority as they work on the redevelopment of the the Hitchin’ Post property and 15th street, West of the Depot.

This Council and Mayor have achieved many of the goals that we have established in the last two years. Some of those accomplishments have been apparent. Many have not been so obvious, but we are making progress. This Council and Administration all get along well with each other. We are all focused on making Cheyenne a more attractive, appealing and well functioning City. It is an exciting time to be involved. That is why I am running for City Council.

What is Cheyenne’s Biggest Challenge?: I think that our biggest challenge is the fact that there are not enough amenities, activities and well paying jobs in Cheyenne to have most of our children want to stay here. On the last question, I addressed many of the reasons that I want to continue on Council. All the projects I have advocated for and supported come back to one goal. That is to make Cheyenne a vital and attractive place to live. I want to create a community that draws people to it, because it is an attractive place to live, because there is a lot to do, because it has great restaurants and entertainment venues and because we have companies and businesses that offer jobs that make people want to stay here. I think that we are seeing a lot of progress in these areas. We have attracted large data centers to Cheyenne along with some new manufacturing companies. The Director of LEADS says that Cheyenne is receiving serious interest from companies all over the country. We have the potential of two major properties in the downtown of being rehabilitated and put back into use, soon. We have seen an old theatre repurposed into a great entertainment venue. We have at least one new restaurant, a bar and grill and unique entertainment venue about to open in our Downtown. Cheyenne now has a lot of positives. Of course we will experience setbacks at times, but I believe that we are moving forward and that the pace of our progress will only increase. So I think that our biggest challenge is creating a City that businesses want to move to which will provide more and better jobs. A community where our children will want to stay here because there are decent jobs for them and they can’t dream of living anywhere else. We are not there yet, but we have made great strides in the last few years. I am very positive about Cheyenne’s future. We are on our way to meeting that challenge.

Matt Miller

Age: 48

Occupation: Director of Operations for a local counseling business.

Political Experience: I do not have prior political experience. I have served on the board of directors for a couple of different non-profits here in Cheyenne. Currently I am on the Cheyenne Youth Baseball League board of directors.

How long have you lived in Cheyenne? 13years.

Why are you running? I believe the city should be run as a business. With any business, changes to the way we do business need to be made to ensure that its customers are happy. The residents of Cheyenne are customers and honestly deserve much more. We need an updated “business model” that serves the entire population of Cheyenne. A few of my goals include bringing back an active public transportation system that our residents can rely on. More access to community health and mental health for those who are in need. Helping our most vulnerable populations with safe spaces. I want to make it easier for new businesses to move to Cheyenne and provide our citizens and families more than a minimum wage job. F.E. Warren will be adding more positions for service members and along with those service members will be new families coming to Cheyenne. These new residents will be looking for more than a cup of coffee, a carwash, or a new casino. There needs to be more diversification and transparency in how the city spends it funds and make better choices on how these funds are spent. I want to ensure our public safety officials have all the tools needed to do their jobs correctly and protect our citizens.

What is Cheyenne’s Biggest Challenge? There are many challenges that affects every resident differently. Affordable housing and the lack of human services are challenges that not only hurt our current residents but families and businesses that would like to call Cheyenne home. Our public safety officials are struggling to provide services. Cheyenne’s fire department is understaffed and in turn puts our residents at risk.

Additional Information: I will work hard for Cheyenne families. I will hard for business owners and future business owners. Cheyenne is a great place to live and I am not looking to reinvent the wheel, I am just hoping to make it spin more efficiently for the people of Cheyenne.

Lynn A. Storey-Huylar

Age: 58

Occupation: Director of a non profit in Cheyenne, Safe Harbor a children’s justice center

Political Experience: I was on the Laramie County School Board for 8 years, I was the chair for 2 of those years.

How long have you lived in Cheyenne? All of my life. Born and raised here. Graduated from Cheyenne East High School

Why are you running? I have always felt a need to give back to my community with civil service. I like local issues that affect my community. I feel I can bring some new energy to Ward II as the current incumbent has been representing ward II for 24 years now.

What is Cheyenne’s Biggest Challenge? Their numerous but some of my priorities are:

1. Monitor and assess the 6th Penny projects. I am concerned with the cost of doing business and labor/supplies has gone up. We might have to prioritize projects and adjust based on our economy currently.

2. Look for ways to increase revenues-work with the Downtown Development Authority to look for new ways to help small businesses get started. Talk with the Airport Board to see what can be done with the old airport terminal and could we make that into a shopping and restaurant area.

3. Work on developing public and private partnerships to train the workforce that is needed in this community. Work with the schools and see if we could develop training programs for hospitality, fast food and restaurant service.

4. Health, Safety and the welfare of our citizens should be a priority and we need to fund the Police, Fire and services that support our most vulnerable population.

5. Growth of the city-work with developers outside of the city limits on what will be needed after that development area will be annexed into the City. Work upfront so it isn’t a struggle after the fact.

6. Plan for growth of the city once the GBSD arrives. This is the replacement of the Minuteman III.

7. Work with the Chamber of Commerce on the Amtrak light rail.

8. Develop a cooperative and working relationship with the other council members and the Mayor through the strategic plan.

9. Transportation and affordable housing for all sectors of our city.

Additional Information: I love the community and city of Cheyenne. I want it to be a place where we have the highest quality of life and where people and businesses want to come. We need to cultivate large businesses as well as small businesses.

Candidate Brian Eicholtz did not respond to the survey

Ward 3

Ken Esquibel

Age: 62 years old

Occupation: I just recently retired from Union Pacific after a 44 year career

Political Experience: I have 10 years of experience as a State Representative in the Wyoming State Legislature and 4 years with the Cheyenne City Council.

How Long have you lived in Cheyenne: I have lived in Cheyenne my whole life

Why are you running? I’m running for this office again because I have seen both sides of how government works, the good way and the bad way. I learned that a council that has a concise goal and works towards those goals can achieve great results. Looking forward to some of the new goals we have set. My railroad experience and legislative experience will be an opportunity for our 15th Street railroad experience project. Also with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad on our Reed Avenue Corridor project. These two projects coming together in my next term will transform our city into a place for visitors and residents to enjoy and make our downtown similar to what other front range cities are offering.

What is Cheyenne’s Biggest Challenge? Our biggest obstacles seem to flutter down from state laws, revenue, liquor licenses and our ability to attract larger companies to our region.

I have lived in Cheyenne my whole life. I just recently retired from Union Pacific after a 44 year career. I have 10 years of experience as a State Representative in the Wyoming State Legislature and 4 years with the Cheyenne City Council. I’m running for this office again because I have seen both sides of how government works, the good way and the bad way. I learned that a council that has a concise goal and works towards those goals can achieve great results. Looking forward to some of the new goals we have set. My railroad experience and legislative experience will be an opportunity for our 15th Street railroad experience project. Also with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad on our Reed Avenue Corridor project. These two projects coming together in my next term will transform our city into a place for visitors and residents to enjoy and make our downtown similar to what other front range cities are offering.

Candidate Joe Shogrin did not respond to the survey

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