Board candidates share their motivations

Numerous seats will be filled on the county’s various boards at November’s general election. While many seats are uncontested, two boards in particular will see high levels of competition.

To assist voters in making their choice for these contested positions, we asked every candidate for Crook County School District and Crook County Medical Services District to provide a brief bio and answer the question: what was the driving force behind your decision to run for this seat?

Hospital Board: At Large

(2 seats)

Brent Fowler

My name is Brent Fowler. I am 65 years old and the owner of Sundance Hardware & Sporting Goods.

I am running for the medical board because I believe the lack of transparency needs to be addressed and improved upon. State statues need to be followed.

Meeting dates and times, minutes and agendas should be posted in a timely manner, so the public is informed about decisions the board is considering.

Our medical facilities serve the public. The board members are elected by the people. They deserve to be aware of what is going on.

I am also running so I can bring a fresh perspective to the board. Many times, having longstanding board members can prevent progress.

Some things that have worked well in the past, may not work well for the future. New members mean new ideas that can have a positive effect on how the facility operates.

Mark Koep

My name is Mark Koep and I am a resident of Sundance Wyoming and member of the Chapel of Faith. I hold a master’s degree in business and serve as the founder and CEO of CampgroundViews.com, leading a dynamic team of professionals who have created and brought to market an innovative tool for outdoor adventurers.

Prior to moving here, my family and I spent 12 years as nomadic entrepreneurs traveling the country in an RV gaining a wide perspective on how communities serve their residents.

Crook County is blessed with smart, enthusiastic and independent-thinking residents. Unfortunately, many of these residents make a decision to travel to Gillette, Spearfish or further for medical care.

There are many reasons for this and it is my goal to work with the board and our medical experts to improve the level and quality of services rendered in Crook County.

Sandy Neiman

Since I first sought this position, I have tried to work for the betterment of all Crook County. I have NO preference between the towns as I have relatives or friends in them all. I care for the people of Crook County, from young to old.

We have come a long way from saving the hospital to updating the CT machine, new roof, floors, windows, AC, ambulances, websites, EMR, to remodeling and drastically updating equipment. The future will depend on the wishes of the people.

We have great healthcare providers, without long drives. We are operating when a VAST amount of facilities our size are closing. We are searching revenue avenues for expansion.

Come work with us. Questions? We will find answers. Ideas? Let’s research. Financial support? We can give you a tax-deductible receipt. I always take phone calls.

For transparency in healthcare, I am your candidate. This I am dedicated to!

Hospital Board: Hulett Unexpired Two-year Term

Bob Richey

My wife and I moved to the area two years ago from Texas to semi-retire in the Black Hills. We currently have three home healthcare corporations covering Dallas-Fort Worth to the Oklahoma border, two of which are fully licensed, certified Medicare providers.

I have been in the healthcare arena for 30 years as a provider. Our combined census averages 250-300 patients at any given time.  

We have an interest in being involved in the community. I was appointed to fill the vacancy last year, I believe my experience has helped the board in its duties.

One benefit of coming from a metropolitan area is that we generally are guinea pigs for new systems Medicare, insurance companies etc. try to implement before they get to the rest of the country.  

I have served on the boards of two 501(c)(3) non-profit corporations, TEFF and TCSO Reserves, as secretary/treasurer. I believe strongly in the fiduciary responsibilities of these positions.  

School District: Hulett

Lyle Hartman

Did not respond.

Hannah Ista

My name is Hannah Ista, I was born and educated in Wyoming. Together with my husband Alan, we have been blessed to live in Hulett for 15 years, raising our children who have been attending the Hulett School for six years now.

I love being home to help raise our children, work on the ranch and volunteer in my community.

I am running for a seat on the school board because I have a personal interest to preserve the quality of our school system. I would like to reinforce what our school district is doing and support them in any way I can.

I think our world is changing extremely fast. Fentanyl is something that we really need to watch and keep out of our schools.

I would like to see to it that our schools are kept safe, honest and transparent with all who are involved teaching our children.

Brian Neiman

My name is Brian Neiman and I am running for the Hulett position on the Crook County School Board. I am a lifelong resident of Crook County. 

For the last 20 years, my employment has been with the Wyoming Livestock Board and our family ranch. I am the father of two and husband to PJ Neiman, 8,  Meghyn Dawn, 3, and my beautiful wife, Mysti.

I am running to bring back transparency and accountability to our school board. In these crazy times we are living in, each one of us have a responsibility to our children. 

It is our job as a community to educate our young. With the woke agenda and narrative creeping into our area, it is our job as parents, educators and community to keep our kids safe.

All of us, parents, grandparents, neighbors and community, have a voice when it comes to the education of our children.

School District: Moorcroft

Chase Williams

I am Chase Williams, a fifth-generation rancher from Moorcroft. I have served on the current board for the past six years. My wife is a teacher, and I have a son that will soon be in the schools.

I am seeking re-election to continue to keep our high-quality teachers within our district, as well as to use the best practices for our students. There are many radical thoughts about what should and should not be taught in our schools, and in my opinion school is no place for radical ideology.

I will continue to represent our towns to make sure that our students have the best education possible. I advocate for Crook County, as I always have, to ensure our students and staff are treated fairly.

I am a strong conservative, willing to implement change if needed. I would appreciate your vote.

School District: At Large

(3 seats)

Steve Allred

My wife and I are both military veterans. Our boys are 13, 14 and 16 and attend Moorcroft schools. We have coached and been involved in many sports and activities.

I have attended multiple board meetings in the last year and found I would like to be more involved in the decisions and direction our schools are taking.

My family and I, along with many others, have concerns as to how public education is being used to push political agendas, especially on a federal level. We are very conservative in our views, especially when it comes to our kids’ education.

Schools should help students strive for academic excellence. It is not a school’s place to teach personal politics or sexuality.

I believe health and safety is a top priority and the best learning environment includes educating students on safety, in school, on social media and away from school.

I also want to mention the recent survey. I mismarked the question about boys in girls’ sports: I am very much against this.

Steve Blakeman

I was raised in Crook County and am a 1998 graduate of MHS. I held a seat on the CCSD Board of Trustees ten years ago.

I have six children that attend school in Moorcroft. I am seeking election for one of the At Large seats. 

It seems there has been a severe loss of transparency and accountability, not just on the board, but in the district as a whole. I have seen a change in the board’s operation and accountability to the public, the stakeholders.

What it looks like is that they have forgotten who they are responsible to and who they are responsible for. I intend to bring that back to the forefront of board operation. 

Toby Connally

My name is Toby Connally. I am running for the Crook County School District Board At Large seat.

I am born and raised in Moorcroft, Wyoming. I have been married for 20 years to Jesse Connally. I have three children.

I have served on multiple different boards in the last 20 years and I have coached many different sports teams for the community. 

The reason I decided to run for school board was to help improve the education of the students in the county. To help them become batter adults and members of society. 

Marlene Edwards

My name is D Marlene Edwards. Daughter, blessed to have parents living until this year. 

Wife to Dennis Edwards for 49 1/2 yrs. Mother to two amazing young men, raised and educated in the Crook County School District #1. Grandmother of seven. 

Healthcare worker for 51 years and registered nurse since 1977, I have been nursing in Wyoming since 1981. I was Sundance School Nurse, 1984-2012 and have been a school board member from 2014 to present. 

I take my position as a student/teacher/parent advocate seriously, and feel that it’s imperative the school board continue to serve conservatively and with fiscal responsibility. We are blessed to live here. 

Katarina Koep

My name is Katarina Koep and I am a resident of Sundance, Wyoming. I was born and raised in Laramie, Wyoming.

I am a conservative mother of two children who is concerned with the issues our country is facing today. Children are our future and it is vitally important that they get the best education possible.

The school board has a huge responsibility towards that endeavor and it will be my goal to make sure it is done correctly, efficiently and always benefiting the children above all else. With your vote, we will give the next generation the ability to pursue their dreams and in doing so become proud Americans with the ability to stand up for and fight for the core values that have made our country so great.

God bless America and keep our children safe.

Jo Anne Nakano

My name is Jo Anne Nakano, I am a recently new resident in the town of Sundance. I worked in retail management 20 years and EMS the last 25 years, and am still employed as a paramedic.

I have four kids that I have put through public schools. I am very concerned about the direction public schools have taken in the last couple of decades, therefore I feel the need to contribute to the schools where I reside at this time of my life.

Elizabeth Nelson

My name is Elizabeth Nelson and I am running for the At Large position.

I have lived in Hulett for the past 23 years. I am married with two children. For the past nine years, I have been ranching and I also help my husband with his construction company in Hulett.

I am a member of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Sundance, where I am treasurer.

I would like to see a more comprehensive education on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Founding Fathers. This education should include the Federalist Papers and personal writings of the Founding Fathers. This subject needs to be just as important as math and English.

The federal government is becoming a problem for our schools. Increasingly, we see more and more strings attached to government money. We have to say no to these agenda-driven bribes and not sacrifice our values and kids for a few dollars more.

Daniel Schutt

I graduated from MHS in 2005, joined the USMC and served four years honorably with one tour in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq. My wife Danya and I got married in 2007.

We moved back to Moorcroft in 2009 and, since then, we have had two daughters who both attend Moorcroft School, where I assisted in coaching youth basketball teams.

I am currently employed at FireSteel Well Service Inc. as the company’s Fleet Manager, assisting in the direction and control of the company’s operations, from oilfield to over-the-road units and equipment.

I have decided to make my contribution by running for an At Large seat for the future of our local communities!