Lodging Tax Passes - Barely
Johnston, Malkowski, Shaul elected to office
by Rob Shaul

Sublette County voters narrowly approved the 3% countywide lodging tax - the first ever in county history. The measure passed in Tuesday's election by just 88 votes, 1,592 (51.4%) For to 1,504 (48.6%) Against. A majority of residents in Big Piney, Marbleton, Cora, Daniel and Bondurant voted against the lodging tax passage. But their votes against the tax were outweighed by the support it received in Pinedale and Cora. Fifty-five percent of the Pinedale and Cora residents supported the tax.

The lodging tax will have to be renewed by county voters in 2004.

County Commissioner

Incumbent Republican Gordon Johnston of Daniel easily defeated Democratic challenger Tony Gosar of Pinedale in the race for County Commissioner. Mr. Johnston won the race in every precinct, and won the overall vote, 1,777 to 1,086.

As of 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning, the write-in votes for Mickey LaVoie had not been tallied. Ms. Lankford estimated that Mr. LaVoie received 100-200 write-ins.

Pinedale School Board

In the first of two competitive Pinedale school board races, incumbent Board Chairman Jim Malkowski defeated Lynn Grassell for the Area C seat. Mr. Malkowski received 1,281 votes to Ms. Grassell's 759.

In the race for the Area D seat, Kimberly Shaul defeated Trinni Jensen by 250 votes. Ms. Shaul received 1,100 votes to Ms. Jensen's 850. Ms. Jensen was appointed just last summer to fill the seat vacated by Ken Nishiyama.

Bernie Holz of Boulder ran unopposed and was also elected to the Pinedale School Board. He will replace Andy Nelson.

Other Races

County voters overwhelmingly voted to re-elect Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas and U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin to their seats in Congress. Louie Tomassi, who represents Boulder, Daniel, Big Piney and Marbleton, easily won another term to the State House. Jim "Bubba" Shivler who represents Pinedale, ran unopposed and will return to the State House.

In the race for County Coroner, incumbent Republican Bill Meyer defeated Democrat Russell Nelson. County voters also voted to retain Circuit Court Judge John Crow by a vote of 1,907 to 1,133.

Bob Beiermann, Scott Houfek and Curt Parsons all ran unopposed and were re-elected to the Big Piney School Board.

Record Turnout

Tuesday's election had record turnout in Sublette County. Countywide, 96% of registered voters went to the polls. Further, in Big Piney, Daniel and Bondurant, 100% of the registered voters in those communities voted on Tuesday. <