Powell’s current mayor Don Hillman was the only mayoral candidate to show up for the Park County Republican Women’s candidate forum at Northwest College’s Nelson Performing Arts Center on Tuesday.

Throughout the question-and-answer format of the forum, Hillman often emphasized the importance of infrastructure — streets, sewers and utilities.

When asked what the most important duty is for the mayor position, Hillman pointed out that Powell operates with a city manager and city council.

“People think the mayor has a lot of power, but I don’t have as much power as a councilman — I can’t make a motion,” Hillman said, noting he can break a tie vote.

Budgets have been at the forefront of every level of government in Wyoming, and one of the first questions Hillman was asked was what could be cut as budgets shrink.

Hillman pointed out that Powell had to dip into its reserves to create a balanced budget for the current fiscal year and that state funding is uncertain. When Hillman was first elected, the city was losing $400,000 per year but has since turned that around and built up a reserve account large enough to sustain the city, with no revenue coming in, for about five or six months, he said.

“If we kept that up, we would be bankrupt today,” Hillman said.

 When asked if he has enough time to fulfill the duties of mayor, Hillman said he is retired so he is able to spend about three hours per day on average doing mayoral duties.

“It surprised me how much time it takes,” Hillman said. In the last year, he has attended 22 city council meetings; there are typically two meetings per month.

The legalization of marijuana, both medically and recreationally, was brought up in the forum for all candidates and Hillman’s answer was the most succinct.

“I am crazy enough as it is, we don’t need that stuff,” he said.

The increase in hookah lounges and stores selling vaping equipment and electronic cigarettes was also brought up and Hillman said he thinks they should be treated the same as regular cigarettes.

“I am in favor of them if they will help them stop smoking,” Hillman said.

As for the proposed 1 cent sales tax increase, Hillman said he is in favor of it and wants voters to research the projects it would fund and then decide for themselves if the tax is worth it.

When asked about the city’s greatest asset, Hillman said it was the employees.

“I don’t care who you are, you are no better than the people who work for you,” Hillman said.  

When asked about community funding, Hillman said every town needs economic development.

“It has to come from the private sector — the city’s role is to provide infrastructure so when a company or business wants to move in, you have the infrastructure to sustain their  needs,” Hillman said.  

During the forum, the Tribune asked what the mayor can do to support main street businesses. He said he would like to see more retail stores in downtown Powell, but competing with big box stores and the internet has been difficult. “If you have an idea, let me know,” Hillman said.

Hillman was also asked what could be done to increase communication between governing bodies and he suggested dividing the county commission so that two commissioners would be from Powell, two from Cody and one from Meeteetse. Then, cut the commissioners’ wages by two-thirds and use those funds to have the county hire a county administrator similar to Powell’s city administrator. From there, each of the city’s and the county’s administrators could collaborate as a team that knows how government works and where to get funding, he said.

Hillman is up against James Andrews and Dawson Wolff in the primary election on Tuesday.