The second Park County Republican Women Forum took place in Cody last week. Held at the Park County  Library’s Grizzly Room, the forum offered local candidates for state and county offices a chance to answer questions and clarify their positions on a range of subjects of concern to  Park County voters. 

The first Park County Republican Women Forum took place in Powell two weeks ago, where about 200 people attended, including most of the candidates.

At least 200 people attended the Cody GOP forum, according to Jessalynne Crum, vice president of Park County Republican Women. Both events were successful, she said.

“I think it went very well,” Crum said of the Cody event. “Our plan is to educate the public on who is running in the county races … I think our purpose was served in educating the public.”

The format for both events was similar. All Republican candidates for state legislative House districts 24, 25 and 26 and Senate District 19 were invited to participate. In addition, all candidates for county elected positions were invited to both forums, including eight candidates for three open seats on the county commission; both county attorney candidates; all four county coroner candidates; two candidates for county clerk; and three candidates for Park County Clerk of District Court.

The biggest difference between the Cody and Powell forums pertained to candidates for county coroner. Although Emily Denney attended both forums, Cody Gortmaker, Zachary Thompson and Eric Crumb were unable to attend the Powell event. In addition to Denney, Gortmaker and Crumb participated in the Cody forum. All of the candidates filed as Republicans.

John Winter, Republican candidate for HD28, was unable to attend the Powell event, but did participate in the Cody forum, Crum said.

Republican Angie Johnson, currently clerk/treasurer for the town of Meeteetse, attended the Powell event. However, she was unable to participate in the Park County Republican Women Forum in Cody due to a “prior commitment” as a board member of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, which held its summer conference during the Cody forum, according to a letter Johnson sent to the county GOP women’s group explaining why she could not attend.

Among the eight Republican candidates for Park County Commission, five attended both the Cody and Powell events, Crum said. They are Dossie Overfield, Lloyd Thiel, Scott Steward, Matthew Scott and Tyson Williams.

Neither Keith Dahlem nor Ken Montgomery, both of whom are running for county commission as Republicans, participated in the Cody forum, according to Crum. Neither of the two candidates was at the Powell event.

“They were both great,” Crum of the two forums.

The GOP women’s group was happy with the outcome, she added. “I’ve had a lot of feedback. Definitely well-received — and thankful.”

As evidence, Crum referred to the Park County Republican Women Facebook page, where she said videos of both events have received about 1,200 views, combined.

“All I can say is it was very well-run,” said Karen Jones, secretary of the Wyoming Republican Party.

The primary election takes place Tuesday, Aug. 16.