For the first time in 19 years Park County Attorney Bryan Skoric is running opposed for reelection. 

Skoric, 55 is a Park County native who was initially appointed by the Park County Commissioners when the previous county attorney left before finishing his term. Prior to being appointed, Skoric served in the Wyoming Attorney General’s office for seven years as both an assistant attorney general and senior assistant attorney general. During this time Skoric was assigned to the Criminal Division where he represented the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Here he learned “all facets of agency representation.” Skoric has argued cases in both Wyoming Circuit and District courts, the Wyoming Surpreme Court, the Wyoming Federal District Court and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Skoric has also filed a brief with the United States Supreme Court.

Leda Pojman, 44, has worked in Park County for six years of her 20-year legal career. She brings experience trying three criminal jury trials in Park County, experience in front of the Supreme Court while in the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office and experience as a legal consultant and in private practice. Pojman also teaches as an adjunct professor in her free time.

Pojman said that she decided to run in part because Skoric has been unchallenged for nearly two decades and Pojman believes there are positive changes to be made to the way the position is conducted.

If elected Pojman said that she would address all cases with impartiality and be available to the staff and community.

“I think the county attorney’s office should be for everybody,” Pojman said.

Skoric said he would run the office with experience gathered over 19 years as county attorney.

“Certainly I would operate with the experience I don’t believe my opponent has,” Skoric said.

Both candidates think that the mental health crisis is a  big problem in both the state and the county but differ on how to handle Title 25 cases. Title 25 are cases where medical professionals and law enforcement can place someone who is a perceived threat to themselves or others on an emergency hold.

“My plan is, I work with everybody and stop finger pointing, and keep it (mental health care) right here and keep it in the county,” Pojman said.

Pojman believes a statute within Title 25, “Directed outpatient commitment proceedings” would allow the county attorney’s office to keep care for Title 25 patients in the county.

“If elected county attorney, I would start utilizing this statute instead of sending patients outside of the county,” Pojman said. “That option must be presented to the court for the court to consider it.”

According to Skoric who has handled “over 1,000 Title 25 cases,” these patients cannot be admitted locally. In some rare circumstances a patient can be admitted to an outpatient facility if it is recommended by the medical examiner.

Skoric works to get patients admitted into a facility in Casper “immediately,” but if this does not work the only place that these individuals can be sent is to the state hospital. Skoric said that this waiting list is too long and called “10 to 12 weeks unacceptable.”

“The stance and the plan is to continue to hold the state Department of Health responsible with what they’re tasked to do,” Skoric said.

Skoric also referenced relationsips with Powell Valley Hospital, Cody Regional Health, and Yellowstone Behavioral Health, who he contacts on every Title 25.

Skoric said that his goal in the next term is to “keep Park County–Park County.”

“We have many people moving to Park County because of low crime and our way of life,” Skoric said. “Let’s keep it that way with proven experience that has shown to work.”

Pojman hopes to keep the community safe, while running a fair and impartial office.

“I do have a passion for keeping the community safe and for the law,” Pojman said. “It’s just in my blood and part of who I am.”

Voters can support their chosen candidate during the primary election on Aug. 16.