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Republican Rachel Rodriguez-Williams of Cody is headed to the Wyoming Legislature.
After going unopposed in the primary election, Rodriguez-Williams was the only local legislative candidate to …
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Republican Rachel Rodriguez-Williams of Cody is headed to the Wyoming Legislature.
After going unopposed in the primary election, Rodriguez-Williams was the only local legislative candidate to draw a challenger in the general election, but she handily defeated independent opponent Cindy Johnson Bennett in House District 50.
Rodriguez-Williams received 4,370 votes (77.6%), to Johnson Bennett’s 1,240 votes (22%), alongside 20 write-ins.
Rodriguez-Williams described herself as “humbled to have the support behind me that I do” and said she was “definitely energized” by Tuesday’s results.
“I’m excited to serve in Cheyenne and to take my values and be a voice for the constituents of House District 50,” she said.
The district encompasses the eastern part of the City of Cody, Ralston, Heart Mountain, Sunlight, Crandall and the Willwood area south of Powell.
In the upcoming Legislative Session, Rodriguez-Williams sees the economy and the state budget as big topics. Other priorities include “preserving our Wyoming way, definitely when it comes to the gun control issues and mental health issues and just pretty much all the big things that I ran on,” she said.
With a background in law enforcement — she was a police officer and holds a master’s degree in criminal justice administration — Rodriguez-Williams hopes to serve on the Judiciary Committee. Given her experience in social services, she also would enjoy serving on the Labor, Health & Social Services Committee.
“Regardless, I’m excited to serve,” she said, “and I think that being well-rounded and just having an interest in so many different topics, it will be exciting to come back to Park County and report out what’s going on in Cheyenne.”
She commended Johnson Bennett for running a “respectful and competitive campaign.” In a thank you ad to her supporters that appears in today’s Tribune, Johnson Bennett congratulated Rodriguez-Williams on her win.
She will take over for current House District 50 Rep. David Northrup, R-Powell, who made an unsuccessful run for the state Senate in the Republican primary election. Former Park County Commissioner Tim French won that primary race and was officially elected in Senate District 18 on Tuesday. French, who picked up 9,142 votes (94.8%) against 506 write-ins, will replace longtime Sen. Hank Coe, R-Cody, who is retiring.
Also unopposed and re-elected on Tuesday were state Rep. Dan Laursen, R-Powell (3,720 votes, 90.6%), Rep. Sandy Newsome, R-Cody (4,004 votes, 93%) and Rep. Jamie Flitner, R-Greybull (3,959 votes, 98.5%).
In the other local partisan race, for the Park County Commission, unopposed Republicans Lee Livingston and Scott Mangold, who emerged from a four-way primary in August, also got an official nod from voters on Tuesday. Mangold received 11,241 votes to move from the Powell City Council to the commission while incumbent Livingston picked up 11,110 votes on Tuesday to earn a third term. Mangold will replace Commissioner Jake Fulkerson on the board in January.
