As they go to the polls in this general election, voters on Powell’s western side will choose between two different perspectives on the city government.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Kristy Fields and challenger John Sinskie are squaring off in a rematch of both the primary election and of a selection process a year ago.

Following the death of Councilman Floyd Young in 2025, Fields and Sinskie were among those who applied for the seat. The other council members chose Fields to fill the role through this year, but the ward’s voters will decide who holds the position for the final two years of the term.

Sinskie is a veteran, former FBI analyst and current facilities manager of the Powell Valley Recycling Center; he moved to Powell in 2021. 

In a written statement, Sinskie said one of his priorities would be to “hold the council and mayor accountable to the community.”

“I believe there is a lot of fiscal waste across our local, state, and federal governments,” he wrote, and he would seek to “use efficiency/consolidation principles to reduce or eliminate redundancy, fiscal waste, and abuse of the people’s money and resources.”

Sinskie said he wants to prioritize open records and clear reporting “to ensure every decision is made in the best interest of the Powell community.” He also said he wants to make civic life more approachable.

“I am committed to active listening and collaborative problem-solving to build a stronger, more connected City with the Powell community,” he said.

Bringing an open mind

As for Fields, she’s a lifelong Powell resident who has worked as a banker and lender at First Bank of Wyoming.

“I understand our history, appreciate our values, and want to help ensure that our city remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” she said in a statement.

Fields said her experiences on the council have given her insight into community issues and opportunities while reinforcing the importance of collaboration, communication and careful planning. She added that, “good government starts with listening.”

Over the past year on the council, she said she’s worked to listen to residents, learn the job and make thoughtful decisions.

“If elected, I will continue to approach each issue with an open mind, gather the facts, listen to all perspectives, and make decisions that are in the best interest of our community as a whole,” Fields said.

Proposition 1

The two candidates offered opposing views on Proposition 1, which would halve residents’ property taxes on their primary residence.

Sinskie supports the ballot initiative and, ultimately, an end to all property taxes; he described the form of taxation as “punitive,” referring to the fact that a failure to pay property taxes can eventually lead to the loss of a home or property.

Though there’s been “a lot of fear mongering” about the Proposition 1, Sinskie called it a meaningful step toward keeping residents’ cost of living manageable and helping Wyomingites stay in their homes.

“Wyoming can pair homeowner relief with transparent budgeting, careful review of spending, and protections for essential services,” he said. “Rising property values should not automatically mean larger government budgets or ever-higher bills for residents. Voters can support Proposition 1 while also demanding elected officials explain how they will preserve schools, roads, public safety, and other community priorities.”

Fields, however, said there hasn’t been enough discussion about the proposition’s impact to local services, especially as costs continue to rise.

For example, she said a pump fire truck that cost $500,000 five years ago now costs $1.2 million — and she noted the city recently spent $369,994 on a new sanitation truck with a trade.

“Before we make a major change like this we need clear answers about what services will be affected because it is important that voters know for certain what they are giving up,” she said in an email. “I don’t think this is a responsible way to save our citizens money.”

Fields said she would like elected officials to work toward a solution that serves the long-term interests of all Park County residents.

Sinskie is seeking to gain some ground from August’s primary, where Fields received 380 votes (63.6%) to Sinskie’s 217 (36.3%).

Ward 2 includes all of the city’s residences and businesses west of Division Street.