Clerk conflict

To to the Editor:

The drama of Weston County continues, and misinformation fans the flames. I’ve heard the Republican Party did not send any viable clerk candidates to the Weston County Commissioners. I’ve heard the Party didn’t follow statutes and rules. And of course, it is all the fault of the Freedom Caucus that Green was not one of the candidates sent to the commissioners. I’ll tackle that one first.  

The Freedom Caucus is a collection of state legislators in the House that research and share opinions on bills. They lobby each other and other representatives to vote their way. That’s how politics work. No one from the Freedom Caucus called in their preferences for our county clerk. And even if they had, controlling the Central Committee of Weston County is a lot like herding cats. 

As prescribed by statute, the county clerk vacancy was announced at the county commissioner meeting April 21, and advertised in the paper with a deadline to submit a resumé to the chair of the Weston County Republican Party by April 27. Three Weston County residents submitted resumés and prepared for interviews on May 2. This special meeting was open to the public and also advertised. The agenda and the rules for the meeting were approved without dissent. Rules included “declaration of intent to be a candidate for the appointment to the vacancy of the Weston County Clerk is required to be made from the floor” and “voting be conducted by written ballot signed by the voter.” There were many members of the public in attendance. 

Before jumping to conclusions of none of the candidates being qualified, I ask that you listen to the recording of the interviews. In full transparency it is posted on westoncountywy.gop.

Mike Tooman was my top pick. I got to know Mike as an election judge and worked at least eight elections with him. (He was not an election judge in 2022 or 2024.) As senior election judge in Newcastle, he was by the book. His depth of experience in policy and procedure development seemed to me like a perfect remedy for an office that had been through turmoil. Mike convinced me that he would be able to handle the election, follow and improve budget process and develop best practices for all other duties of the office. His experience in computer system design and implementation assures correctly using the ES&S machines, even though the liability of non-compliant voting equipment remains. 

Knowing Tricia Bauman’s ability to research and apply statutes and to organize and implement process made her a viable candidate. Stan Jasinski had 10 years of experience as president of a local union, along with his work as an election judge and his commitment to election integrity. 

I knew Amber had several years’ experience in the clerk’s office and have known her to be of the same level of integrity as the other three candidates. I’ve known Amber for a long time and I personally like and admire her. But this isn’t about friends. I was looking at merit.

The unmatched skills Mr. Tooman can bring to the clerk’s office is invaluable. Previous clerks had not come to the office with the level of skill and experience of Mr. Tooman. Best practices and policies reviews have not been implemented for years. Process is most likely guided wholly by the unelected Wyoming Clerks Association and not by our elected clerk. 

It causes suspicion that the commissioners would overlook the attributes of the candidates submitted, ignore the advice of the county attorney and put the clerk’s office in a continued state of uncertainty as the pressures of the 2026 elections and the current budget process build. Why are they so protective of the inner workings of the clerk’s office?