Incumbents hold school board trustee seats in Laramie County, with one upset in LCSD1

CHEYENNE – Incumbents Alicia Smith and Brittany Ashby, along with newcomer Barbara Cook, have won the three open seats on the Laramie County School District 1 Board of Trustees.

The LCSD1 race has been notably contentious as two sets of three candidates campaigned closely to ensure that one platform would win over the other.

Smith, representing the Republican-endorsed candidates who were campaigning on parental rights, school safety and conservative values, was the only GOP-endorsed candidate to win a seat on the board, while Ashby and Cook were both able to win seats on a campaign that focused on early literacy, early education, teacher support, increasing support for special education programs and renovating some of LCSD1's outdated facilities and addressing mental health concerns.

"I'm honored and very grateful to have the support and trust of Laramie County voters," Smith told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle via text message. "I am excited to begin a second term."

The only challenger to win a seat, Cook's win pushes incumbent and current chairman Tim Bolin off the board after 12 years of service.

"I'm humbled by the number of people that have voted for me, and I look forward to making the best decisions for the children in the Laramie County school district," Cook told the WTE. "This has been a brand new experience for me, never having run for an office, but I look forward to working hard."

Parents in the district have been divided regarding several of the current board's controversial decisions, including a book procurement policy and opt-in policy, and the decision to contend with the Most Cost Effective Remedy study for facilities funding.

Campaigns for LCSD1 Board of Trustees were heated from the beginning, as partisan values entered a nonpartisan race and candidates continuously disagreed on what key issues needed to be addressed.

Though Smith was endorsed by the GOP and accepted that endorsement, she reiterated to voters that she was running as a nonpartisan candidate. Her platform focused on parental rights, growing staff support, fiscal responsibility and school safety. Ashby and Cook were not endorsed by a party.

While the LCSD1 race was the most contentious, voters determined three total local education races Tuesday.

There were three at-large positions open on the LCSD1 board and four open positions on the Laramie County Community College Board of Trustees. Laramie County School District 2 has one trustee position for areas C, D and F, respectively, and two positions for area E.

All trustee positions are unpaid and nonpartisan, with a term of four years.

Although mail-in absentee ballots hadn't been counted by press time, the Laramie County Clerk's office posted final unofficial results shortly before midnight.

Laramie County Community College Board of Trustees

Don Erickson, 22,021

Joe Kelly, 19,619

Jess E. Ketcham, 24,428

Pedro Rampolla, 10,297

Bob Salazar, 21,188

Wendy J. Soto, 23,017

Don Erickson

Adding another four years to his already lengthy service, Erickson was reelected as an LCCC trustee. A former Cheyenne mayor, first elected to the board in 2012, Erickson's campaign focused on student success and continuing successful programs at LCCC.

"I'm delighted to be back and participating in something that I enjoy doing, and that is working with the team that we have to keep our college moving forward and doing the best things for our students," Erickson told the WTE. "I'm delighted that the voters reelected me, and I look forward to the next four years."

Bob Salazar

Salazar was reelected as an LCCC trustee. He was first elected to the board in 2016, and focused his campaign on student success, continuing successful programs and innovation in technology at LCCC.

"I really appreciate that the voters thought enough of me to elect me to a third term, and I know there's many good efforts underway at the college that I would be excited to still be a part of," Salazar told the WTE.

Salazar also noted that he is excited to continue working with his fellow reelected incumbents.

Wendy J. Soto

Soto was reelected as an LCCC trustee. An alumna of the LCCC paralegal program, Soto has served two terms on the board prior to this election. Her campaign focused on affordability, the Unlocking Opportunities Initiative and continuing successful programs at LCCC.

"I'm just excited and happy that the voters chose me to serve another term at the college; it's an honor," Soto told the WTE. "I just hope that we can keep the college moving in a positive direction, as we have over the last several years."

Jess E. Ketcham

Fifth-generation Laramie County resident and father of two Ketcham was reelected as an LCCC trustee. Ketcham was first elected in 2016. Ketcham is an LCCC alumnus, and his campaign focused on community connections, student success and quality education.

"I appreciate the voters giving me another opportunity to retain my position as a trustee," Ketcham told the WTE. "It's one thing to run for office, but it's another to prove yourself and work hard for the community. So I want to continue to do that for Laramie County and the college."

Laramie County School District 1 Board of Trustees

Brittany Ashby, 15,689

Paul Bankes, 12,625

Tim Bolin, 10,129

Barbara Cook, 16,769

Shelia Kistler, 13,348

Kaleigh Rehm, 12,174

Alicia Smith, 15,355

Barbara Cook

Educator, mother and grandmother, Cook has won a seat on the LCSD1 Board of Trustees. Running with plans to support education professionals, students and their families, Cook aims to restore access to libraries in the district, focus on early literacy and address facilities needs. She also aims to provide support for teachers and address staff retention. This will be Cook's first term as a trustee for LCSD1.

Brittany Ashby

An incumbent, Ashby has again been elected to serve on the LCSD1 Board of Trustees and has served on the board since 2020 and held a fill-in term from December 2017 through 2018. She ran her campaign focused on early literacy, strengthening pre-K options, supporting teachers, increasing support for special education programs and renovating some of LCSD1's outdated facilities.

Ashby was unavailable for comment when results were announced.

Alicia Smith

An incumbent, Smith has again been elected to be a trustee on the LCSD1 board. Smith has served on the board since 2020. She ran her campaign on parental rights, growing staff support, fiscal responsibility and school safety. She was in favor of the controversial parents rights policies and book procurement policies that passed over the summer and was endorsed by the GOP.

Laramie County School District 2

Area C

Heidi Romsa, 2,777

Unchallenged, Romsa will remain the LCSD2 trustee for Area C.

Area D

Jerrid G. Wiles, 2,557

Unchallenged, Wiles will remain the LCSD2 trustee for Area D.

Area E

Matt Haas 2,467

Julianne Randall 2,349

Unchallenged, Randall and Haas will remain the two LCSD2 trustees for Area E.

Area F