Candidates announced

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Absentee voting began on Thursday, March 26, for the Weston County Health Services board of trustees and the Weston County Museum District board, according to Denice Pisciotti, the hospital’s executive assistant.
Running for four of the five open positions on the hospital board are six candidates: Lanny Reimer, LeAnn Kenagy, Monte Straley, Connie James, Lisa Foster and Stacie Hoxie. Reimer, Kenagy and James are incumbents, and James is currently the chairman. The terms are for four years.
Incumbent Mike Ratigan is the only candidate running for the one two-year term on the board, Pisciotti said. 
Absentee ballots have already been received by the facility, Pisciotti said, and a voter registrar to verify voters was obtained from the Weston County Courthouse before it closed last week. She said that the facility is anticipating an increase in absentee requests and that extra envelopes were  obtained to meet that need. 
“Individuals may call me (Pisciotti) at 746-3755 to receive a ballot in the mail or they may come to the front of the facility and fill out the application to receive the ballot and sealed envelope or take the information with them to mail back to 1124 Washington Blvd,” Pisciotti said. “All absentee ballots must be received by Monday, May 4, 2020 at 5 p.m.”
At this time, polls will be open on May 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for both the hospital district and museum district elections, according to Pisciotti. 
“In Newcastle voting can be done for both districts at the Weston County Library. In Osage, voting for both districts will take place at the Kitty Moats Complex. In Upton, registered voters for both districts will be able to vote on the day of the election at the Upton Community Center,” Pisciotti said in an email. 
Details for the museum board election is unknown at this time, said Bobbi Jo Tysdal, director of the Weston County Museum District. Tysdal said that she is contacting the secretary of state’s office to get some answers. But, Tysdal said, she had received direction on absentee voting during the closures of government offices, including the Anna Miller Museum. 
Tysdal said that absentee voting will have to be done by mailed ballots only. Ballots can be requested by calling the administrative office at 746-4188 or by sending a written request to Weston County Museum District, PO Box 689, Newcastle, WY 82701. 
“All qualified registered electors may vote absentee,” Tysdal said. “Ballots must be received by the closing of the polls at 6 p.m. on election day, May 5, 2020.” 
Three candidates are running for three open positions: incumbents Judith A. Lorenz and Jill Pischke and new candidate Linda Hunt.