The people have the right to vote for who they want

Dear Editor,
(This letter was written to Representative Tyler Lindholm in reference to his sponsorship of House Bill 37.)
I voted for you and probably would have even if you hadn’t been running unopposed. However, I am very disappointed that you are seemingly more concerned with your own opinion than that of the people you were elected to represent. House Bill 0037 as written by you takes a giant leap toward removing the power of the vote from the residents and giving it to the government.  
The people of Weston County overwhelmingly voted for a County Attorney from Gillette because they felt grossly underrepresented by the former County Attorney, who was the only opposing candidate. 
As you know, there are limited choices of qualified candidates within Weston County. I don’t see that changing any time soon. However, if there are qualified candidates who want to be on the ballot they certainly are free to exercise that right. Subsequently, the people also should have the right to vote for whomever they choose.
I personally do not want you, the County Commissioners, a three person committee or anyone else deciding who should or should not hold this office. I find it ironic that in subsection c page 5 after line 14 the bill will state that if a vacancy occurs in the office of County Attorney the County Commissioners can appoint a three person committee to select a person to fill the vacancy and that the “residency requirements” which you are imposing on candidates will not apply to the committee or their choice of attorney to fill the vacancy.  
Even more ironic, you as our elected representative and Senator Driskill are from Crook County, but elected in part by Weston County people.
My reservations of residency requirements do not extend to other elected county offices because the standards of qualification are significantly different than those of county attorney. As a resident of Weston County, I truly hope that the term of Mr. Berger as our County Attorney will be a positive one. I’m also hopeful that Bill 0037 does not pass, and that in the future you make an effort to engage with the people your proposed legislation would impact.
Your vision of the issue should not supersede the vote of your constituents, we deserve a voice.
I do appreciate your proposal to now change from county residency to district. However, I would like clarification on the inclusion of Campbell County. Would this be all of Campbell County or just the small section included in our district? If an attorney must live within the boundary of our district in Campbell County, I fail to see how that improves the pool of qualified candidates.
I am a Weston County resident and voter.  
—Glenna Riehemann
 
(Ed. note: House Bill 37 was defeated on third reading in the Wyoming Senate on Tuesday. See the full story on page 9.)