Steve Brantz

Sara Mockensturm

Sports Editor

With city elections right around the corner, candidate Steve Brantz said he is prepared to bring more to the youth than past mayors of Sheridan.

Brantz has been involved with politics and the community since around 2000. He has served on the City Council and has spent a good amount of time visiting City Hall. He grew up uninterested in politics, so many ask, why now? Brantz explains how when he sees something that needs to be done, he does it. “In Sheridan we have many hardworking people who labor in silence, it is a great witness to politicians to do the same.” Brantz feels it is important for public servants to “put a shoulder behind a plow and not a face in front of a camera.” He is willing to be the change he sees is needed in Sheridan. “We need to build a community within,” said Branzt, “there is a difference between a town and a community; a community is your own.”

Addressing the concerns of Sheridan’s adolescents is one of Brantz’s mandates. When ask what are the most important issues to the youth of Sheridan, Brantz said “having something to do, a place to go, and to call home.” If elected, he has many ideas, to improve youth community life by constructing more recreational opportunities. Brantz would like to build a recreation center for the youth of Sheridan, and he believes that the local swimming pool should be free of charge. He communicates with Sheridan’s youth through his Facebook page, school and church.

Brantz believes it’s extremely important for the youth to be involved with the community and he feels one of the most critical ways of being involved with one’s community is to vote. “What we do today affects you tomorrow,” said Brantz. “It takes many within our community to make good things happen: groups quietly behind the scenes not seeking recognition, only results.”

Brantz has three principles of morality he abides by, “say what you mean, mean what you say and live by your words.” When asked what’s most important to him, Brantz said, “Family, because we are all driven by the love of all family, they are dear to our hearts.” He expects to influence and improve the community through showing respect, reaching out to the public and getting out. “I will work to see Sheridan, a flourishing community as it once was–where once again we are united as a community.”

Brantz is not the typical politician. He has worked in Sheridan all his life. He plans to “make a difference” and “give back through the eyes of a working man,” he said. “ Who better to lead than the common man, I’ve raised my family here and seen and enjoyed the low and high points in Sheridan.”

Dave Kinskey

Lucy La Rosa

Features editor

“I want to fashion a vision for our shared goals of the community,” said Mayor Dave Kinskey. Up for reelection this year, Kinskey has had ample experience in the ways of the political world.

Beginning at a young age, he was involved in various forms of government, from being the Boys’ State Governor in high school, to interning for Malcolm Wallop, to assisting in the campaign for U.S Senator Al Simpson.

Kinskey also worked with former Wyoming Governor Stan Hathaway, who he named as having a positive influence on his political perspective. Quoting Hathaway, he said, “the proper rule of government is not to control everything, but it is important to have a safety net for those who can’t help themselves.”

During his young adulthood, Kinskey was aware of how national elections such as Reagan vs. Ford, Nixon vs. Mcgovern impacted the community at the state and local level. “I love Sheridan and Wyoming and wanted to stay and raise a family…I knew all [their] decisions would impact my life,” he said.

For that reason, he encourages the youth of Sheridan to participate in their community. “If you don’t participate, someone else makes decisions for you and decides the direction of your future.” He advises adolescents to be informed about current events at both national and local levels, to keep an open mind, and lastly to vote.

Many Sheridan citizens, young and old, are concerned with the issues of economic development, environmental preservation, community growth, national prosperity and how they impact us all. “Protecting our quality of life [through community involvement] will generate opportunities for both the youth and the families of Sheridan.”

If re-elected Kinskey is clear about his priorities: “the focus will always be to preserve the quality of life, through initiating more recycling, preservation of our downtown, improving our parks and pathways, and caring for our senior citizens.”

“I want to build the community…to do everything I can to bring people together to find a solution to bring our community ahead,” said Kinskey. Kinskey said he lives his life by the principles of “faith in God, devotion to country, and commitment to family.”

Kinskey related leadership to initiative, and the willingness to act on beliefs and conviction. “Too much of modern politics is talk and not getting much done because once you do something, someone gets mad so you never commit to act,” he said.

“I feel like the mayor’s office is where I can do the most good for the [Sheridan] Community…[and] I want to see my work through. I am not afraid to commit.”