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Write In Votes in Wheatland

Who You Gonna Write For

Bill Squires

The status quo incumbants look like they could be taking a beating in Wheaterville this voting season. Commissioner Dan Kirkbride was the first to fall to newcomer Steve Schokley

Platte County Attorney candidate Ken Johnston gave ABA (Anyone But Alden) incumbant Eric Jones a real run for his money in the August primary, and has decided to stay in the race and hope for a write-in win against Jones.

Jones was appointed by the Platte County Commissioners after the ABA contingent elected Mary Eikenberry but then decided to fire her. (Until she resigned, then promptly rescinded her resignation, whereupon she was, indeed, fired by then-Commissioners Kirkbride, Reichardt and Milikin.) Eric Jones was eventually elected Platte County Attorney after his initial appointment, and also continues to run his local private law practice.

Attorney Johnston came surprisingly close to unseating Jones in August, losing by fewer than 200 votes. He's knocking on doors and hoping that 200 additional people will write in his name, and fill in that little oval next to it, on November 2.

Incumbant Wheatland mayor Dean Hensel ran unopposed in the primary, but has some unexpected competition in the general.

In August, Jean "Skrinny" Dixon let it be known around town that since she wasn't going for another go-around as County Clerk, she'd be open to taking a shot at Mayor if enough folks wrote her in on their primary ballots. She only needed three, and received more than enough to convince her to unofficially officially run for the roses.

Meanwhile, in the State Governor's race, Tea Party favorite and Cheyenne Doc Taylor Haines didn't make it onto the ballot, but he's out there campaigning, talking about the issues, and hoping that Wyoming voters will decide that Matt Mead's Millions shouldn't buy him the Governor's mansion.

Hard to say how Platte County will vote. Their candidate last time around was Duncan Hunter. 'Nuff said.

Wednesday
11/3/10 2:29 PM

Really??:

Well we got a change on the school board (thank goodness) but why do the people of Platte County insist on paying a part-time county attorney full-time wages? We had our chance. Now we have to live with it. But I hope we can hold his feet to the fire this time around and maybe we got someone on the county commission that will do that. My question is: why can Eric Jones have a private practice? Is that normal for other county attorneys in Wyoming to maintain a private practice?

Friday
10/29/10 8:22 PM

Peanutz:

It is sad that Eric Jones has nothing good or positive to say about himself, and instead only negative things to say about Ken Johnston. His latest ad about the carpetbaggers was possibly worse then his first but at least this time he remembered to take "credit" for his paid ad. The first one was so negative he decided to not put his name to it until everyone pointed out that it was illegal not to. Funny to have to do that for a lawyer. Ken Johnston will have alot of write in votes.

Friday
10/29/10 8:17 PM

Peanutz:

Thursday
10/28/10 1:59 PM

WTF?:

Ok you moron,it's not Joe Johnson that is running for county attorney,it's Ken Johnston.Get your facts straight you idiot! You should know who is running before you start the mud slinging you jackass!And how dare you say such awful things about a person you obviously don't know ANYTHING about,Joe is one of the sweetest men I have ever met,he would'nt even hurt a fly.Ken has been here for ten years as a rancher ,and he has 35+ years of law experience,he is also a Christain.The way Eric dose bussines I believe the oppisite is true,he hires other lawers to do his work. For example- Eric Palen from Douglas,and 2 others from Cheyenne and Torrington because he has "other interests". So there's the facts dumbass! As for me Ken Jonston has my vote!

Monday
10/25/10 2:12 PM

Kit:

To watching:

Palen is a public defender.

Sunday
10/24/10 7:37 PM

Vote for Ken Johnston:

Vote for Ken Johnston. He isn't putting any one down and calling names. He walked the streets of Chugwater,
Glendo, Wheatland, Guernsey and introduced himself to everyone and heard their concerns. He isn't running a
negative campaign. Keep up the good work, Ken.

Saturday
10/23/10 5:42 PM

watching:

To Kit, no, the county board hired the asst attorney only after alot of pushing and Eric sold himself as not going to need that. But he does keep a private practice and he does have conflict of interest alot from what it looks like and hires Palen from Douglas to replace him or rather the county hires him. Also Eric is town of chug and town of glendo attorney which is more conflict of interest and also takes time away from main job of county attorney or what should be main job. Kit you need to look into the facts actually. We need I think a fresh start with the county attorney here, one that doesn't remind anybody of why Eric was able to talk the board into giving him the position. Thank you.

Saturday
10/23/10 5:36 PM

Eric v Eikenberry?:

Who knew? Read Eric Jone's ad in the paper and you'd think that he was running against Mary Eikenberry. That's not true is it? Ask yourself why Eric Jones would use that silly tactic to scare people into voting for him. Does he fancy that he is Eric ALDEN and people might realize that they let a good one go? Most people know the difference between a Jones and an Alden.
One more thing. Look at the budget allocation for county attorney when Eric Alden was in charge compared to Eric Jone's last few years. Jones started at $65K as a parttime county attorney. Parttime. His salary has gone up each time the rest of the county employees' salaries have gone up. If it were Eikenberry or Jones, I'd vote for Jones, but contrary to what Eric Jones ad would have you believe, Eikenberry is not running.

Saturday
10/23/10 5:28 PM

Kit:

I find it interesting that y'all make an assumption that Mr. Jones doesn't work full time. Have any of you checked into that? Or are you just assuming that because he does have a private office that it means he's not working but half time at both? If you think he's not working hard enough for our County how about checking the records. How about finding out how many cases are going through the office and how many are prosecuted?

How about each of you check your facts before you rant and rave like morons.

The hiring of a Deputy County Attorney was done long before Mr. Jones was in office. It has nothing to do with him. How about checking that out? Our County needs representation at all times....should our County Attorney never go away on holiday? Considering Mr. Johnston has no law expierence....do you think he won't be using the Deputy County Attorney? You think that if he should be voted into office that the County can then let go of the Deputy County Attorney?

Think for one moment about what having a county attorney without criminal law expierence would mean. What outcome would come from that? How would that impact your life? If you were to be assulted on the street by a person...that person is caught and on trial. You have an attorney walk in the room who has no expierence in criminal law try and convict this person...do you feel safe? I sure wouldn't. I would want someone in the prosecutors chair who knows how it works.

But then again, no one would have anything to piss and moan about if they didn't have crap flowing out of their mouths. How about finding out some facts!

Thursday
10/21/10 1:06 PM

another illegal act:

The paper had an ad for an open chat meeting for seniors with the senior board....guess what!..the employees of the senior center have been told they CANNOT attend....hhmmm, so much for an OPEN advertised meeting!

Thursday
10/21/10 10:08 AM

vote for ken:

Ken Johnston for County Attorney.

Eric's negative campaign ad should not be rewarded with your vote. It was disgusting, and yes I agree fear mongering and we don't need that.

Ken Johnston has told us why we should vote for him, not why we shouldn't vote for the other guy. Eric wants to be voted in as the candidate that was better then Mary Eikenberry. Wow.

Yes and someone figure out why an attorney didn't follow campaign law and also didn't want to be accountable for the ad he put in the local paper.

Thursday
10/21/10 10:04 AM

to Who Did and Stunned:

Two possibilites. Either Erik Jones didn't KNOW that he has to include "paid for by" information on the bottom of his "ad" or he decided that rule didn't apply to him. Either way, it doesn't say much for his as an attorney or as a candidate. It's likely that the powers that be in these elections will look into it. It's a campaign law that the "paid for by" be included in all ads. All that said, it was a pathetic excuse for an "elect me". He used the classic fear mongering tactics of "if you don't pick me it will be as bad as before" using the Eikenberry fiasco as a threat to voters. I hope everyone reads that "ad" a couple of times before they vote because if that's who Erik Jones is, then he sure doesn't deserve the position. This ad is sending me to look up the alternatives and I guess that's a good thing. If Ken Johnston is a viable option, he has my write in vote, based on that ad and the talk around town. The most interesting thing would be to find out who placed that ad. The Record Times people certainly know, and their ad people and graphic people should certainly know better then to put that ad in there without the Paid For By disclaimer. Anybody know who those people are? Ask them. Where's Starbuck?

Wednesday
10/20/10 5:15 PM

Who did:

I did see the add in the Merchant that included Eric Jones I don't think he put in the paper. If you noticed on all of the other campaign adds it had who paid for them. The add that you are referring to is blank, not sure if this is legal.

Wednesday
10/20/10 5:53 AM

stunned too:

wow, and why is mr jones so negative about people that have left town too. then to show he is a "community'' guy, a little ad on another page is how he supports the local HS sports! Negativity has got to go buddy!

Tuesday
10/19/10 6:06 PM

stunned:

OMG!!!! Eric Jones...don't you have anything positive to say about yourself...check his ad in the paper this week...your negativity is one reson I won't vote for you! Rule of Thumper: If you can't say something nice, don't say nuthin at all. Way to go, Ken Johnston, for not falling to Eric's low level!

Monday
10/18/10 5:51 AM

to geese:

i believe it was 1999 but it could have been 1998! but i remember the cop's name...Don London!! later jailed for counterfeiting money while at the law enforcement academy in douglas!

Sunday
10/17/10 6:09 PM

geese:

What year did the Wheatland PD beat the geese to death on the golf course?

Sunday
10/17/10 8:14 AM

Cool:

Brandon Graves and Sue Sluss for City Council

Saturday
10/16/10 9:04 AM

HAHAHA!!:

ERIC DO YOU THINK IF YOU CONTINUALLY SPELL MR. JOHNSTONS NAME INCORRECTLY AND TRY TO CONFUSE PEOPLE WITH JOHNSON AND SUCH IT WILL HELP YOU IN THIS RACE?? I BELIEVE MR. ERIC JONES IS RUNNING SCARED!!!

Wednesday
10/13/10 3:28 AM

ERIC JONES IS THE ONLY ONE:

KEN JOHNSON IS A NOTHING BUT AN OLD FAT JOHNSON