In a low-key election last week, members of the Park County Republican Party generally chose to stick with their current leaders for the next two years. However, Thursday’s meeting was not entirely without friction, as party leaders sought an explanation from Republican Park County Sheriff Scott Steward over critical remarks he made on social media.
Martin Kimmet of Clark, who’s led the party since late summer 2017, was tabbed to continue serving as chairman through 2023. Kimmet said he’s appreciated the support he’s received; he handily defeated a challenge from Cherie Fischer of Cody.
Similarly, Bob Ferguson of Wapiti will remain as the party’s vice chair after being chosen over Larry French of Powell.
In one change, Vince Vanata, who had been serving as the party’s secretary, was picked to be state committeeman. He defeated, and will now replace, former Cody City Councilman Charles Cloud. Sherry Johnson of Meeteetse was unanimously re-elected as state committeewoman.
Robin Berry of Cody was also re-elected as treasurer, defeating Andris Vaskis of Powell, and Kimmet picked Jimmy Parks of Cody as the party’s new secretary.
A total of 46 members of the Park County Republican Party’s Central Committee participated in Thursday’s election in person, while another 13 authorized others to vote on their behalf.
It was a cordial proceeding, with all of the executive committee candidates making a point of complimenting their opponents.
The GOP’s 2019 election was far more contested, featuring a battle between the more moderate and the more conservative factions of the party. Months later, the then-vice chairman, state committeewoman and treasurer resigned over “irreconcilable differences” with Kimmet. A number of the more moderate Republicans have become less involved in the local party since then.
In the 2020 primary election, only 29 Republicans filed to run for the 78 precinct committee spots in the party — down from 49 candidates in 2018 and 54 in 2016; that required dozens of positions to be filled by write-in votes and some appointments. Only one precinct committee race was contested last year, as compared to four such races in 2018 and eight in 2016, according to election data analyzed by the Tribune.
Still, there has been continuing disagreement within the party.
In a Facebook comment made from his personal page late last year, Sheriff Steward suggested the leaders of the party did not represent Republicans as a whole, referring to them as “five to six dictators.” He also made other Facebook comments that drew the ire of some within the party’s central committee, prompting the group to draft a scolding letter to the sheriff in January.
“If you wish for the support to continue from the Park County Republican Party, you must cease permitting further attacks,” a portion of the party’s draft warned. “Social media or other forms of public communication are not the appropriate forums for our elected officials to air grievances.”
However, the central committee held off on sending the letter until Steward was given a chance to defend himself. At Thursday’s meeting, Steward apologized for the “dictator” remark, but had to leave for a search and rescue debriefing before he could address the other remarks. The sheriff indicated he may address them at a future meeting.
Meanwhile, party leaders indicated they were satisfied with the apology.
“I don’t think that anything else needs to be done,” said Ferguson. His position had been that Steward should have taken his concerns to the party before commenting on social media; Ferguson described himself as “very satisfied” with Steward’s response.
Chairman Kimmet added, “We have to work closely all together in the political times that we’re in and the person that’s sitting in Washington right now.” He also noted the importance of working hand-in-hand with law enforcement.
While things may have become less contentious within the Park County party, Cloud said there has been “quite a bit of bickering going on” between Republicans at the state level. For example, there’s been a protracted dispute between state party leaders and the Natrona County chapter.
Republican leaders from across the state are scheduled to visit Park County soon.
The Wyoming Republican Party’s State Central Committee — which includes the chairs and state committee people from all 23 counties — is set to meet in Cody on May 14-15. Johnson, the local committeewoman, put in a significant amount of work to bring the meeting to the area and described herself as “totally overjoyed” to land the event.
“We can put on our Sunday go-to-meeting clothes and really show them what Powell and Cody and Meeteetse are all about,” she said.
The meeting will be based at the Holiday Inn and includes a banquet, at which all Republicans and their guests will be welcome.
“We want the biggest crowd that we can have at that meeting,” said Ferguson.
Although acknowledging to party members that “sometimes he’s not your favorite,” Kimmet said he has invited Republican Gov. Mark Gordon.
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