Casper, WY – Voters in Natrona County went to the polls Tuesday for a slate of nonpartisan races that will shape local government for the next two years. Four seats on the Casper City Council were filled, new mayors were chosen in the neighboring towns of Evansville and Bar Nunn, and several school‑district, fire‑district and college‑board positions were decided.
Casper City Council results
In Ward I, retired architect and planner Brett Hobza earned 1,871 votes, narrowly defeating Jessie Bell, who received 1,785. Hobza highlighted housing affordability and disciplined city spending during his campaign.
Incumbent Councilor Michael Bond retained his Ward II seat with 2,484 votes, beating challenger Shane True’s 1,964. Bond, a retired educator, focused on utility costs and infrastructure maintenance.
Ward III elected two councilors. Former councilor and county commissioner Terry Wingerter captured 2,518 votes, while incumbent Brandy Haskins secured 2,195. Their challengers, Kathryn Morgan and Kaycee Wiita, received 1,647 and 1,586 votes respectively.
Mills mayor and council
Mayor Leah Juarez was re‑elected in Mills with 493 votes, defeating City Council President Brad Neumiller, who earned 367. Juarez ran on a record of securing $1 million in federal infrastructure funding, obtaining grants for a school resource officer and renegotiating city leases.
Incumbent councilors Tim Sutherland (499 votes) and Cherie Butcher (342 votes) held their seats. Challengers Darla Ives and Jamie Card received 301 and 205 votes.
Bar Nunn mayoral race
Bar Nunn will be led by Brian Childress, who won 515 votes to Councilor Tim Ficken’s 272. Childress campaigned on establishing a full‑time paid fire department, managing growth responsibly and holding regular open‑office hours for residents.
The town council added Olin Jarrard (420 votes) and Melissa Childress (362 votes) to two open seats. Challenger Matt Boyles earned 357 votes, while incumbent Joy Shain received 242.
Evansville leadership change
Challenger Phil Gierke unseated interim Mayor Ernie Blackford with 231 votes to Blackford’s 218. Gierke had previously sought a council seat after Blackford was appointed interim mayor following former Mayor Candace Machado’s resignation.
Following Blackford’s departure from the council, former mayor Chad Edwards was selected to fill the vacancy, but he is again stepping down, creating a two‑year term opening. Voters chose Wendy DeGroot for that term, earning 223 votes over challenger Marshall Hope’s 184.
Council members Rhonda Stypa and Dale Shelden ran unopposed for four‑year terms, receiving 300 and 268 votes respectively.
Casper College Board of Trustees
Three trustees were elected from a field of seven. Dave Applegate led with 8,824 votes, Anna Kinder followed with 8,220, and Ryan McConnaughey secured the third seat with 6,275 votes.
Other local boards and judges
Natrona County School District 1 saw four unopposed candidates win four‑year terms, including incumbents Kevin Christopherson and Michael P. Stedillie and newcomers Eric Nelson and Taylor Rosty.
Fire‑district elections returned Bryan Vandal (1,583 votes) and Brenda Hurless (1,220 votes) to two‑year unexpired terms, while John Bentley won a full four‑year term unopposed.
Conservation District directors Laura Miles (9,222 votes) and Tammy Cobb (8,999 votes) were elected, defeating Zarryn T. Hinchen (4,579 votes).
Other district boards filled seats without opposition, including the Casper Mountain Fire Protection District (Robert D. Davis, Kevin Knopik) and the Natrona County Senior Citizen Service District (Ruth Doyle, Jane Ifland, Crystal Morse).
Judicial retention
Natrona County voters retained Seventh District Court judges Kerri M. Johnson (14,629 for, 4,109 against) and Daniel Forgey (14,211 for, 4,837 against). Judge Cynthia Sweet also earned retention with 14,284 votes in favor and 4,052 against.
Wyoming Supreme Court justices Bridget Hill and Robert C. Jarosh, along with Chancery Court Judge Ben Burningham, were retained statewide, each receiving well over 119,000 votes in favor.
All totals remain unofficial pending certification by county and state canvassing boards.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
