Jackson, Wyo. — The recent Teton County Coroner candidate forum brought attention to several issues facing the office, including the potential conversion of space above the morgue into affordable housing, managing the annual budget, and upgrading the existing morgue space.

Leadership and Oversight

Some candidates criticized the current leadership under Dr. Brent Blue, who is running for Teton County Commissioner. They questioned his level of involvement in death investigations and his physical presence at death scenes.

In response, Dr. Blue stated that he wasn’t upset by the comments and rejected the suggestion that the office lacks oversight. He emphasized that the coroner’s office is run professionally and that his limited presence at death scenes reflects the office’s staffing, not neglect.

Dr. Blue highlighted the improvements made to the coroner’s office since he took over 12 years ago, saying it’s now run professionally. He also addressed accusations about his on-call shifts and absence, explaining that taking shifts would affect his deputies’ income, which he wants to avoid.

Budget and Management

Regarding the office’s budget of around $250,000 per year, Dr. Blue mentioned that he has consistently come in under budget annually. He attributed this to his frugal approach to running the office.

The primary election is approaching, with one Republican and one Democrat set to advance to the general election. The next coroner will inherit the questions raised at the forum, including the use of space above the morgue, budget management, and the level of presence required at death scenes.

Original reporting: Buckrail (Jackson WY) — read the source article.