Local governments in Park County could get a big shakeup in this year’s elections. 

Not only did a number of challengers file for the county’s partisan and municipal offices ahead of Friday’s deadline, several current officials are retiring and several others are looking to move into different positions.

As an indication of the high interest in this campaign season, 11 Republicans are seeking the three available seats on the county commission, while another 11 candidates announced bids for four nonpartisan seats on the Powell City Council.

On top of that, more than 150 local Republicans are hoping to land the 108 available seats on the county party’s central committee, which governs the local GOP’s affairs.

In contrast, only two local Democrats filed for the 46 open precinct positions within that county party. Additionally, for the fourth straight election cycle, no Park County Democrats filed for any of the available partisan offices. That means many races may be settled in the Republican primary election.

Park County Commission

Commissioner Dossie Overfield is exiting the board at the end of the year, leaving one seat wide open, while commissioners Scott Steward and Lloyd Thiel are both seeking reelection. They’ll compete with former Commissioner Bucky Hall, current County Treasurer Barb Poley, Duncan Bonine of Powell, Andrew Whitlock of Powell, Joseph Baugher of Cody, Sen. Dan Laursen of Powell, Karin Richard of Cody, Tim Lasseter of Cody, and Sandra Allshouse of Cody.

Candidate Nicole Forsberg of Clark dropped out on May 26.

Park County Treasurer

With Poley exiting the treasurer’s role, her top deputy, Anne Lawler of Powell, is seeking to lead the office for the next four years. However, Lawler has competition from Powell City Councilman Troy Bray, who filed for the office on Wednesday. Bray is in the middle of his four-year term on the Powell City Council.

Park County Attorney

After 24 years as the Park County and prosecuting attorney, Bryan Skoric is leaving the post, and two of his deputy prosecutors are competing to replace him.

Powell-based deputy Ericka Smith announced her candidacy early in the filing period, while fellow deputy Marina Tucker of Cody declared her candidacy on Friday. Both attorneys joined the office last year.

Park County Clerk

Clerk Colleen Renner of Cody is retiring after three terms, and her top deputy, Hans Odde, is seeking to replace her, alongside military veteran Jimmy Rush of Wapiti.

Other county offices

County Coroner Cody Gortmaker is unopposed in his bid for a second term, as is Sheriff Darrell Steward and Assessor Terry Call, who was appointed to that role last year.

Lynell Preston of Cody, a former deputy Park County Clerk of District Court, is unopposed in her bid to take over that office from retiring Clerk Deb Carroll.

Powell City Council

There’s no shortage of candidates vying to replace outgoing Councilman Steve Lengsegrav in Ward 1. David Bryan, Crystal Reese, Holly Cole, James Core and Steve Nickles all threw their names into the ring.

Meanwhile, longtime Ward 3 Councilman Tim Sapp is facing three challengers: Justin Waterworth, Venus “Freedom” Bontadelli — who sued the city last year over its refusal to permit her pet goat — and Lupe Bickford.

Laurie Larsen initially filed for the Ward 3 seat, but withdrew from the race on Thursday.

Over in Ward 2, Councilwoman Kristy Fields is facing a challenge from John Sinskie. The council appointed Fields to replace the late Councilman Floyd Young last year, and now she and Sinskie are both asking voters to let them serve out the final two years of Young’s term.

The only candidate to go unopposed was Ward 2 Councilman Zane Logan, who is seeking reelection to another four-year term.

Other municipal races

Over in Cody, City Council President Don Shreve is seeking a second term representing Ward 1, but he’s facing a challenge from Dan Schein. Meanwhile, Ward 2 Councilwoman Kelly Tamblyn is unopposed in her reelection bid, while Joseph Burrell was the only candidate to file for the Ward 3 seat currently held by Councilwoman Emily Swett.

Down in Meeteetse, Mayor Bill Yetter is seeking a fourth term and will face Town Councilman Dusty Taylor. Councilman Eric Scott, meanwhile, is seeking reelection, while J.T. Currie and Jason Summers are also seeking the two available seats on the council.

Senate District 19

With Laursen exiting the Legislature, a pair of Powell Republicans — current state Rep. Paul Hoeft and former Sen. R. J. Kost — are vying for the seat.

The district includes the Powell area and northern Big Horn County.

House District 24

Freshman Rep. Nina Webber, R-Cody, is making a bid for a second term, but she’s being opposed by Cody hotelier Quin Blair in the Republican primary. The district represents the western side of Cody, Wapiti and the northern section of Yellowstone National Park.

House District 25

With Rep. Hoeft running for the Senate, Powell Mayor John Wetzel and Navy contractor Matt Legler are both running for the Powell area seat. 

Wetzel is currently in the middle of a four-year term as mayor.

House District 26

As Rep. Dalton Banks, R-Cowley, seeks a third term, he’s facing competition from Republican Addison Aagard of Lovell. The district includes the Garland area, along with northern Big Horn County.

House District 28

The pending exit of Rep. John Winter, R-Thermopolis, has drawn a quartet of potential Republican replacements. They include Meeteetse rancher Allen Hogg, Thermopolis attorney Marshall Keller, Otto rancher Carlin Jones and Roland Luehne, the owner of the Star Plunge water park in Thermopolis.

The district is one of the state’s largest, stretching from just south of Cody to south of Moneta.

House District 50

Two Cody Republicans are seeking to replace Rep. Rachel Williams, R-Cody, who is leaving the Legislature at the end of the year and running for Secretary of State.

Attorney David Hill is making a second run for the seat, along with Levi Asay, a doctor of audiology.

Park County Republican Party Chairman Vince Vanata had filed for the seat last week, but withdrew his candidacy on Monday.

Libertarian Carrie Satterwhite of Ralston is also in the race and will appear on the general election ballot in November.

The district includes the eastern portion of Cody, along with Clark, Heart Mountain, Ralston, Sunlight and Crandall.

(Editor's note: This version corrects commission candidate Duncan Bonine's place of residence.)