Steve Nickles

Steve Nickles says he and his family have always felt that giving back to the community is one of most important things a person can do. And that’s a big reason why Nickles decided to run for the Powell City Council.

“Some people may think [of] that as a feather-in-their-cap kind of job, and I don’t really feel like that,” he said. “It’s part of being a part of your community and giving back — and really being of service to your community.”

In a recent interview, Nickles, 59, said he wouldn’t bring any agenda to the job and isn’t looking to shake things up.

“I think the council has done a really great job for us in this community for a long time, and I want to continue that,” he said. “I want to learn how it works, I want to keep our services affordable … and I want our services to continue.”

Background

Nickles moved to Powell in 1994 and he and his wife Megan raised their three children here; all three of their kids — who are now adults — graduated from Northwest College.

Nickles was a long-range commuter, as he spent 32 years working in the oilfield in Alaska. That included overseeing 200-plus people as the North Slope manager for a company called Little Red Services.

He retired from that position in 2019, and now works for the Wyoming Department of Transportation in emergency communications as a roadside network specialist.

Nickles has also been active on multiple boards, including those that oversee the Thomas the Apostle Center in Cody and the Plaza Diane Community Center for the Arts in downtown Powell. 

“For people who don’t really know me, you might know me as the guy who does the sound [at Plaza Diane],” he said.

Nickles has also served on the Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, which manages a significant amount of money for the church’s various charitable efforts around the state. For instance, the foundation helps fund the food pantry operated by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Powell, where Megan is the priest-in-charge.

Past experience

While he’s looking forward to learning more, Nickles already has some knowledge of how the city works and has attended some of its meetings. 

For example, when the city announced plans a couple years ago to effectively annex homeowners’ private rooftop solar systems, Nickles spoke up.

“I got involved in that, because I didn’t think it was right,” said Nickles, who owns one of the few systems in town.

The city ultimately dropped that part of its proposal, he said, while making less controversial changes to the way it handles private solar power and systems.

In 2020, Nickles asked the council to lift the city’s ban on beekeeping, but was turned down; Nickles said he has no plans to revisit the issue if he’s elected.

He mentioned that he wants to be a representative for all community members and not just a few.

“I hope that people will talk to me about their concerns,” he said, “and I will do what I can to either help them with those concerns, or you know, explain to them why those things have to be the way they are.”

Over the past year, the city council became involved in an extended controversy over whether to let a resident keep a pet goat. After a lawsuit from the owner, the council granted a permit for the goat, but then effectively closed the door on any other “exotic pets.” However, Nickles believes the issue will probably resurface.

If and when it does, “I will represent my constituency on how they want to handle it,” he said. “The only thing I ask is that if you have a strong feeling about something that’s happening in [the] city, that you will let me know … 

“Because we are a representative [government],” he said. “It’s not Steve’s government.”

The upcoming primary

Nickles also encouraged everyone to participate in the Aug. 18 primary election.

“It’s important for our state, our nation and our community,” he said. “However you do vote is fine with me; I just want everybody to get out and vote, because that is a part of being a citizen of this country and exercising your rights.”

All Ward 1 voters — Republicans, Democrats and those who are independent or with a third party — will help winnow the field of council contenders from five to two. The other candidates vying to replace outgoing Councilman Steve Lensegrav are David Bryan, Holly Cole, Jim Core and Crystal Reese.

Ward 1 is made up of the northeastern part of the city, including everything east of Division Street and, generally, north of Third Street.