There’s More I Want to Accomplish
Hello, and Happy Old West Days!
I’m thrilled to announce I’m running for re-election to Jackson’s Town Council.
I’ve spent the last several months asking myself a simple question: How can I best give back to this place that you and I and so many others love so deeply and care so much about?
After much deliberation, I’ve determined that, if Jackson’s voters see fit, the answer is to serve another term in office.
Ultimately, my thinking was framed by the three words at the top of this newsletter, the three words that summarize why I first ran for office four years ago: Sustain What Matters.
What matters is this town. This community. This region. Country. Planet.
What matters is our people. Our ecosystem. Our economy.
My goal; my dream
My goal is to work with you, our community, and my colleagues to help Jackson Hole attain its vision: “Preserve and protect the area’s ecosystem in order to ensure a healthy environment, community and economy for current and future generations.”
If we can do that, together we can make ours a better, more sustainable world for everyone.
My dream is to create a greater sense of hope. An optimism informed by a clear-eyed understanding of where we are, where we want to be, and the forces shaping our future. A focus on not just what matters, but sustaining what matters.
My record
I’m proud of the work I’ve done during my time in office, in particular leading the charge to create the nation’s first-ever Ecosystem Stewardship Administrator position.
Working with my fellow councilors and the town staff, I’ve also played a key role in helping bring a more sophisticated and forward-looking approach to the town’s budgeting process and other government functions.
Community-wide, there is far more affordable housing today than there was four years ago. Far more support for local social services agencies. A far more robust START transit system than when I was sworn in.
And then, of course, there was COVID.
I’m so proud of the fact that, despite everything COVID threw at our community, the town’s incredible staff was able to continue providing Jackson’s residents, businesses, and visitors with our pre-COVID level of core services (e.g., police and fire, streets, and water and sewer). I’m equally proud that we did this while balancing our budget and not laying off staff.
Perhaps most important of all, from the moment the pandemic struck we forged tremendous partnerships with Jackson Hole’s business and health care communities to help them – and all of us – weather the COVID storm.
The issues
Unfortunately, successfully dealing with COVID slowed the town’s efforts to address other issues. Now that COVID is waning, the town can turn its energies to seizing the community’s many opportunities and addressing our myriad challenges. A short list includes housing, social services, transit, tourism’s future, community character, water quality and other aspects of environmental health.
As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts about these and other items on your mind.
Tackling these issues won’t be easy, but it’s what our community deserves. The public/private/non-profit partnerships and collaborations we formed during COVID offer a model for taking on even the most complex challenges facing Jackson Hole.
Why me?
If re-elected, I will bring to the job a singular combination of experience, temperament, and knowledge. A singular understanding of the depth and breadth of the issues facing our town and region, as well as how to get things done in Jackson and beyond. With your support and a bit of luck, these qualities will allow me to be an even more effective public servant over the next four years.
Most importantly, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to continue to give back to this place that has given me so much. Or, put another way, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to help Sustain What Matters.
What’s next?
Between now and Election Day, I’ll be using this newsletter to share news about my campaign and offer thoughts about issues facing the Town of Jackson. If you would like to subscribe, please CLICK HERE.
In the run-up to 2022’s election, here are some key dates:
- Primary Election Day is Tuesday, August 16
- Absentee voting runs from Friday, July 1 – Monday, August 15
- General Election Day is Tuesday, November 8
- Absentee voting runs from Friday, September 23 – Monday, November 7
To vote absentee in person, go by the Teton County Administration Building @ 200 S. Willow Street from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday.
To those requesting them, absentee ballots will be mailed starting July 1 for the Primary, and starting September 23 for the General. Absentee ballots must be received by 7:00 pm on Election Day.
CLICK HERE to request an absentee ballot.
CLICK HERE for voter registration information.
How you can help
If you would like to help my campaign, please consider these opportunities:
- Spread the word
- Please forward this e-newsletter to others who might be interested
- To subscribe, please CLICK HERE
- Personal support
- To endorse my candidacy, volunteer, or otherwise share your support, please CLICK HERE
- Financial support
- Donations of any amount are welcome, and accepted with the deepest gratitude
- To donate on-line, please CLICK HERE
- To donate by check, please make your check payable to JS4JH and mail it to P.O. Box 4672, Jackson WY 83001
- The fine print:
- Wyoming law limits individual donations to $3,000: $1,500 during the primary and $1,500 during the general election.
- I have chosen not to take donations from corporations, political action committees, and the like.
As always, thank you so much for your interest and support.
Jonathan