A Letter to Park County Voters from Barb Poley

Dear Park County Neighbors,
For 44 years, my husband Ken and I have been blessed to call Park County our home. This is where we raised our two sons, and it is where we now watch our seven wonderful grandchildren grow. My roots here run deep, reaching back to my great-grandparents who were married in Cody around 1902. As a graduate of Cody High School and Northwest College, my commitment to this community is strong. Today, I am seeking your support to serve as one of your next Park County Commissioners.

My decision to run is rooted in a desire to ensure a strong, sustainable future for all of our families. I believe my unique professional background makes me highly qualified to guide our county forward.

Proven Financial Leadership

I spent 32 years in the local banking industry, working my way up from teller to bank manager. In this role, I managed audits, worked on budgets, and supervised employees. My experience on state and local boards has given me the skills to work effectively with our local and state legislators.

My community service includes roles with:

• Park County Leadership
• Wyoming Association of County Treasurers
• Wyoming Association of County Officials
• American Red Cross Board
• Cody Ambassadors
• Cody Soroptimists

A Record of Trusted Service

For the past 16 years, you have trusted me to serve as your elected Park County Treasurer. Together with an outstanding staff, our office achieved an unbroken streak of clean, independent financial audits over my four terms.

Inside Budget Experience

Since 2011, I have participated directly in annual budget preparations . I know exactly how county revenues are built and how to work alongside department heads to manage costs. Our county currently faces complex fiscal challenges, including recent revenue cuts due to changing legislative tax exemptions and shifting mineral evaluations.

To protect our community, I will focus on four clear priorities:

• Protecting Essential Infrastructure: Infrastructure is incredibly expensive. For example, when the Hunter Creek Bridge was recently damaged, emergency repairs were estimated to cost up to $1 million. Without healthy cash reserves, we cannot safely respond to unexpected disasters. I will protect these vital savings accounts.
• Smart Land Planning: If it is not completed before I take office, I will prioritize completing and implementing the updated Park County Land Use Plan. We must manage subdivision growth responsibly while fiercely protecting our rich agricultural heritage and respecting our Wyoming way of life.
• Economic Growth and Youth Retention: We must look at opportunities to expand our high-speed broadband so younger generations can build remote careers here, while still supporting and protecting our significant senior population. I will actively look at opportunities to support our key economic engines, such as the Yellowstone Regional Airport and our county road network, which serve as the vital lifelines for our local commerce, tourism, and daily transit.
• Civic Trust and Transparency: I urge our community to seek out verified facts over online speculation. I will always welcome inquiries about the county and work to ensure our government remains transparent.

I am running strictly on my proven work history, my deep financial background, my moral ethics, and my love for this county. I want to bring a steady, experienced, and frugal hand to the Board of County Commissioners to keep Park County the wonderful place it is.

I would be honored to earn your trust and your vote.

Sincerely,
Barb Poley
Candidate for Park County Commissioner

[Community Contributor]

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