Letter to the Editor: Disregard of election results

Dear Editor,

This letter is about election integrity and the voices of the voters being heard. Last night, I watched in disbelief as Ron Wild was sworn in as a board member at Western Wyoming Community College. His appointment as a board member was permitted by Western Wyoming Community College’s Policy 7210F. This policy permits the board to handpick their next board member if a board member is unable to fulfil their term.

Dr. Veronica Donaldson resigned in January, 65 days after being elected to the Board. She cited that she would be moving out of the district. Two candidates asked to replace her; Dr. Angela Thatcher and Ron Wild. Both of these candidates submitted letters of intent and interviewed. And, both of these candidates were on the ballot in November for this very position. Dr. Thatcher finished behind Dr. Donaldson by 293 votes. Ron Wild finished behind Dr. Thatcher by 1074 votes.

Elections are rather sacred to most of us. We believe in the process. A community college is built by and funded by the people of that community. How is it that the college feels it is within their rights to not respect the election results?  Yes, there is a policy in place to ensure a board member is replaced within 30 days of a board member resigning. But should the election results be ignored after only two months? If the college is going to blatantly disregard the will of the people then why do we bother with a voting process for board members?

The function of the board is to govern the college. The president answers to the board. It is a way of ensuring checks and balances within the institution. Unfortunately, those checks and balances are not in place when the very people who fund the college are ignored. This has clearly happened in this scenario as they chose the candidate who clearly lost to the other candidate. Think it doesn’t matter? Think again. When we allow flagrant disregard of election results so soon after an election we are absolutely giving up an important civil right. It matters not if this is a board position or senator, your voices should be heard.

Teresa Shafe

Green River