City Council Candidate Questionnaire: Ward One

City Council races are nonpartisan. The city is divided into three City Council wards with three councilors apiece. A ward boundary map can be found at: https://www.cityoflaramie.org/DocumentCenter/View/22481/EO1805LaramieDistricting2021?bidId=

A City Council term lasts for four years. Terms are staggered to facilitate continuity. In 2026, four of the nine council seats are up for election: one each in Wards 1 and 2, and two in Ward 3.

Because the number of candidates filed in Ward One equal twice the number of seats up for election, no candidates will be eliminated in the primary election on August 18; both will move forward to the general election on November 3.

Candidates are listed by ward, then alphabetically by last name.

Eric Henderson

Candidate Henderson’s responses were submitted late. Nonetheless they are presented here to help inform voters.

1. For starters, a big picture question: What do you see as the major issues affecting the city’s water supply, now and in the future, and how would you address them?

Laramie is fortunate to have a diversified water system supplied by both the Big Laramie River and the Casper Aquifer. The City currently reports that the Casper Aquifer provides approximately 60 percent of Laramie’s municipal drinking water and all of the drinking water used by homeowners living within the aquifer recharge area.

Our greatest long-term challenges include protecting water quality, preparing for extended drought, maintaining reliable water treatment and distribution infrastructure, managing responsible growth, and preserving adequate water resources for future generations.

As a City Council member, I would:

Protect both the Big Laramie River and the Casper Aquifer rather than becoming overly dependent on either source.
Support proactive maintenance and replacement of drinking water infrastructure before failures occur.
Use reliable groundwater, streamflow, and water-demand data when evaluating future development.
Ensure new growth demonstrates adequate water and infrastructure capacity.
Continue implementing the Casper Aquifer Protection Plan in partnership with Albany County.
Expand conservation efforts, leak detection, and public education before shortages become emergencies.

Residents deserve to understand where their water comes from, the challenges ahead, and how today’s decisions affect tomorrow. The best vote is an informed vote. Good stewardship means planning decades ahead—not simply reacting to today’s challenges.

2. Specifically, climate change models suggest continuing drought conditions. In the event of continuing drought, what suggestions do you have for reducing demands for water from the municipal system?

Conservation should begin with education and voluntary action, while the City continues to review, explain, and strengthen its Water Availability Operation Plan as conditions require.

I would support:

Leading by example through efficient irrigation practices at parks, athletic fields, and other municipal facilities.
Repairing leaks throughout the City’s distribution system.
Helping residents improve water efficiency through education, irrigation audits, and incentives when financially feasible.
Encouraging drought-tolerant landscaping and smart irrigation practices.
Using objective measures—including river flows, snowpack, aquifer conditions, treatment capacity, and projected demand—to guide each stage of drought response.
Protecting essential household water needs while discouraging unnecessary discretionary use.
Ensuring large new water users clearly demonstrate how their needs can be met during prolonged drought.

The least expensive gallon of water is the one we never have to pump, treat, or deliver. Conservation protects both our water supply and our taxpayers. My goal is not simply to impose restrictions—it is to make thoughtful decisions that protect our community while keeping residents informed every step of the way.

3. Most of the Aquifer Protection Overlay Zone (APOZ) lies outside the Laramie city limits in the county, and includes private domestic wells east of town, but most of the water drinkers live within the city limits (Laramie municipal system and South of Laramie Water & Sewer District).

Describe some specific ways that you, as a Laramie City Council member, could work with the County Commission on aquifer protection issues.

The Casper Aquifer does not recognize city limits. Protecting it requires strong cooperation between the City of Laramie, Albany County, property owners, and residents.

As a Council member, I would support:

Regular joint City-County work sessions focused on aquifer protection.
Continued implementation of the jointly adopted Casper Aquifer Protection Plan.
Making full use of the jointly appointed Environmental Advisory Committee.
Sharing groundwater monitoring, water quality, and development information.
Coordinating review of proposed development within sensitive recharge areas.
Developing joint emergency response plans for contamination events.
Pursuing state and federal grants together.
Expanding public education for residents living within the recharge area.

Aquifer protection works best when local governments and citizens work together. Lasting solutions come through collaboration—not surprises. Respecting the County’s land-use authority while protecting this shared resource benefits everyone who depends upon clean, reliable water.

4. The Laramie City Council relies on appointed boards to help make decisions that can affect water quality (for example, the Laramie Planning Commission and the Environmental Advisory Committee).

In evaluating applicants to serve on these boards, how would you balance technical expertise, practical experience, political philosophy, and temperament? Which of these is most important to you in deciding among applicants?

Good public policy requires knowledgeable people who are willing to listen, ask thoughtful questions, evaluate evidence fairly, and work respectfully with others.

Temperament and sound judgment would be the most important qualities I look for in each applicant. Technical expertise is extremely valuable, particularly on planning and environmental issues, but successful boards also benefit from practical experience, neighborhood perspectives, business knowledge, and independent thinking.

Political philosophy should never become a loyalty test. I want board members who carefully review the facts, disclose conflicts of interest, respect differing viewpoints, and explain their recommendations openly.

Boards and commissions should strengthen public confidence by making recommendations based upon facts, respectful discussion, and transparency. For the board as a whole, I would seek a balanced mix of scientific expertise, business experience, practical knowledge, and engaged citizens who reflect the diversity of our community.

5. Recently the City of Laramie and the University of Wyoming have had substantial disagreements over stormwater management and UW’s decision to drill its own well in the Casper Aquifer to water the golf course. The City has a new city manager, and UW is inaugurating a new president.

As a city councilor, how would you suggest the City and UW begin to resolve their differences?

The University of Wyoming and the City of Laramie are partners in our community’s future. While disagreements have occurred regarding groundwater, stormwater, and other infrastructure issues, the arrival of a new City Manager and a new University President presents an opportunity to strengthen communication and rebuild trust.

I would encourage regular leadership meetings involving City officials, University leadership, technical staff, and, when appropriate, Albany County representatives.

The first priorities should be:

Clearly identify outstanding issues and distinguish legal, financial, and technical questions.
Share available engineering, groundwater monitoring, and water-use information.
Establish standing technical working groups on water, stormwater, housing, transportation, and infrastructure.
Develop written agreements where appropriate regarding responsibilities, cost-sharing, and future dispute resolution.
Provide regular public updates so residents understand both the issues and the progress being made.

Regarding UW’s groundwater use, the parties should openly share available pumping, monitoring, and aquifer data, discuss conservation opportunities, and evaluate long-term alternatives—including reclaimed or non-potable water where practical and economically feasible.

My goal is not to choose sides. My goal is to bring people together, increase transparency, and help find solutions that serve the entire community. Both the City and the University have important responsibilities, and Laramie is strongest when they work together.

Tomorrow starts today. Building stronger relationships between the City, the University of Wyoming, Albany County, and our residents begins with communication, trust, transparency, and an informed public. After all, the best vote is an informed vote.

Nicholas Jesse

1. For starters, a big picture question: What do you see as the major issues affecting the city’s water supply, now and in the future, and how would you address them?

Ground Water Protection: The Casper Aquifer supplies 55% of the drinking water to Laramie’s 31,317 residents, with the Laramie River supplying the remainder. As a resident, born and raised in Laramie, I value and support the continued protection of Laramie’s water supply through safeguards like the Casper Aquifer Protection Plan. I would also work through intergovernmental relationships (i.e. city-county-state) to keep our water protected into the future. Designating the Pilot Hill area as public land was another great step in safeguarding our water.

Drought, Climate Change, and AI Data Centers: As many folks know, we are experiencing significant drought in western states and are seeing rising temperatures worldwide. The winter of 25-26 was one of the driest and warmest winters I have ever experienced in Laramie. We need to work to reduce water-intensive practices by:

1. Building relationships with experts in native and drought tolerant planting practices and expanding community education by partnering with organizations like UW Extension
2. Working with developers to build sustainability and community needs into their planning and building models
3. Rebuilding relationships with the University of Wyoming to ensure campus watering practices are in the best interest of the greater Laramie community
4. Scrutinizing water- and energy-intensive development like AI data centers and working with the county to ensure that water protection is a top priority when large- scale economic, residential, and industrial development is on the table.

2. Specifically, climate change models and near-term weather forecasts suggest continuing drought conditions.

In the event of continuing drought, what suggestions do you have for reducing demands for water from the municipal system?

The city of Laramie has issued water restrictions in the past, and the Laramie River has seen a steep decrease in flows recently. I would be in support of water restrictions if absolutely necessary to reduce the strain on the system. I would work with the city parks department to expand native planting practices to reduce irrigation in public spaces and would work to broaden the use of drought tolerant micro clover planting practices within our city parks. I would also continue engaging with experts, non-profits, and community organizations to provide free educational programming which promotes water conservation.

Describe some specific ways that you, as a Laramie City Council member, could work with the County Commission on aquifer protection issues.

Intergovernmental relations and communication are key to the success of the protection

mechanisms that have been built already. The aquifer covers both city and county boundaries, and it is our responsibility as elected officials to build relationships across agencies and promote cooperation to ensure the protection of and access to our public resources into the future. I would leverage diverse community input and build awareness through public forums to ensure folks at all levels are involved in the process.

It is important that folks who are doing work on appointed committees align with the mission of the committee. Access to quality drinking water is a non-partisan issue and I believe it is important that we appoint applicants who are willing to learn, to trust the science, and to understand the unique needs of the Laramie community. I think that having expertise is incredibly important when dealing with public resources, but it is equally important to balance expertise with community needs and public input.

As a city councilor, how would you suggest the City and UW begin to resolve their differences?

The relationship between the university and the city is mutually beneficial, and it is important that the university and the city work together for the benefit of the greater Laramie community. I would bring a collaborative approach to city government that would see all parties work together to find a solution. The challenges facing Laramie matter deeply to both the city and the University and inviting the University to have a seat at the table is a step in the right direction. With new leadership on both sides, we have an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen that relationship.