By Leo Wolfson, State Politics Reporter
Leo@Cowboystatedaily.com
Republican Jon Conrad of Mountain View fended off a formidable write-in opponent and a Democrat in Tuesday’s general election for House District 19.
“It feels great, it’s a great relief,” Conrad said about the win. “I’m extremely excited and humbled. Now the real work of bringing the people of Uinta County together begins.”
Conrad received 1,748 votes, beating out write-in Republican candidate Joe Webb by 827 votes, a margin of 26% of the vote. Democrat Sarah Butters received 374 votes.
Although Conrad won the Republican primary, the Uinta County Republican Party chose to endorse Webb instead. Conrad is engaged in a lawsuit with the Uinta County GOP that is being considered by the Wyoming Supreme Court.
He said although he has taken the high road and not criticized his Republicans opponents during the campaign, they did not return the favor.
“They were pretty ugly,” he said.
Conrad beat Karl Allred and Andy Stocks in the Aug. 16 primary by more than 10% of the vote.
Conrad said his general election win gives him hope that one doesn’t need to sling mud to be successful in politics.
“These are always challenging, these times,” he said. “Even locally, even nationally, it can be discouraging. But I just keep trying to be positive.”
According to his campaign website, Conrad plans to protect conservative Republican values and guard “against infringement of increased political agendas that are counter to our conservative Republican values, platform and beliefs.”
Conrad wants to ensure American Rescue Plan Act money is accounted for in Wyoming and to make “common sense solutions that are constituency based.”
HD 19 is a seat now held by state Rep. Danny Eyre, R-Lyman. Lyman was the only precinct in Uinta County that Conrad did not win.
