Schedule for Chamber Candidate Forums Announced; All Are Invited to Attend

The Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee is hosting a series of Candidate Forums for the primary election candidates on Monday, July 20, and Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the WYO Theater as well as on Thursday, July 23, at 6 p.m. at the Tongue River Valley Community Center in Dayton.

The forums provide an opportunity for those running in contested and uncontested races for elected office in the Aug. 18, 2026, primary election to share information about themselves and their platforms. Candidates in contested races will give a brief introduction, followed by a Q&A period and a closing statement, while uncontested candidates will provide brief statements. All forums will begin at 6 p.m. and are free and open to the community.

Featured races on July 20 include: County Coroner, County Sheriff, County Clerk, County Commissioners, Sheridan Councilmembers, Clerk of the District Court (uncontested), County Treasurer (uncontested), County Assessor (uncontested) and County Attorney (uncontested).

Confirmed candidates for July 20 include Korkie Knudtson (County Assessor); Dianna Bennett (County Attorney); Rene Botten (Clerk of District Court); Eda Schunk Thompson, Christine Temple and Dylan Dalton (County Clerk and Recorder); Jim Schellinger, Holly Jennings, Karla Kaley, Christi Haswell, Harley Shuck, Dennis Fox and Glenn Drummond (County Commissioner); Robert Byrd and Kevin Sessions (County Coroner); William Levi Dominguez and Kenneth Howard Fitzpatrick (County Sheriff); Katie Araas (County Treasurer); and Greg Luhman, Amber Horsley, Terry Weitzel, Andrew Patceg and Harry Pollak (Sheridan City Council).

Featured races on July 21 include: U.S. Senate, Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Senator – District 21, State Representative – District 29, State Representative – District 30, State Representative – District 40, State Representative – District 51 and State Auditor.

Confirmed candidates for July 21 include: Jimmy Skovgard, John Allan Holtz, Billy Benavidez and James Byrd (U.S. Senate); Brent Bien, Eric Barlow and Megan Degenfelder (Governor); Robert Short, Bryan McCartey and Qwenton Eagle Oviatt (Secretary of State); Curt Meier (State Treasurer); Chad Auer, Steve Harshman, Tom Kelly and Sergio A. Maldonado Sr. (Superintendent of Public Instruction); Melissa Butcher (State Senator – District 21); James Temple and Myca Sturtevant (State Representative – District 29); Mark Jennings and Ryan Koltiska (State Representative – District 30); Marilyn Connolly and Mark Jones (State Representative – District 40); and Laurie Bratten and Susan Bigelow (State Representative – District 51).

Featured races on July 23 include: State Senator – District 21, State Representative – District 5, County Coroner, County Sheriff, County Clerk, County Commissioners, Dayton Mayor, Ranchester Mayor, Dayton Council, Ranchester Council, Clerk of the District Court (uncontested), County Treasurer (uncontested), County Assessor (uncontested) and County Attorney (uncontested).

Confirmed candidates for July 23 include Korkie Knudtson (County Assessor); Dianna Bennett (County Attorney); Rene Botten (Clerk of District Court); Eda Schunk Thompson, Christine Temple and Dylan Dalton (County Clerk and Recorder); Jim Schellinger, Holly Jennings, Karla Kaley, Christi Haswell, Harley Shuck, Dennis Fox and Glenn Drummond (County Commissioner); Robert Byrd and Kevin Sessions (County Coroner); William Levi Dominguez and Kenneth Howard Fitzpatrick (County Sheriff); Katie Araas (County Treasurer); Bret Barney and Hanle Visser (Dayton Mayor); Guy Mitchell, Angela Norton, Aric Rees and Robert “Bobby” Logan (Dayton Town Council); Jessica Weaver and Bryan Helferich (Ranchester Mayor); Richard Hofmeier, Tim Maze and Terry Roelfsma (Ranchester Town Council); Melissa Butcher (State Senator – District 21); and Laurie Bratten and Susan Bigelow (State Representative – District 51).

All questions will be asked by the moderator during the events. Due to time limitations, no direct questions from the audience will be allowed.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. The July 20 and 21 forums will be livestreamed and recorded. The recordings will be available within 48 hours on the Chamber’s YouTube channel and website, sheridanwyomingchamber.org.

For more information, contact the Chamber at (307) 672-2485.