City of Laramie Mayor Brian Harrington announced early Wednesday afternoon his candidacy for the Albany County Board of County Commissioners, stating his intent to build on city-county cooperation.
“Taxpayers benefit when we all work together to maximize effectiveness,” Harrington wrote in a news release. “When we aren’t paying attention or we’re going at cross-purposes, that wastes money.”
Harrington pointed to an example of the recent reunification and update of the Casper Aquifer Protection Plan in the release.
“The Casper Aquifer doesn’t know where the city limit is,” Harrington said. “It made no sense to have different city and county plans.
“And for me, as a dad concerned for the health of my family, and as a business owner concerned with the health of our community, keeping our drinking water clean is a top priority.”
The city of Laramie and Albany County also have been working together to bring solar power to local government buildings, utilizing special programs and grants to pay for the installations, Harrington continued.
“It isn’t the answer for all our needs, but anything we can do to reduce power costs frees up funds for other services,” he said.
Local governments often find themselves at the mercy of state directives or restrictions on funding, but Harrington stated his belief is that “with a positive, respectful attitude, we can work through problems, and the dividends are worth it.”
As mayor, Harrington has worked with other City Council members to encourage development of affordable housing by reducing regulations and introducing new financial tools for residential development.
“A vibrant community requires leaders to continually assess what is needed and how to meet those needs,” Harrington said. “With our relatively-small population, we can be nimble and innovative.”
Harrington added the county provides critical services that residents need and want.
“Education funding, secure elections, property and vehicle records, law enforcement, recreational facilities and programs, road and bridge — there’s a lot going on,” said Harrington. “And it’s not easy to fund it all, in a county without mineral resources.”
Growing up in a family of limited means, Harrington mentioned he is no stranger to living on a budget.
“I know the value of hard work and the value of community support,” Harrington said. “I’m very committed to the partnerships the city and county have created with local nonprofits who work to meet community needs and lift people up, not knock them down.”
Harrington and his volunteers are planning a campaign focused on community issues and accountability.
“I am ready to earn your vote for county commission,” Harrington said.
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