Anfinson Picked for Council

Six locals apply for Vinnola’s vacant seat

By JUSTIN PITTMAN
Reporter/Photographer

After several weeks of collecting applications, hours of interviews, deliberation and a straw poll, the Glenrock Town Council has tentatively chosen Glenrock School District teacher Chase Anfinson to become the next council member.

“Part of my (choice) comes from all the input I’ve had from the community. I’ve had quite a few phone calls, people stopping me on the street,” Councilwoman Rosalie Goff said. “They all mentioned one person in particular, so I’m thinking that’s part of my deliberation.”

Councilwoman Linda Care said she had received similar public input in favor of Anfinson, as well.

Councilman Carl Lembke was the only member of the delegation that did not choose Anfinson as their preferred applicant in the informal poll.

“The reason that I went the direction that I did is, I think, Chase has higher-level politic in mind as a goal,” explained Lembke, who chose Roger Tresch. “I think we need a long-term commitment and I think that Roger would give us that.”

Anfinson did make an unsuccessful run for the Wyoming House District 6 seat in 2008.

Most members of the council agreed that the decision between Tresch and Anfinson had been difficult.

Anfinson said he felt like the primary duty of a council member is to act as a “sounding board” for the community.

“We work for them,” Anfinson said. “Living in the town of Glenrock, I think they expect things like trash and roads and those kinds of things. And those are the kinds of things we need to deliver for them.”

Anfinson also encouraged “smart” development, while acknowledging the diversity of opinions in town.

“I know there is a segment of the population, maybe a majority of it too, that loves the fact that we’re a small town and they don’t want to have this place turn into Douglas,” Anfinson said.

Anfinson will fill the seat left vacant by the January resignation of veteran councilman Bruce Vinnola.

The council seemed to have come to a concensus at a March 1 special meeting held to interview applicants for the position, but Glenrock Mayor Steve Cielinski must still formally nominate Anfinson and the council formally approve him by majority vote at their next regular meeting.

This is part of the March 4, 2010 online edition of The Glenrock Independent.

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