TORRINGTON – Being commissioner is another way Colby Ochsner hopes to be involved in the community.

Ochsner is one of 11 candidates running for the two open county commissioner seats currently held by John Ellis and Cody Cox.

For Ochsner, being involved helps to improve the community and make it a better place to be.

“I feel that it’s important for all of us to have a healthy county and safe place to live and raise families,” he said.

Ochsner does not have a stand-alone issue he is planning to focus on if elected, but instead hopes to establish a strong partnership with the municipalities and Goshen Economic Development.

“That’s important to me to build and grow those relationships and also to just bring a county-wide perspective to the commission,” Ochsner said.

While county commissioner would be Ochsner’s first public office position, he has also spent time on the Goshen County Economic Development board, the Fort Laramie Historical Association board and the Eastern Wyoming College board of trustees. Ochsner added he is also currently involved in local issues and has an understanding of what is going on in the county.

“I hope that experience has prepared me to have a position like county commissioner and I think it has,” he said.

“The main thing for me is that I want to have a sustainable county for generations to come and I think there’s several aspects of that, but as county commissioner I know that I would always examine any issue or challenge or new thing with a level minded perspective and vote with my conscience.”  

The primary election will be on Aug. 16.