TORRINGTON – Former Lingle mayor and town judge Russell ‘Pinky’ Walter has been appointed to the Goshen County Board of Commissioners to fill the seat vacated by Wally Wolski when Wolski accepted a presidential appointment to become the USDA Director of Rural Development for Wyoming.
Walter beat out candidates Cecil Sauer and Doug Mercer for the position.
During his interview, he told GCC Chairman John Ellis and Vice Chairman Cody Cox that his priorities will be improving the Goshen County Road and Bridge Department and keeping an eye on the county’s budget.
“A person needs to be aware of budget issues,” Walter said. “There’s a lot of things a person needs to look at, being prepared to cut and slash things if its needed, and to increase things if that’s needed.”
The commission chose Walter to join its ranks after interviewing him, Cecil Sauer and Doug Mercer for the position. The three candidates were put forward for consideration by the Goshen County Republicans.
During his interview, Walter outlined his past achievements in a variety of fields as experiences that will help him in the role.
“I was born and raised in Goshen County,” Walter said. “I graduated from Lingle High School, I taught at the college in Cheyenne for 10 years and I was the rodeo coach. I helped raise about 600 kids.”
Walter also highlighted his two-term run as the mayor of Lingle and the two years he spent as the town’s judge as valuable experiences. He was also one of the founders of the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Cox asked Walter what his priorities would be if he were in office, and Walter said one of his first priorities would be to work with Goshen County Road and Bridge.
“One thing I would do is tune up on road and bridge,” he said. “A lot of the operators need to go to school and learn how to run those graders. We’re wasting a lot of money right now by not doing the correct job.”
Walter also said he has experience making tough decisions for the county that may be unpopular amongst the populace. He cited a decision from his time as the Lingle mayor as an example.
“Years ago, a deal came down the pipe about a recreation center, a YMCA,” Walter said. “The way it was set up, they figured it would cost $1 million a year to run it. The county had to guarantee it would break even every year. It came down to vote. LaGrange voted against it. In Lingle, it was split 2-2. The mayor had the deciding vote, and I voted against it. I didn’t think the county needed to have that burden.
“I made a lot of enemies over that deal. It wasn’t a fun time.”
Walter said he didn’t foresee coming on to the commission and trying to immediately make changes, and that he thought the current commission was doing a good job carrying a heavy load.
“I don’t know of anything I’d like to see changed over some of the things I’ve brought up,” he said. “It’s a pretty good-sized load you guys have.”
