Stuff For The Ballot 2008

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

By PJH Staff

Chamber breaks from federal chamber partnership
Jackson Hole, Wyo.-The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce’s decision to break ties with a U.S. Chamber of Commerce program over its endorsement of a Wyoming political candidate marked the first time a member group has terminated the partnership this election cycle, a spokesperson with the U.S. Chamber said this week.

Jackson Hole Chamber Director Tim O’Donoghue said his organization broke ties with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Federation Partnership, because of the U.S. Chamber’s endorsement of Republican Cynthia Lummis over Wilson Democrat Gary Trauner for Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat.

O’Donoghue explained the endorsement violates Jackson Hole Chamber policy, adding the organization – based on discussions with its members – takes issue with Lummis’ opposition to protect the Wyoming Range.

About 430 chambers of commerce throughout the country participate in free partnership, but Jackson is the only one to have quit the networking program over the U.S. Chamber’s endorsement, according to a U.S. Chamber spokesperson, Dan Fedigan.

Cheyenne Chamber director Dale Steenbergen said for his chamber, the partnership benefits, free “tools for business,” for chamber members outweigh the occasional political endorsement.
- Ben Cannon

Trend favors Obama
According to recent data, young Wyomingites in Teton County seem to be increasingly supportive of the Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama.
In 2004, the last presidential election year, the number of registered valley Democrats, ages 18 to 30, was approximately 713, according to the Teton County Clerk’s Office. For this year’s upcoming election, the numbers have already climbed to 941. Registered Republican voters in the same age range, however, dipped from roughly 694 in the year 2004 to 588 this year. Residents can still register as absentee voters on Election Day.

Liberal voter trends in the valley are not isolated to young people. The overall number of registered Dems in Teton County grew from approximately 2,739 in 2004 to 4,161 in 2008. In contrast, approximately 6,277 Republican voters registered during the last presidential election, and this year numbers have declined to 5,598. “I’ve never seen anything like it’s been this year,” said executive director of the Wyoming Democratic Party Bill Lucket.  “We’ve had record crowds at state events and 13 times more people at county caucuses.”
Lucket said strong Democratic candidates, a wavering economy and the war in Iraq have contributed to a mounting number of Wyo. Democrats.
– Robyn Vincent

China discussion
A presentation at the Center for the Arts will look at implications of China’s rise to power, its role as an energy competitor, potential friend and threat to the United States, and the challenges it offers our next president.

A half hour talk from Dr. Robert Ross, extensively published on U.S.-China relations, will be followed by short presentations from a panel of experts and questions from the audience. Panelists come from Shangai University, the University of Wyoming and  the Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs. 10 a.m. Saturday in Dance Studio One.
– Henry Sweets

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Stuff For The Ballot 2008 | Planet JH News Article: General Politics

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