CASPER, Wyo. — As the Aug. 18 primary election approaches, Oil City News is introducing candidate questionnaires to help voters make informed decisions at the ballot box.

Every candidate in the primary field was sent the same three questions and given a limit of 500 words, which could be distributed among their answers as they saw fit. To ensure a fair and direct line to the community, all responses are published exactly as submitted, without edits or alterations.

Candidates were asked:

• What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?
• If elected, how will you address these challenges?
• What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

Questionnaires are being published on a rolling basis online through Aug. 11. They will be accessible via the Oil City News Election Tracker.

Additionally, Oil City News will mail a comprehensive print voters guide directly to all Natrona County households in mid-July, featuring all questionnaires received by July 6.

Neil Jeske (R), Wyoming House District 59

What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?

affordability, inflation, and trust in government.

If elected, how will you address these challenges?

If elected, I would address the affordability challenge by working to eliminate the corporate socialism/welfare that is plaguing this state and return the taxes to the taxpayers. Money is best spent by the people who earned it, not the government. Currently, Political insiders and special interest are getting our tax dollars for increased profits while the taxpayers take the risk and losses. Eliminating the Wyoming Business Council, Wyoming Energy Authority and getting rid of the Wyoming Stable Token would be a great place to start. The $255 Million the Wyoming Energy Authority gave away in corporate welfare last year could be used to reduce property taxes, upgrade infrastructure, fund Department of Transportation roadside checks to bust illegal truck drivers to keep our motoring public safe.

Inflation can be reduced on the state level by lowering regulations. For example, Zoning laws, licensing requirements, and permitting processes. State spending is also a major issue, and it must be managed with greater discipline, transparency, and accountability to taxpayers.

More trust in government can be obtained by maintaining a 100% open, transparent, and accountable government. This is vital in a free society. Also, encouraging greater public participation in government. Thomas Jefferson said ““If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”

What qualities/qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?

I’m a statesman for Wyoming, not a politician. I stand for ending corporate socialism/welfare, lowering the tax burden on working families, and restoring transparency and accountability so government serves the people of Wyoming, not political insiders or special interests. The proper role of government is to protect life, liberty and property rights.

I bring a commitment to fiscal responsibility, transparency, and practical problem-solving that is grounded in real-world experience and a strong understanding of how government policy affects everyday people. I’ve worked for a living and built a small business on the side, so I understand both what it means to work for a paycheck and what it takes to take risk, create value, and deal with the costs government decisions place on working people.I have also served the public as a municipal garbage man, doing the kind of honest, essential work that keeps our communities functioning and gave me a deep respect for working people, taxpayer funded services and the value of public service.

Related

Nine weeks of the 2026 American Legion Baseball season in the Cowboy State are complete. Gillette and Jackson are undefeated early in North Conference action. Four teams have not played a league game in the North. The Cheyenne Sixers and Hawks lead the South Division, and only one team has not been on the diamond for a conference contest. Five teams have passed the 20-win plateau this season.

WYOPREPS 2026 AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL STANDINGS WEEK 9

Three Wyoming Legion teams won tournament titles last weekend. The Cheyenne Hawks were the champs at the Dean Bullock Memorial Tournament in Torrington. They beat the host Tigers, 20-5, in the title game. The Cheyenne Sixers took first place at the 5 Tool Baseball Northern Colorado Wood Bat Shootout in Fort Collins after two wins against opponents from Colorado in bracket play. Finally, the Sheridan Troopers won their second consecutive tournament title at the 7th annual Black Hills Veterans Classic in Rapid City, South Dakota. The Troopers went 5-0 on the weekend.

Here are the ninth standings during the 2026 season. Teams are listed by their conference record first.

Sr. Legion North Conference: (Overall Record Listed First, Then Conference Record)

Gillette Roughriders 21-17, 4-0

Jackson Giants 12-3, 2-0

Gillette Rustlers 20-12, 2-2

Powell Pioneers 7-10, 2-2

Sheridan Jets 8-10, 1-1

Casper Wildcatters 12-6, 1-3

Cody Cubs 15-9, 0-0

Sheridan Troopers 21-10, 0-0

Lander Legends 1-6, 0-0

Lovell Mustangs 2-9, 0-0

Casper Drillers 9-5-1, 0-2

Riverton Raiders 8-12, 0-2

Read More Wyoming Legion Baseball News from WyoPreps

WYOPRPES LEGION BASEBALL WEEK 9 SCORES 2026

WYOPREPS LEGION BASEBALL WEEK 8 SCORES 2026

WYOPREPS LEGION BASEBALL WEEK 7 SCORES 2026

WYOPREPS LEGION BASEBALL WEEK 6 SCORES 2026

WYOPREPS LEGION BASEBALL WEEK 5 SCORES 2026

WYOPREPS LEGION BASEBALL WEEK 4 SCORES 2026

WYOPREPS LEGION BASEBALL WEEK 3 SCORES 2026

WYOPREPS LEGION BASEBALL WEEK 2 SCORES 2026

WYOPREPS LEGION BASEBALL WEEK 1 SCORES 2026

Sr. Legion South Conference: (Overall Record Listed First, Then Conference Record)

Cheyenne Sixers 25-4-1, 6-0

Cheyenne Hawks 21-4, 2-0

Casper Oilers 12-9, 3-1

Wheatland Lobos 10-8, 2-2

Douglas Cats 4-23, 1-1

Cheyenne Eagles 8-13, 1-3

Laramie Rangers 10-17, 1-3

Laramie JV Rangers 6-19, 2-4

Torrington Tigers 13-7, 0-0

Green River Knights 7-11, 0-2

Rock Springs Stallions 8-21, 0-2

CODY— A Wyoming archaeologist is speaking out against vandalism of petroglyphs in Bighorn Basin.

Bonnie Lawrence-Smith, president of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists, said she often sees signs of vandalism near the petroglyphs, such as bullet holes and new engravings.

Watch the report below:

‘Hurts my heart’: Wyoming archaeologist speaks out against petroglyph vandalism

She estimates some the petroglyphs, left by Indigenous Peoples, date back to thousands of years old.

“People have been shooting at these panels for probably decades,” said Lawrence-Smith. “It’s just unfortunate that people think that it’s okay to erase someone else’s heritage.”

Other petroglyphs have chalk drawn over them and man-made pecking marks.

“Prior to better education, people would… come out and they would take a piece of chalk, and they would outline the petroglyph because it makes it easier to see in photographs… not understanding the damage that they were doing,” said Lawrence-Smith. “So that’s unintentional vandalism.”

Lawrence-Smith showed MTN a site where many names and dates were scratched onto the surface of the rock panel.

“It hurts my heart,” she said.

Vanessa Willardson/Q2

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The site is one of six sites the Bureau of Land Management is investigating for vandalism.

According to a recent BLM press release, another site was damaged from a bonfire, “resulting in discoloration, cracking, and the loss of rock fragments”.

Lawrence-Smith said she wants more people to face criminal charges for vandalism.

“They need to understand that there are repercussions for your actions,” she said.

Vanessa Willardson/Q2

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She told MTN she would like to see more participation in the Wyoming Site Stewardship Program.

“You can volunteer, and you can monitor sites,” said Lawrence-Smith. “And then you also have a better timeline of when vandalism does occur.”

Vanessa Willardson/Q2

Even though many sites contain vandalism, Lawrence-Smith has noticed it has decreased over the years.

“What I’ve seen in my 16 years, vandalism is on the downside,” she said. “I’m optimistic. I think they’re getting better.”

BLM encourages people who witness vandalism of rock art sites to leave tips at their Cody Field Office phone number, 307-578-5900.