2024 Candidate Spotlights

Since the business community of Teton County are the collection entity that provides the lodging tax funding for our community, how will you ensure that the interests of business are integrated within the foundation of the Destination Management / Marketing Organization being proposed to the elected officials?

I am a strong supporter of the Sustainable Destination Management Plan (SDMP) and the statement of need for a Destination Management Marketing Organization (DMMO). What I most appreciate is the clear recognition that visitation is critical to our community. It is also equally clear that there is a need to manage visitation to ensure protection of our natural resources and to address community needs. As current proposed, a future DMMO is firmly centered on eight sustainability goals presented in the SDMP, including mechanisms for accountability. These goals range from marketing to housing and transportation to workforce among other goals.

Considering it is 100 times more expensive to operate a small business in the Town of Jackson / Teton County and that sector employs over 70% of our workforce, how do you plan to help them stay in business?

We have a community that attracts millions of annual visitors as well as tremendous wealth. While this presents opportunity, it also creates challenges. I support a wide range of broad-based tools to address these challenges while protecting businesses and individuals in our community that are disadvantaged.

Two examples of action that I have been involved in and strongly support:

• Housing – Recognizing the critical importance to businesses of the over 1,600 restricted community housing units that have been created over the past 30 years and the need to continue to increase such housing.
• Regulatory Review – The Town is willing to review regulations for areas of unintended outcomes. Currently this includes reviewing the impacts of housing mitigation on small businesses, particularly impacting Change of Uses. This is scheduled to be on our agenda over the next few months.

With the Northern South Park project now getting the green light to build housing, how will you as an elected official ensure that housing gets built in a timely matter that meets the number one priority of our community?

The opportunities presented by NSP are centered around one of my clear priorities around increasing community housing – that there are permanent affordability protections and restrictions on any new units that are presented under the banner of housing for community members.

The County has approved zoning for Northern South Park (NSP), the timing of the next steps is driven by property Owners decision to opt in to the zoning. From that point, I suspect that the schedules will be shaped by the details around a given proposal and how benefits and impacts are balanced.

Since the business community of Teton County is the collection entity that provides the lodging tax funding for our community, how will you ensure that the interests of business are integrated within the foundation of the Destination Management / Marketing Organization being proposed to the elected officials? 

Since the business community in Teton County is the backbone of the lodging tax funding (and sales tax), it's essential that your interests are built into the foundation of the Destination Management/Marketing Organization from the start. I’ll work to ensure that business owners have a seat at the table, so their voices are directly involved in shaping how those funds are used. By collaborating with the business community, we can create strategies that reflect your needs while also benefiting the broader community. This partnership is key to making sure that the DMO truly serves all of us.

Considering it is 100 times more expensive to operate a small business in the Town of Jackson / Teton County and that sector employs over 70% of our workforce, how do you plan to help them stay in business? 

I know how challenging it is for small businesses to operate in the Town of Jackson and Teton County, where costs are sky-high and they employ over 70% of our workforce. My plan is to streamline bureaucratic processes, making it easier and faster for businesses to get the approvals and resources they need. I’ll also continue advocating for affordable housing and childcare, which are critical for both business owners and their employees. By addressing these key issues, we can help our small businesses stay resilient and continue to thrive in our community.

With the Northern South Park project now getting the green light to build housing, how will you as an elected official ensure that housing gets built in a timely manner that meets the number one priority of our community?

Housing in Northern South Park requires a Master Site Plan before housing can be approved under the County's opt-in zoning. As mayor, I'll continue advocating to ensure that this project delivers the affordable, deed-restricted housing our community urgently needs. The deed restricted nonprofit housing in Northern South Park is expected to be less expensive to taxpayers than the Joint Town/County Housing Department units which generally require high taxpayer subsidies.  

I will require any development to pay its way in terms of TOJ wastewater. Studies show we have capacity for the homes the NSP Neighborhood Plan modeled. While the Town doesn't have direct authority over this County project, our water and sewer facility is crucial, and I'll use that leverage to keep things progressing. On the Gill side, we've already secured crucial sites on their land for new water wells that will give more water supply that the Town needs. 

We must also stay involved and pressure county officials to prioritize this non-taxpayer funded project. Philanthropy in land with non-profit homes balances our overall housing portfolio. Together, we can make sure that the homes in Northern South Park meet our community's top priority: affordable housing.

Since the business community of Teton County are the collection entity that provides the lodging tax funding for our community, how will you ensure that the interests of business are integrated within the foundation of the Destination Management / Marketing Organization being proposed to the elected officials?

By working closely with the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, the town will have the opportunity to utilize the expertise of chamber members to guide the organization.

Considering it is 100 times more expensive to operate a small business in the Town of Jackson / Teton County and that sector employs over 70% of our workforce, how do you plan to help them stay in business?

I will work to reduce fees and regulations that make it harder to do business in Jackson. Mitigation rates for housing, business licensing and change of use rules must be changed.

With the Northern South Park project now getting the green light to build housing, how will you as an elected official ensure that housing gets built in a timely matter that meets the number one priority of our community?

I think the town and county should focus their resources on housing that can be built quickly on the land that the developer is providing as part of that project.

Since the business community of Teton County are the collection entity that provides the lodging tax funding for our community, how will you ensure that the interests of business are integrated within the foundation of the Destination Management / Marketing Organization being proposed to the elected officials?

The DMMO being proposed to the elected officials is advocating for changes that would affect the TTB’s governance, enhance its ability to be nimble and respond to the dynamic nature of tourism, enhance our ability to balance the needs of all stakeholders (residents, visitors, businesses, etc.), strengthen our commitment to ecosystem stewardship, and optimize the overall visitor experience. The local business community and Chamber of Commerce needs to be represented on the Destination Stewardship Council. The local business community’s interests, needs, concerns, recommendations all need to be welcomed. I would like to see more downtown local business owners from different sectors (hospitality, restaurant, retail) invited to participate in the Council. The Council should meet at regular intervals, all local businesses should be encouraged to attend meetings and participate/give comment.

Considering it is 100 times more expensive to operate a small business in the Town of Jackson / Teton County and that sector employs over 70% of our workforce, how do you plan to help them stay in business?

It’s important to understand the needs, challenges and obstacles that small businesses face. We should make sure that there are no unnecessary bureaucratic processes that make it more difficult for small businesses to grow and prosper. Streamlining business licensing, application forms, expediting the approval process, using technology whenever possible can all be helpful. We also need to make sure that other “collateral” issues get addressed. For example, I was talking with a local small business owner who employees several hourly employees and the business provides a critical service in the winter. Employees often need to put in overtime. This business owner has had difficulty because if his employees work overtime, they exceed the income limit for their affordable housing and so they can’t take the overtime, can’t help our community, can’t improve their own economic status. Other business owners have spoken with me around the challenges they face when parking for new development in town makes it difficult for their delivery vehicles to access off-loading areas, which causes them valuable time and makes things more complicated. Still others have expressed frustration that overflow parking from new apartment buildings is making it difficult for them to get their parking lots plowed and that they are constantly having to deal with vehicles that are being parked on their property illegally. We should always seek feedback from the business community and respond to issues and concerns. We need to emphasize transparency and responsiveness, have a “yes we can do this, yes we can help you” attitude.

With the Northern South Park project now getting the green light to build housing, how will you as an elected official ensure that housing gets built in a timely matter that meets the number one priority of our community?

I think the first thing we need to be clear and honest about is that affordable housing in Northern South Park is not going to appear overnight. It is going to take years. My number one priority for our community with respect to housing is to improve/add to our inventory of affordable 2-3 bedroom homes for families that are the back-bone of our community. We are losing way too many families to neighboring communities or other places because they cannot find a modest, affordable home. We will also need to make sure that the infrastructure issues (East-West connector, water/sewer hook-up, improvements to existing roads) are resolved quickly. If the property owners develop the land, I will look to them to show a commitment to building market rate and affordable homes with some degree of concurrency. If the land is provided to the housing non-profits, I will look to them to raise money as quickly as possible and begin construction asap. New methods of building construction (e.g. modular) that are high quality, economically feasible, and faster to build, such as the modular construction that the Housing Trust is using at Hansen Corner should be encouraged.

Since the business community of Teton County are the collection entity that provides the lodging tax funding for our community, how will you ensure that the interests of business are integrated within the foundation of the Destination Management / Marketing Organization being proposed to the elected officials?

I support the business community having a voice in how the lodging tax funding is used in our community. I reviewed the TTB’s August 19, 2024 document in the Town Staff Report that proposes a Destination Management & Marketing Organization. I am open to this concept and look forward to learning more. I believe it is important to develop consensus on how funds are used for (1) marketing and (2) management. On the one hand, marketing is key for ensuring tourism aspects of our community continue to thrive. On the other hand, we should try to encourage visitation that spreads visitor impact and seeks “win wins.” I support communication, coordination, and collaboration among agencies and stakeholders, as well as stewardship of the ecosystem that is the backbone of our economy.

Considering it is 100 times more expensive to operate a small business in the Town of Jackson / Teton County and that sector employs over 70% of our workforce, how do you plan to help them stay in business?

I support small businesses, and I have been a co-founder and owner of a small business. I recognize the challenges small businesses face with rising rents, rising labor costs, barriers to entry, and the needs for housing for their workforce. One government initiative that can most readily assist businesses is providing affordable and workforce housing. In particular, I support the 90 Virginian Lane development that could create as many as 226 units. I would like to see us achieve the Comprehensive Plan’s vision of housing 65% of the workforce locally.

With the Northern South Park project now getting the green light to build housing, how will you as an elected official ensure that housing gets built in a timely matter that meets the number one priority of our community?

Northern South Park presents a major opportunity to provide more than 1,000 deed-restricted units. The biggest challenge is achieving concurrency of market and deed-restricted units. I would like to see the community continue to work with the housing partners, namely Habitat for Humanity and the Community Housing Trust, as well as philanthropic organizations (such as the Hughes Charitable Foundation), and explore government grants. This community has shown a willingness to step up to challenges. I look forward to following the master plan and development plan process.

Since the business community of Teton County are the collection entity that provides the lodging tax funding for our community, how will you ensure that the interests of business are integrated within the foundation of the Destination Management / Marketing Organization being proposed to the elected officials?

It’s crucial that we appoint members of our local business community to the DMO. These are the people generating the 60% of revenue that funds promotion, and they deserve to have a say in how those funds are used. Off-season promotion has already proven effective, and with their input, we can continue making smart decisions that benefit both businesses and the community.

Considering it is 100 times more expensive to operate a small business in the Town of Jackson / Teton County and that sector employs over 70% of our workforce, how do you plan to help them stay in business?

Having lived here most of my life, I’ve seen firsthand how our small businesses are often put at a disadvantage by the high fees and costs of starting up or even relocating. We can’t keep treating them this way and expect them to thrive—or even survive. As a community, we need to ask ourselves: Do we want to preserve and support our local businesses, or do we want to make room only for luxury brands and big box stores?

With the Northern South Park project now getting the green light to build housing, how will you as an elected official ensure that housing gets built in a timely matter that meets the number one priority of our community

Housing hasn’t actually been approved yet, only the opt-in zoning. During my time on the county planning commission, I worked on the zoning and ultimately the approval. Northern South Park has a long road ahead before we see any homes being built. It’s essential that the community stays involved to ensure we get this project right. While Town Council members don’t have a direct vote on this (that responsibility falls to the county commissioners), I will continue to advocate for maximizing deed-restricted housing to address our community’s most urgent needs.

Since the business community of Teton County are the collection entity that provides the lodging tax funding for our community, how will you ensure that the interests of business are integrated within the foundation of the Destination Management / Marketing Organization being proposed to the elected officials?

The lodging tax related interests of local business are well protected by state law and local agreements.1 One of the best kinds of marketing is through the happy testimonies of visitors to Teton County who have had amazing experiences. We can learn from the marketing power of Yelp and Trip Advisor endorsements that so many businesses work hard to earn. We will continuously earn tremendous visitor loyalty and grassroots word-of-mouth advertising by being better hosts than our competitors. Taking care of the visitors who are here also respects the source of the money for TTB activities – our guests. I will urge the TTB, the Chamber of Commerce, and any other entity that uses TTB dollars to do everything possible to give our guests experiences of a lifetime. High level hospitality, from clean public restrooms to great public transportation and the provision of all the other public services noted as part of the answer to question #2 will help Jackson Hole businesses thrive for decades to come.

1 Collection of the lodging tax is established by two authorities: (1) for the State of Wyoming and the 5% mandatory statewide lodging tax, through Wyoming Statute §39-15-104(h)(i-ii), and, (2) for the local option lodging tax, (percentage may vary), through W.S. §39-15-204. The law requires that business interests be advanced by stipulating that expenditures for travel and tourism promotion be limited to promotional materials, television and radio advertising, printed advertising, digital content, social media, promotion of tours, staging of events, educational materials, and other specific tourism related objectives. Sixty percent of the local option revenue must be used to promote travel and tourism within the town and county. The 2011 joint resolution of the Town of Jackson and Teton County that created the Joint Powers Travel and Tourism Board (TTB) includes a requirement that funds used by the TTB must promote travel and tourism. Any destination management and marketing organization that receives lodging tax funding must comply with these laws and agreements.

Considering it is 100 times more expensive to operate a small business in the Town of Jackson / Teton County and that sector employs over 70% of our workforce, how do you plan to help them stay in business?

The best way for local government to support local business in Teton County is to take care of the wildlife, scenic, clean water, cold water fisheries and cold climate natural resources that sustain our economy. I am proud that our Chamber of Commerce has long recognized and acted on this basic fact. Our community, including the Chamber of Commerce, has worked hard and achieved much in favor of wildlife and scenic protections. We have lots to do to protect our water, but there is great advocacy and momentum in that direction. Climate change mitigation needs to be a high priority for our business community. I am excited to attend the Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit on October 15 and 16. I look forward to seeing many local business leaders there as well. I want to learn more about what local businesses and local government can do to rapidly decrease the unacceptably dangerous rate of global warming. I do not believe it is 100 times more expensive to operate a business in Teton County than it is in our principal competitors’ communities, such as Sun Valley, Idaho, Park City, Utah, and Aspen, Colorado. The Hungry Jack’s General Store community owned business in Wilson demonstrates a tremendously innovative model to sustain both business and community character. Just as land trusts preserve open space through community investment and action, the community owned business model can also protect vital businesses in Jackson Hole. We “saved the block” in downtown Jackson, we saved the general store in Wilson, and, with foresight and commitment, we can save other hallmarks of a successful community. Teton County government must continue to provide a safe, wholesome, and beloved community experience. That means we fix the potholes, adequately fund a good Sheriff’s Department, maintain a terrific public library, keep up the fight against aquatic and botanical invasive species, provide a safe and functional courthouse and jail, maintain our world-class pathway system, support our amazing parks and recreation center and programs, offer a great annual county fair, support the human services that provide support for so many business owners and working people, and rise to the challenge of promoting sustainable travel and tourism.

With the Northern South Park project now getting the green light to build housing, how will you as an elected official ensure that housing gets built in a timely matter that meets the number one priority of our community?

The Northern South Park (NSP) project has a green light for its zoning, but it does not yet have a green light to build housing. The distinction is important. My reply is probably more technical than you’re looking for, but you asked a land use planning question, and details count for a lot in modern planning and zoning. We need to ensure that the upcoming Master Site Plan includes a thorough capital improvement plan that lays out appropriate infrastructure for deed restricted development and that the “Housing Element” lays out the process and timeline for building the 70% deed restricted housing. The approved NSP regulations were approved on March 5, 2024 and added to the LDRs on April 16 in a new Division, Division 4.5. The citations that follow are from Division 4.5. 4.5.2.F.2.a states: "Required Allocation. Development of any new units shall be comprised of at least 70% deed-restricted housing units and at least 40% of the new housing units shall specifically be affordable housing units.” That must be assured in the Master Site Plan, Initial Plat Subdivision and subsequent Development Plan approvals. 4.5.2.F.2.b. states: "Affordable and Workforce Housing Plan. An application for development of unrestricted units or subdivision of unrestricted lots of record shall demonstrate compliance with the standards of this Section through inclusion of an Affordable and Workforce Housing Plan.”

4.5.2.F.2.b.i. states: "Part of Development Plan Application. The Affordable and Workforce Housing Plan shall be a required component of a sufficient Development Plan application for subdivision of unrestricted lots of record or development of unrestricted units.” 4.5.2.F.2.c.iii, Conveyance of Land, is important. The developer can choose to convey land. The land must be sufficient to accommodate 70% of all new development (the deed restricted units). But the developer can submit Development Applications for up to half of the remaining 30% (the unrestricted units) without a requirement that Development Applications for the 70% are submitted at the same time. Skeptics of the NSP Plan may interpret this to mean that the Developer will build up to half of the free-market units and that no deed restricted housing will ever get built. The only requirement is that they cannot get approval for the second half of the unrestricted units until building permits have been issued for at least 20% of the Affordable deed restricted units. Here’s the example given: "EXAMPLE: The number of unrestricted new units allowed in NSP Area 1 is 180. When 90 (50% of 180) unrestricted new units in NSP Area 1 have received Development Plan approval, no Development Plans for additional unrestricted new units may be approved until building permits have been issued for at least 18 (20% of 90) Affordable new units in NSP Area 1.” Let’s say Area 1 submits a Development Plan to max out their unrestricted market units to make as much money as possible as soon as possible. There is potential for a total of 600 new units. The developer has to first convey land to the JH Housing Trust or Teton Habitat that can accommodate 520 deed restricted units. The developer has to put in all the infrastructure to meet the needs of those units up to the edge of the 2.5 to 5-acre “blocks.” Then the developer can submit a Development Plans for a max of 90 unrestricted units. Once those plans are approved, the developer can build 90 units. No more market units can be developed until building permits have been approved for 18 of the Affordable deed restricted units. The Housing Trust is putting up 20 units on East Hansen in less than a year. Our community built 57 units at Jackson Place in less than 2 years. Developers think they can build 226 units at Virginian place in under 3 years. Habitat has taken longer: 6 years for 24 units. However, as I understand it, Habitat is looking at modular construction that can move faster. Very worst-case scenario is 90 units of small (mostly under 2,500 sf) market housing and 18 units of Affordable deed restricted housing (in Area 1). If the scenario I’ve described comes to pass, (maximum near-term development for maximum near-term profit), the county commission needs to stand firm at 90 and approve no further Development Plans until the number of units of restricted housing catches up.

Since the business community of Teton County are the collection entity that provides the lodging tax funding for our community, how will you ensure that the interests of business are integrated within the foundation of the Destination Management / Marketing Organization being proposed to the elected officials?

So many residents are requesting relief from property taxes that the use of lodging tax to provide relief for cost of living would be a better use of our 2% allotment at this time.  Let's revisit a DMMO once The Town reopens business growth with the construction of hotels that will add to the lodging tax coffer.  

Considering it is 100 times more expensive to operate a small business in the Town of Jackson / Teton County and that sector employs over 70% of our workforce, how do you plan to help them stay in business?

Housing availability is the biggest issue facing our employers in this town and affordability means that we cannot pay employees enough to live here.  This goes for small businesses, essential workforce and educators. 

When Mogul Capitol offered to provide some 200+ workforce housing units, plus the additional ~80 that they are currently working on, as well as contribute to our lodging and sales tax, the Town disregarded what they have been working on since 2016. There are similar instances in the County. 

Both the County and the Town should be working together to remove portions of the Land Development Regulations and the government processes that are suppressing our business growth. 

With the Northern South Park project now getting the green light to build housing, how will you as an elected official ensure that housing gets built in a timely matter that meets the number one priority of our community?

This question continues my thoughts on question 2.  Mogul Capital has some 80 units being built next to Maverick and has acquired space for 200+ units on the South Park Gill property, but the Town has treated very badly a developer who could potentially be a very good partner to the Town.  

Despite developers submitting multiple development and concept plans, the Town and County delay and reject plans at a negative impact of millions of dollars to developers, while pushing through projects that make no sense to the community.  

The transparency of the Town and County decisions to delay and deny development needs to be addressed.  Offering the community 1:30 pm on a Monday meetings is not working and allowing developers 4 minutes to speak publicly about projects that they have worked years and months on is not working.

There are 12,700 registered voters in this county and the people are continuously being left in the dark about projects moving forward or being delayed in a way that they feel negatively affects them.  We need to find an efficient way to communicate with them, not just posting publications in a newspaper that people are losing faith in and don't read.  People in neighborhoods being affected by development projects need to be communicated with directly, much like the progress that was made during the development of the Moose/Wilson Road.  We need more meetings, more focus groups, and more person-to-person communication.

Since the business community of Teton County are the collection entity that provides the lodging tax funding for our community, how will you ensure that the interests of business are integrated within the foundation of the Destination Management / Marketing Organization being proposed to the elected officials?

The representation of our business community on the Travel & Tourism Board is essential. Including a wide range of perspectives in decision making is key to getting the best outcomes with the greatest amount of buy-in. As we enter into the next phase of this work, I am committed to ensuring the voices of a wide range of businesses, including lodging, are present as we craft goals and set actions. This is also an important area for the Chamber to maintain active participation and engagement with the Travel & Tourism Board and both elected bodies.

Considering it is 100 times more expensive to operate a small business in the Town of Jackson / Teton County and that sector employs over 70% of our workforce, how do you plan to help them stay in business?

Our small business sector is vibrant and diverse and a partner in executing our economic and quality of life goals. I am committed to continued investment in affordable and workforce housing, START and other transportation infrastructure, and other key elements necessary for a resilient community, like healthcare, early childhood education and care, and water quality. Supporting entrepreneurship can take on a variety of forms, and I am eager to continue learning and working towards this goal to diversify our business community and create greater economic stability. The efforts of Central Wyoming College and other community organizations to focus on entrepreneurship are promising. I recognize that some of the costs are related to housing mitigation and other fees associated with operating a business. I support our continued efforts to adapt and evolve the mitigation regulations in partnership and with feedback from the small business sector. We must also balance the needs of our businesses with the organizational and infrastructure capacity of the community. The County is also an employer and faces some of the same challenges with recruitment and retention of staff. Our responsibilities for essential, basic services and infrastructure must be met to enable businesses to safely operate. Ultimately, we are all in this together and must continue collaborating, listening to each other, and adapting to serve our community.

With the Northern South Park project now getting the green light to build housing, how will you as an elected official ensure that housing gets built in a timely matter that meets the number one priority of our community?

With the completion of the new zoning overlay, the landowners in Northern South Park have the opportunity to opt-in to the zoning, which is how the process will begin. The timing for that is in the hands of the landowners. Once this happens, there will be a series of planning processes to address infrastructure, transportation, phasing, design, etc. This type of planning is necessary given the scale of development and will require time. We must be realistic about the needed focus and engagement to work through these planning elements so that the neighborhood can move to building in a timely manner once the details are confirmed. The primary concern is to ensure that the development of the deed-restricted units is not substantially out-paced by the market rate units, making the phasing element required in the process a top priority for me. Big picture, maintaining close collaboration with the landowners who choose to engage in the new zoning as well as with any affordable housing partners – should the land donation option be used – will be important. I am eagerly looking forward to continuing to work on Northern South Park and can’t wait to see the new neighborhood come to fruition.

Vicky O'Donoghue has not yet submitted responses to our candidate questions. Please check back in the future for submitted answers.