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Rankin will challenge Brown for mayor

By Anthony McConnell

This document was published online on Monday, June 02, 2008

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Councilman Paul Rankin filed his candidacy for mayor minutes before the filing period closed Friday.

“Why not?” and “Because I can” were the reasons Rankin cited Monday when asked about his candidacy.

“There was only one person running for mayor, and if you're going to make it a contest, you might as well make it a contest,” added Rankin, who is at the end of his first term on the council.

Rankin, who's grandfather served as city attorney for 27 years, said he told Mayor Roger Sedam and council president Sam Krone several months ago he would run for mayor if neither of them did.

Sedam is not seeking re-election and Krone decided not to run for mayor.

If elected, improving the city's infrastructure would be Rankin's top priority.

“We have some dilapidated storm water drainage and dilapidated (sanitary) sewer we need to take care of,” he said.

Not on his list of priorities is a proposed events center.

“As far as I'm concerned that events center is a waste of time,” Rankin said. He said if the facility is really needed in Cody the private sector “would have already built it.”

He will face council member and art gallery owner Nancy Tia Brown.

While she agrees the city's infrastructure is a top priority, she disagrees with Rankin's views on the proposed events center.

“An events center can be an important project to make our city grow and help businesses with economic development,” said Brown, who also serves on the Events Center Task Force. “Ultimately it's not going to be up to Paul or I. It's going to be up to the people to decide if it's the right thing to do or not.”

Rankin, a stay-at-home dad and VFW Honor Guard volunteer, had previously filed for re-election to his seat representing Ward 2 (central Cody), but withdrew after deciding to seek the mayoral post.

His decision leaves Jerry Fritz, owner of 4D Fencing, uncontested in that race. Also uncontested is incumbent Steve Miller in Ward 3 (west Cody).

If Brown, who represent's Ward 3 with Miller, is elected mayor, the council would appoint a replacement to serve the remaining two years of her term.

Also filing on Friday was Charles Cloud, owner of Technical Cowboy. He will face incumbent Cliff Main in Ward 1 (east Cody). Also seeking that seat is nurse practitioner George Albrecht, who provides health services at the jail. (He was unavailable to comment Monday.)

Cloud recently had a dispute with the council about the purchase of a Steinway baby grand piano. He bid $4,000 for it at an auction, but the council rejected the bid. The piano, which did not have a reserve price at auction, is valued at $12,000-$38,000.

Cloud said that dispute was a main factor in his decision to run.

“I figured if I was going to complain, it was my responsibility to run and try to make a difference,” he added.

“I see some areas that need to be changed and challenged,” said Albrecht of his reason for running. “I love Cody and want to see what I can give back to the community.”

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