SWEETWATER COUNTY — Randal Wendling, who was recently elected as a board member of the Sweetwater School District #1 and as a Sweetwater County Commissioner, has announced that he will resign from the Sweetwater School District #1 board, effective immediately.

With his resignation, Wendling will be sworn in as a Sweetwater County Commissioner on January 5, 2015.

On November 4, 2014 Wendling was ecstatic to see that he had won both the School Board and Commissioner elections. Wendling felt that he had the tools and abilities to be effective in both elected positions, and make a change for the better in Sweetwater County. Sweetwater County Attorney’s Office did not agree that Wendling could hold both offices at the same time, and filed a Complaint for Declatory Judgment on November 24, 2014, asking the Court to order Wendling to take one of the two positions. In their Complaint, the County Attorney cited Wyoming Statute 22-2-116, which states that “No person may hold an elective public office in any governmental entity which either provides any funding for or receives any funding from another governmental entity in which that person holds elected public office.”

Wendling had strong convictions that the people of Sweetwater County wanted him in both positions, and that he owed it to those who voted for him to do all he could to support them and follow through with his campaign promises. Wendling stated, “I am a man of my word, and I had to do all I could to show the voters I will listen to them and follow through with all of my promises to the best of my ability”.

Wendling, through his attorney, Adam E. Phillips, filed an answer to the Complaint, and fully intended to challenge the statute. However, after careful consideration Wendling has decided not to pursue both positions. Wendling’s intent has and will continue to be to serve the people of Sweetwater County, not to cause unnecessary drama. Wendling’s bigger concern was the monetary costs to the people of Sweetwater County in pursuing any legal action.

Wendling looks forward to serving as a County Commissioner and doing all he can to support the people of Sweetwater County. Despite his departure from the School Board, Wendling expresses his gratitude and appreciation to the board, and looks forward to doing all he can to support them in the future. “The future is bright for both the School Board and County Commissioners, I look forward to the challenges, and will do all I can to support Sweetwater County.”

-From a press release provided by Randal Wendling