My name is Mike Hunzie and I am running for Mayor of Diamondville. I am a lifelong resident of the area, having lived in Frontier and Kemmerer in my youth, then moving to Diamondville with my wife, Susan, and two daughters in 1972.

I have served on the board of directors of several conservation organizations, on the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission including its presidency, as president of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, as an officer of Local 1307, UMWA, and as a volunteer Wyoming Hunter Education instructor. I have always actively participated as a citizen in matters of local, county, state and national interest.

One has to wonder, with the shape of our current economy, why anyone would want to become the Mayor. The short answer is “to give the Town of Diamondville back to its residents.”

As to the economics, it is important to secure as much funding for the Town as possible, but the other side of the equation is spending. I believe that there are ways for Diamondville to get “more bang for its buck,” including combining some job responsibilities and possibly personnel changes.

When I first moved to Diamondville, we had dirt and gravel roads, no garbage pick up, hardly any zoning regulations, and a vacant lot for a park. What we did have, though, were residents who had pride in their town, and who worked hard, through local government and lots of volunteerism, to make Diamondville a great place to live. The picnic area of the Town Park and the Miner’s Park could not have been accomplished without Diamondville volunteers. Work was underway on a museum by several volunteers.

That pride has been greatly diminished the last few years. Until recently, one no longer saw ladies picking up garbage along the road, or volunteers laying sod or working on other projects in the parks. The status of the museum committee in questionable. Residents no longer attend council meetings, possibly out of fear of being cited into court for some senseless reason, or maybe because they feel that no one is listening to them.

I believe we must scrutinize mistakes made in the past and make sure things are done correctly. For example, if the residents can see that the governing body and town employees listen to and respect them, the pride in their town will eventually come back.

Thank you very much for your votes in the upcoming elections, and please do vote. I look forward to the opportunity to serve.



For the complete article see the 07-29-2010 issue.

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