CASPER, Wyo. — Election season is underway and Oil City News has sent a list of questions to each candidate for the Casper City Council who has filed to run in the primary election in August.
These questions are designed to give our readers a better understanding of the people behind the names on the ballot. Below, get to know Trevor Mahlum, who is running for a Ward III seat on the Casper City Council:
1. Who are you? (name, where you’re from, employment, hobbies, etc.)
Trevor Mahlum. I have lived around the world and this country until I came to Casper in 1996. I consider Casper my hometown. My wife of 29 years and two adult daughters were all born and raised in Casper.
I am a professional educator with about 25 years’ experience teaching and leading (administration) in K-12 and higher education in Casper. My training includes a bachelor’s degree in social science education, masters in instructional technology and adult education, and a doctorate in educational leadership.
My hobbies include my yard, traveling when I can, and my two pugs.
2. Why have you decided to run for office and what do you hope to accomplish should you be elected?
I am a social studies teacher by training and have always loved local civics. I also love this city and want to give back in any way I can. Casper has been very good to me and offered me many opportunities.
3. How do you plan on accomplishing your goals?
I want to help the current council continue to do great things for our town. I do not approach this opportunity with an agenda to reverse any council action or make any major changes.
4. What experience do you have that qualifies you for the office you are seeking?
As a professional educator I have worked with elected boards all my professional life. As a staff member of organizations these boards oversee, I understand the need for elected boards to focus on strategic decisions while supporting staff in the operational. The relationship between city council and city staff is similar.
5. Do you feel you could be a good steward with taxpayer dollars? Why or why not?
I have worked in public education in Wyoming for 25 years, so I am very aware of our boom-and-bust cycles of public money. I have learned to be a very careful steward of public money from all sources to leverage it to the best effect for all.
6. On the issue of transparency, where do you stand on ensuring all public business is conducted openly and in a manner that encourages public attendance?
I believe strongly in fully transparent public meetings. I understand and respect the Wyoming laws and cultural expectations for open and public meetings of any elected council or board.
7. Do you believe the office or board position you seek has been open and honest with the public? If yes, how can the entity remain open and transparent when conducting public business moving forward. If no, what changes would you implement to ensure that all future dealings are open and transparent?
I believe Casper City Council is very open and public in all debate and decision making where applicable (executive sessions for some limited discussions are appropriate). I appreciate that our council live streams official meetings and always welcomes the public to any full meeting of the council.
8. If you are presiding over a meeting and a topic was being discussed that you didn’t fully understand, would you ask for a more detailed explanation during the meeting or would you seek the information after the meeting?
I always make every effort to become fully educated on any subject or topic of discussion or decision making. If I did not feel that I or others on the council had the appropriate opportunity to fully understand an issue I would not hesitate to table a topic if I were leading or request more time to understand if I were participating.
9. Should you be elected, or re-elected, do you plan on seeking any major policy changes in your chosen office? If yes, what would those changes be? If no, why not?
I do not have any major policy or process changes in mind for this opportunity. I feel that the best way council can continue to improve Casper is to focus on quality-of-life issues. Making Casper a place people want to live, return to, or move to for the first time, is the best way to secure the city’s future.
I want to help the current council continue to do great things for our town. I do not approach this opportunity with an agenda to reverse any council action or make any major changes.
10. Is there anything the above questions didn’t ask that you would like to comment on?
Thank you for the opportunity.
NOTE: All primary candidates who filed to run for the Casper City Council were sent questionnaires at the same time and Oil City News will publish responses in the order they are received. Candidate responses are only edited for clarity and style.
If you are a candidate and did not see the questionnaire in your inbox, please email news@oilcity.news. Oil City News sent questionnaires to Natrona County candidates running in the primary for municipal, county office or a seat in the Wyoming Legislature based on email addresses shared by the Natrona County Clerk’s Office; if you would prefer the questionnaire sent to a different address, please let us know.
