GOP narrows list to 3 for top state educator
Replacement for Superintendent of Public Instruction
August 15, 2005
Wyoming State Republicans met in Casper on Saturday, August 13, to narrow down the list of candidates for state Superintendent of Public Instruction. The GOP Central Committee whittled the list of nine candidates down to three for the state’s top education position.
The position became open after the former Superintendent Dr. Trent Blakenship resigned to take a job in Alaska two weeks ago. The GOP Central Committee had fifteen days to submit names following the official notification of the resignation.
Governor Freudenthal issued a statement regarding Blakenship's immediately effective resignation, "I look forward to the successful completion of the selection process and remain hopeful that the Republican Central Committee will provide us with three strong candidates."
Candidates chosen were Annette Bohling, Don Brygelson and Jim McBride. All are residents of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Brygelson is a former school superintendent for Pinedale, Wheatland and Jeffrey City, Wyoming. Bohllng works for the Department of Education as Wyoming's Deputy Superintendent for Education Quality and Accountability. McBride is employed by the Department of Education as a technology director.
Each county sends three Republicans to serve on the Wyoming State Central Committee. For Sublette County, these three people include Michelle Pape (County Chairman), Lois Twichell (State Committeewoman) and Bob Rule (State Committeeman). Pape and Twichell were unable to attend the weekend meeting, so they provided Rule with their proxies. Rule attended the event in Casper with the ability to vote three times in each round of voting.
At a meeting of Republicans in Casper on Friday night, before the selection of three Superintendent candidates on Saturday, the acting Superintendent, Lisa Skiles-Parady,
announced her resignation. She had served as Chief of Staff under Trent Blankenship, and upon his resignation, served as interim Superintendent. She will be returning to her home in Rock Springs after the new Superintendent is in place.
Under state law, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal has five days to appoint the education chief successor from the nominee list submitted by the state Republican Central Committee, who will fulfill the remainder of his term. It is expected that the Governor will make his selection this week.
Bob Rule contributed to this story.
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