Urbigkit seeks commission seat
by Friends of Cat Urbigkit press release
June 3, 2008
Cat Urbigkit of Big Piney has officially announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Sublette County Commission.
Urbigkit, a children’s book author and photographer, currently serves as chair of the Sublette County Republican Party. She’s been involved in numerous other elected and volunteer boards at the county and state level, from the Sublette County Predator Board to Wyoming’s Bighorn Sheep/Domestic Sheep Interactions Group. Urbigkit, husband Jim and son Cass, operate their family sheep and cattle ranch, Paradise Sheep Company, along Highway 351.
Urbigkit was one of the four Sublette County women who partnered to found the Sublette Examiner. Although no longer an owner of the newspaper, Urbigkit continues her involvement in the media through her weekly “Wild Life” page in the Examiner; authors a Wolf Watch webpage on Pinedale Online! (www.pinedaleonline.com/wolf); and serves as a news correspondent for the Casper Star-Tribune and Wyoming Livestock Roundup. She’s also served as a consultant to the county, writing the commission’s State of the County report last year, and helping to facilitate the commission’s drafting of a public land use policy this year.
Urbigkit has five children’s books about western agriculture in print, and her book detailing the history of Wyoming’s wolves will be released later this year.
After covering the county commission for local newspapers for more than a decade, Urbigkit quit the full-time news business to pursue writing books. Finding she missed the process of county governance, and with the encouragement of friends, Urbigkit decided to try for the opportunity to serve the public by seeking election to the commission.
“I’m very familiar with how county government works, understand the budget process and believe I would be an asset to the county by serving on the commission,” Urbigkit said. “I believe I could provide unity for the county, and would promote more public scrutiny and participation in the governance process. I’m a promoter of open government.”
A candidate campaign committee, Friends of Cat Urbigkit, has been formed to support Urbigkit in her campaign, with newswomen Janet Montgomery and Sheri Nolan at the helm. The committee is accepting contributions at Box 4000, Pinedale WY 82941. More information about Urbigkit can be reviewed at www.paradisesheep.com.
Editor's Note: Cat Urbigkit is a frequent contributor to Pinedale Online writing on numerous political and environmental topics. She has her own feature section on Pinedale Online called "Wolf Watch" which provides news and updates on gray wolves in the Pinedale and Greater Yellowstone area.
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