General Elections: Town of Cowley

Kenneth Jones “KJ” Blackburn,

Cowley Mayor

Cowley, Wyoming, has been home since 1991, and I intend for it to be home till the day I die. I was able to attend Northwest College, where I studied business administration. As part of that education, I specifically studied how to qualify for government grants.

After college my wife and I are raising our growing family and run businesses in Cowley. We have been fortunate to have great success in our business and have been blessed to employ and mentor many members of our community. 

I am running for mayor to protect and improve our way of life. I feel strongly that we can keep Cowley moving forward without turning it into Cowleyfornia. 

We are seeing finances and tax dollars being stretched. I feel we need to continue to focus on our infrastructure by caring for what we have and searching out and applying for grants as they become available.

I believe we need to create opportunities for community involvement wherever possible. A goal I have is to work toward bringing back the Cowley Corn Cookout. That is something I have fond memories of, and it would be a great thing for our community to grow closer together. 

I love everyone in this community, and I will do my best for every individual, however, I believe the good of the majority outweighs the good of the few. 

I insist on government transparency and am open to all forms of communication. I recognize that many people get their information from social media, but I am also aware that there are many people who still rely on hard copies. That’s just fine because that’s what I prefer. 

I love this town, and I love my community; I pray it will always be home. I have never wanted to be anywhere else. I feel the need to step up and protect the freedoms we get to have in a small town. I believe Cowley absolutely needs to move forward but I don’t believe in regulating ourselves into a corner. 

I may be young, but I’m well trained and a quick study. I know our people, I know our heritage, I know who to ask for answers to questions, I’m approachable, I have a great support/mentor system and I want to serve each of you to the best of my ability as your mayor.

Steve Winters

Mayor of Cowley

My name is Steve Winters, and I am running for mayor of Cowley.

I was born in Billings and raised in Montana north of Yellowstone Park. I worked in Lovell in 1967-68 at the sugar factory. I am a disabled Navy veteran serving from 1968-1972. My mother and stepfather lived in the area for many years and moved to Cowley in 1976.

I am retired from the National Park Service after a 32-year career. My wife and I lived in nine different park areas, and I managed the maintenance operations in six of those parks. I managed multi-million dollar budgets, more than 40 employees and have experience in federal contracting, construction, facilities development and long-range planning.

After retiring in 1996 from Death Valley NP, we moved to southern Utah, where I was the owner/operator of an air tour business for seven years. I was also a project supervisor for a contractor who constructed the shuttle system for Bryce Canyon NP from 2008- 2009.

In 2003, we purchased the family property in Cowley just east of the rodeo grounds and in 2009, after my wife retired, we left Utah and built our home here. I worked for the town for one summer and was the town building inspector for three years. I have served on the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission for the past 12 years and have been chairman for the past three years.

I feel my experience and present work with the town qualify me to serve as mayor of Cowley. My focus is on improving the town’s essential infrastructure for the health and safety of the community. This includes updating waterlines, improving drainage systems and repairing town streets. These are important and require prioritizing the town’s needs, long-term planning and readiness, so we can pursue the necessary funding when it becomes available. These major projects cannot be funded by the town’s budget.

We must plan our day-to-day operations to ensure we are accountable for manpower and money. Dollars are getting tighter, and we must ensure our spending is done in a responsible manner that totally benefits the town and its residents. We need to include town residents in the decision-making process through their elected officials whenever possible and listen to them at council meetings, media forums and public assemblies. By open dialogue, trust can be established between town officials and the community, knowing some will always have differing opinions and viewpoints.

Scott Crosby

Cowley Town Council

Bio:

I am originally from Cowley and have lived in Cowley my entire life other than when I was on my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or attending school. I have been on the town council for 12 years and have always put those living in Cowley first. I have a bachelor’s degree from BYU-I and an MBA from the University of Utah. I grew up farming and ranching and now run an appraisal business with my wife focusing on ag/rec and commercial properties throughout Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota and South Dakota. We specialize in litigation, estate planning, IRS, Right-of-Way and conservation easement appraisals. I am a strong conservative who believes the voice of the people should be our guide in every decision-making process. 

What do you believe are the top issues facing your town? 

The top issue facing our community is maintaining the direction we are currently on with projects and continually searching for funding opportunities for new projects, specifically with our streets and infrastructure. 

With the changes in property taxes, the monies coming into the towns is making for tighter budgets. What would be your priorities with a potentially limited budget? 

The priority for spending when it comes to the Town of Cowley is to cut whatever impacts the community the least. As a town, we have been frugal with our spending and focused on what best benefits the town as a whole. The potential reduction in budget does not change that focus, nor should/will those living in Cowley notice a difference if done correctly.

What is your stance on government transparency including public notices, open meetings, public records and communication with the press? How do you hope to keep the public in the loop? 

The government is the people. It is important that we remember that the voice of the people matters more than our own opinions. When we take our own emotions out of our decision making and focus on the needs of those living in our communities, we will always be transparent and get rid of any corruption or potential for corruption. Nothing should be kept or hidden from the people of Cowley, and they should be privy of everything taking place within the city limits. Fortunately, this has been the case for many years in Cowley, which is why issues within the community have been minimal. No changes are needed from what we have been doing to keep the public in the loop. Monthly meetings are on the same day/time, and any changes taken place are posted to keep dialogue open and present. Any documents/town meeting minutes can be found at the town hall and are open to the public. The press is always welcome at any meeting.

Dexter Woodis

Cowley Town Council

Bio: 

I am a 42-year resident of Cowley. Although I was born and raised in Massachusetts, I graduated from Rocky Mountain High School in 1985 and later earned an Associate of Science degree from Northwest College. Throughout my career, I have held two long-term positions. I served as the Water Operator and Maintenance Employee for the Town of Cowley for 14 years. For the past 23 years, I have worked for Shoshone Municipal Pipeline, which provides potable water to towns and rural areas around Cowley, though not Cowley itself. I currently am employed as manager.

For more than 30 years, I have also served my community in several roles, including four terms on the Cowley Town Council, 20 years as Cowley Recreation treasurer and my current position on the Planning and Zoning Board. I also serve on the Wyoming Rural Water Association Board. During my time on the town council, we completed several important projects including the Log Gym renovation, water master plan, new water tower, splash park, North Drain Irrigation Filter System, ordinance codification and new town hall/community center.

As a town council candidate, I believe our community deserves practical leadership focused on the issues that matter most. Our streets and parks need attention, and we need a responsible plan for long-overdue repairs. In challenging times, I can bring my past experience in town government, infrastructure and public service to help make sound decisions. With ongoing funding challenges, we must prioritize spending, pursue grant opportunities and ensure every taxpayer dollar is used effectively.

Equally important is rebuilding trust between local government and the people it serves. Open communication, transparency and accountability are essential to strengthening relationships and restoring confidence in the decision-making process. By listening to residents, encouraging public involvement and working together, we can create a town government that is responsive, responsible and focused on the future.

My deep ties to Cowley and love for this community are why I am running for town council. I am committed to using my experience, dedication and local knowledge to help address these challenges and build a stronger, more connected community for everyone.

Rose Ames 

Cowley Town Council

Bio:

I first came to Wyoming in 2003 and permanently in 2018. I live in Cowley with my children, three dogs and one horse. I have a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Cal State Fullerton and work for Western Sugar Cooperative as an accountant. While my office is in Lovell, I work with all the factories and the corporate office, as well. I have served as a member of the Cowley Recreation Committee for two years and previously was the secretary for the Rocky Mountain High School booster club for two years. 

I don’t hold a strong party affiliation. I vote based on how legislation impacts my family and my community, not because something falls under a party umbrella. My commitment is to doing what’s right, not what’s easy or what’s pushed by any particular group.

I’m running for council because I’m raising my family here, and I want Cowley to be a place where the people who live here feel heard -- not just at election time, but every time a decision is made about our roads, our parks and our budget. Too often I’ve watched residents show up, voice real concerns, and leave without any sense that it mattered. I want to change that.

What do you believe are the top issues facing your town?

Right now, there’s a real disconnect between the priorities set by the council and mayor and what matters to the people who live here. Residents have repeatedly voiced concerns about a lack of transparency in town matters. There’s a growing sense that the council is more focused on enforcement of minor code issues than on larger needs like fixing playground equipment to keep kids safe, adding shade at the splash park and repairing our roads. That disconnect is genuinely hurting this community.

With the changes in property taxes, the money coming into the town is making for tighter budgets. What would be your priorities with a potentially limited budget?

I’d prioritize our public spaces — parks and playgrounds. In hard financial times, these spaces matter even more; they’re where families gather, kids play safely and neighbors connect. I would not keep pursuing fines against residents over property nuisances such as the proposal to impose misdemeanor charges for issues like parked trailers. Instead, I’d direct funds toward helping elderly residents with yard maintenance so we maintain the look of our community through support rather than penalties. I also would not prioritize the $30,000 sound system proposed at the July 2026 meeting and pushed by the mayor — not when playgrounds and roads need attention first.

What is your stance on government transparency, including public notices, open meetings, public records and communication with the press?

Town business should be fully public and easy to access. Council meetings — including work sessions and special meetings — should be livestreamed, for example through Facebook Live, so residents who can’t attend at 7 p.m. on a Tuesday can still see the full discussion, not just the outcome. Minutes shouldn’t take a month to become public; by then, a second or final vote may have already happened without residents knowing.

I’d also change how public comment works. Right now, you can only speak if you’ve requested to be added to the agenda in advance, and only before the agenda items are discussed — not after. That means residents can’t respond to what’s actually said in the meeting. Allowing comment after discussion would let people weigh in on the issues as they unfold, so decisions reflect the needs of the town, not just the preferences of a few council members.

How do you hope to keep the public in the loop?

I’d push to livestream every meeting and establish a community transparency committee — residents who attend meetings and share notes with the public through an online format or public bulletin, so no one has to wait weeks to know what happened.