Gary Trauner

Last updated
Gary Trauner
Gary Trauner at Campbell County League of Women Voters' General Election Candidates' Forum in Gillette, Wyoming (1).jpg
Trauner in 2018
Chair of the Teton County School District Number 1 Board of Trustees
In office
2006 – 2008
Personal details
Born (1958-12-15) December 15, 1958 (age 65)
Scarsdale, New York, U.S.
Political party Democratic
SpouseTerry Trauner
Education Colgate University (BA)
New York University (MBA)

Gary S. Trauner (born December 15, 1958) is an American businessman and politician from Wyoming. He was nominated by the Democratic Party in the state's United States House of Representatives elections in 2006 and 2008, as well as in its 2018 U.S. Senate election. He previously chaired the Teton County School District Number 1 Board of Trustees (2006–2008).

Contents

Background

Trauner was born and raised in Scarsdale, New York and was raised in a Reform Jewish family. [1] He received a bachelor's degree from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University in New York City. He first visited Wyoming when he was 13 and permanently moved to the state in 1990. [2] [1] He co-founded and served as Chief Financial Officer of OneWest.net, a regional internet service provider, and later served as the Chief Operating Officer for St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson and as Executive Director of Jackson Hole Lacrosse. [3] [4] He previously served as Vice President of the Teton Trust money management company and founded a dog food company. [5] His dog food company, Mulligan Stew Pet Food, received an honorable mention from Fortune Small Business's business plan competition in 2007. [6]

Trauner lives in Wilson, Wyoming with his wife Terry, who is Catholic. He is the father of two sons. [7] [1]

Politics

Trauner served on the Teton County School District Number 1 Board of Trustees from 2002 to 2006, eventually rising to Chair of the Board. [5] Trauner was credited with replacing the district's unpopular Superintendent with Pam Shea under whose leadership saw student test scores rise and teacher salaries go up. [5] [8] Trauner was the Chair of the Aspens Pines Water and Sewer District and his term ended in November 2018. [9] [10] In 2017, Aspens Pines Water and Sewer District won the Gold Award from the 18th Annual Great American Water Taste Test for best-tasting water in the nation. [11] In 2013, Trauner received the Silver Award for Best Politician That Does Not Hold an Office in Planet Jackson Hole Newspaper's annual awards as voted by the local community. [12] Additionally, Trauner also serves as Chair of the Charture Institute, a Jackson-based conservation think-tank founded in 2002. [13] [9] He is the former Vice Chair of the Teton County Pathways Task Force, a nine-member citizen advisory committee appointed by the Town and County, and is a member of the Jackson Hole Land Trust. [14]

House elections

Trauner as a 2008 congressional candidate, attending a session on rural politics during the 2007 Netroots Nation gathering Gary Trauner (100222328).jpg
Trauner as a 2008 congressional candidate, attending a session on rural politics during the 2007 Netroots Nation gathering

Trauner ran as the Democratic nominee in the 2006 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming, and raised nearly as much money in the first quarter of 2006 as the incumbent Representative Barbara Cubin. [15] In the second quarter he raised more money than Cubin and had more cash on hand at the time. [16] By May 2006, a poll had put Trauner within the margin of error. [17] In mid-August, Congressional Quarterly changed their rating of this race from "Republican Favored" to the more competitive "Leans Republican". [18] Trauner narrowly lost 47.8% to Barbara Cubin's 48.3%. Trauner ran for the seat again during the 2008 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming and was endorsed by Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal. [19] He lost in 2008 with 43% of the vote to Cynthia Lummis' 53%.

2018 U.S. Senate election

Trauner won the Democratic primary unopposed to run against incumbent United States Senator John Barrasso in the 2018 election. [20]

His goals included "getting big money out of politics," [21] and had pledged not to accept corporate campaign funding from any political action committee. [22] For this reason he was endorsed by End Citizens United. [23] He also criticized Senator Barrasso for his vote to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to "take health care away from 20 million people." [24] He considers "opportunity and inequality" to be the biggest issues facing the nation, [25] and has advocated for the diversification of Wyoming's economy. [26]

In the November election, he lost in a landslide, 67-30.1.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig L. Thomas</span> American politician (1933–2007)

Craig Lyle Thomas was an American politician who served as United States Senator from Wyoming from 1995 until his death in 2007. He was a member of the Republican Party. In the Senate, Thomas was considered an expert on agriculture and rural development. He had served in key positions in several state agencies, including a long tenure as Vice President of the Wyoming Farm Bureau from 1965 to 1974. Thomas resided in Casper for twenty-eight years. In 1984, he was elected from Casper to the Wyoming House of Representatives, in which he served until 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Cubin</span> American politician (born 1946)

Barbara Lynn Cubin is an American politician who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, Wyoming's sole member of that body. She was the first woman elected to Congress from Wyoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teno Roncalio</span> American politician (1916–2003)

Teno Domenico Roncalio, born Celeste Domenico Roncaglio, was an American politician and writer who served in the United States House of Representatives. To date, he is the last Democrat to have represented Wyoming in the House of Representatives.

The Wyoming Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in Wyoming, headquartered in Cheyenne. The party was strong during Wyoming's territorial days, but suffered a decline in its early statehood. It rose to prominence again from the 1930s to the 1950s before experiencing another decline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cynthia Lummis</span> American politician (born 1954)

Cynthia Marie Lummis Wiederspahn is an American attorney and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Wyoming since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Lummis served as the U.S representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district from 2009 to 2017. She served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1979 to 1983 and from 1985 to 1993, in the Wyoming Senate from 1993 to 1995, and as the Wyoming State Treasurer from 1999 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Barrasso</span> American physician and politician (born 1952)

John Anthony Barrasso III is an American physician and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Wyoming, a seat he has held since 2007. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the Wyoming State Senate from 2003 to 2007. As Chair of the Senate Republican Conference since 2019, he is the third-ranking Senate Republican.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Mead</span> American politician (born 1962)

Matthew Hansen Mead is a Wyoming attorney, businessman, and politician who served as the 32nd governor of Wyoming from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously was the United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming from 2001 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming</span>

The 2008 congressional elections in Wyoming was held on November 4, 2008. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election, as well as with two United States Senate races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States presidential election in Wyoming</span> Election in Wyoming

The 2008 United States presidential election in Wyoming took place on November 4, 2008, and was part of the 2008 United States presidential election. Voters chose three representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHOL</span> Radio station in Wyoming, United States

KHOL is a radio station licensed to Jackson, Wyoming, United States. Also known as Jackson Hole Community Radio, KHOL is the only community radio station in Wyoming. Its studios are located at the Center for the Arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leland Christensen</span> American politician (1959–2022)

Leland G. Christensen was an American politician who was a Republican member of the Wyoming Senate, representing the 17th district from 2011 until 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States Senate election in Wyoming</span>

The 2014 United States Senate election in Wyoming took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate for the State of Wyoming. Incumbent Republican senator Mike Enzi won re-election to a fourth term in office. Enzi held Democratic nominee Charlie Hardy to just 17.4 percent of the vote – the lowest percentage of the vote for any major party nominee in Wyoming U.S. Senate electoral history out of the 39 races conducted during the direct election era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Wyoming

The 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor of Wyoming. Incumbent Republican governor Matt Mead was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. Republican nominee Mark Gordon defeated Democratic nominee Mary Throne by nearly 40 percentage points. This was the only time since 1978 that a candidate from the President's party was elected governor of Wyoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate election in Wyoming</span>

The 2018 United States Senate election in Wyoming took place on November 6, 2018 to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Wyoming. The primary election took place August 21, 2018. Republican John Barrasso won re-election with 67% percent of the vote, the lowest percentage of his three U.S. Senate campaigns and the closest a Democrat has came to winning a seat since the 1996 election, and the first time since that election in which Democrats managed to even win counties in the state, those being Teton and Albany, and the first time that the Democratic candidate won any counties for this seat since 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States Senate election in Wyoming</span>

The 2020 United States Senate election in Wyoming was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Wyoming, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Cynthia Lummis defeated Democrat Merav Ben-David by more than 46 percentage points, becoming the first female U.S. Senator from Wyoming and succeeding fellow Republican Mike Enzi, who did not run for reelection. This was the first open Senate seat since 1996 where Enzi was first elected. The Democratic and Republican party primary elections were held on August 18, 2020. This was the first time since 1996 that Democrats won any county for this seat. Enzi died aged 77 on July 26, 2021 from injuries in a bicycle accident less than seven months after his retirement from the Senate.

Mike Gierau is an American politician and who is a member of the Wyoming Senate. representing District 17 since 2019. A Democrat, he served in the Wyoming House of Representatives representing District 16 from 2017 until 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Wyoming elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on November 6, 2018. All of Wyoming's executive offices were up for election, as well as a United States Senate seat and Wyoming's at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on August 21, 2018.

The Wyoming House For Historic Women, also known as Wyoming Women's History House is a museum in downtown Laramie, Wyoming, United States, which celebrates the achievements of 13 women from the state of Wyoming. It was established by the Louisa Swain Foundation, which honors Louisa Swain, the first woman in the United States to vote in a general election. She cast her ballot on September 6, 1870, in Laramie, Wyoming. The museum opened in 2012. The Wyoming State Historical Society says Swain was "the first woman in the world to cast a ballot under laws giving women and men equal voting rights".

Michael Yin is an American politician, software engineer, and businessman. A Democrat, he has represented District 16 of the Wyoming House of Representatives since 2018. Yin is Wyoming's first Chinese-American legislator.

The Jackson Hole News&Guide is a weekly newspaper in the town of Jackson, Wyoming, United States. The News&Guide is published Wednesdays with an average circulation of 7,000 and is the newspaper of record for Teton County, Wyoming.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cubin's "New York" Ad Raises Jewish Eyebrows". Forward Magazine. 2006-11-06. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  2. ↑ "Gary Trauner announces he'll challenge Barrasso for Senate seat". Buckrail. 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  3. ↑ "Trauner announces Senate bid". Jackson Hole Daily. 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  4. ↑ "Trauner vows to put people before party". Gillette News Record. 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  5. 1 2 3 "Trauner moves past get-to-know-you stage". Billings Gazette. 2008-10-20. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  6. ↑ "Elect an entrepreneur- Gary Trauner". CNN. 2008. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  7. ↑ "Gary Trauner of Wilson announces Senate run in 2018". Wyoming News. 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  8. ↑ "Trauner's career turns to lacrosse". Billings Gazette. 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  9. 1 2 "Gary Trauner named first executive director of JH Lacrosse Club". Buckrail. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  10. ↑ "Proposed Budget- Aspens Pines Water and Sewer District". Teton County government. 2017-07-11. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  11. ↑ "Aspens water district wins best water contest". Jackson Hole Daily. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  12. ↑ "Best of JH 2013 Readers' Poll". Planet Jackson Hole. 2013-03-06. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  13. ↑ "Charture Institute". Mission&Vision. 2015. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  14. ↑ "Democrat mulls bid for U.S. House". Billings Gazette. 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  15. ↑ Marie Horrigan (2006-04-22), "WY At-Large: Well-Funded Trauner Poses Threat to Cubin", CQPolitics.com, Congressional Quarterly, archived from the original on 2006-08-31
  16. ↑ Miller, Jared (2006-06-15). "Trauner fundraising outpaces Cubin". Casper Star-Tribune.
  17. ↑ "Wyoming House Seat in Play", Election 2006, Rasmussen Reports, 2006-05-08, archived from the original on 2006-05-18
  18. ↑ Bob Benenson (2006-08-10), "Big Batch of Rating Changes Reflects Stronger Democratic Breeze", CQPolitics.com, Congressional Quarterly, archived from the original on 2006-08-13
  19. ↑ Barron, Joan (2008-10-25). "Gov lauds Trauner, jabs Lummis". Jackson Hole Star Tribune.
  20. ↑ "Gary Trauner". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "Democrat Gary Trauner Announces Bid for Wyoming US Senate". U.S. News & World Report. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  22. ↑ Taylor, Zac (4 June 2018). "ELECTION: Trainer running for U.S. Senate seat". Cody Enterprise. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "END CITIZENS UNITED ENDORSES GARY TRAUNER FOR U.S. SENATE IN WYOMING". End Citizens United. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  24. ↑ Rosenfeld, Arno (14 December 2017). "Democrat Gary Trauner almost won Wyoming's House seat 10 years ago. Can he beat Barrasso?". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  25. ↑ Victor, Jeff (23 February 2018). "Democratic candidate for Senate: 'Opportunity and inequality' biggest issues facing nation". Laramie Boomerang. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  26. ↑ Davis, Theresa (16 June 2018). "Senate candidate Gary Trauner visits Kemmerer". Kemmemer Gazette. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Wyoming
(Class 1)
2018 		Most recent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.