Appointment made to vacant council seat

Nearly three months after the untimely passing of Saratoga Town Council member Jacob Fluty—and a month of advertising—the governing body received two letters of interest for the vacant seat.

One letter was from Bub Barkhurst, owner of Barkhurst Collision Center, and the other was from Chia Valdez, owner of Saratoga Land Company and a current member of the Saratoga Planning Commission. Both applicants cited their long ties to Wyoming in their letters with Barkhurst stating his family had settled in the Valley more than 150 years before and Valdez stating she was a third-generation Wyoming resident.

Barkhurst also cited his experience with running his business as well as managing others.

“Throughout my professional career, I have developed strong leadership and public skills,” wrote Barkhurst. “I feel that my 16 years of owning my own business in this town, as well as managing other businesses in the last 30 years, has given me the tools that are necessary to positively contribute to the town council.”

Valdez, meanwhile, cited her conservative values.

“It will be difficult for anyone to match Jacob’s energy and dedication to this community,” wrote Valdez. “That said, I feel my conservative ethics and core values are harmonious with this council.”

Valdez previously ran for Saratoga Town Council in 2018 and was a candidate alongside Kim Hytrek, Jon Nelson and Robert Keel. Ultimately, Nelson and Keel were elected to those four year terms.

At the council meeting on May 7, Mayor Chuck Davis held public interviews of both candidates, a departure from recent previous councils who held interviews behind closed doors.

There were few questions for Valdez from the majority of the council, though Councilmember Kathy Beck had some questions primarily about why she wanted to serve on the council and what she hoped to accomplish. Valdez stated her hope was to help Saratoga grow and to take on some of the pressing issues facing the Town such as paying for infrastructure upgrades as well as the ongoing housing crunch.

Beck asked the same questions of Barkhurst. Barkhurst said he wanted to serve on the council in hopes of moving the town forward. As for what experience he felt he brought to the position, Barkhurst cited the same management experience he offered in his letter.

Following the brief interviews, Davis reminded the two applicants they could also run for the unexpired two year term should one or the other not be appointed.

Beck made a motion to appoint Valdez to the vacancy, which died due to lack of a motion. Councilmember Jerry Fluty made a motion to appoint Barkhurst to the vacancy, which was seconded by Councilmember Mike Cooley and passed unanimously.

Barkhurst was sworn in that same night. He will serve on the council from May 2024 until January 2025.

Filing for the primary election opens May 16 and will close May 31, 2024.