Paid for by Truman4ParkCo - Truman Esmond - Registered Agent
I’m Running Because It All Starts Right Here.
Park County is full of people who care deeply about this place and want to see our communities, families and local businesses thrive. There’s no shortage of ideas, experience or commitment here. What’s possible when all of that is connected to a local government that listens, communicates and works with the people it serves? That question is a big part of why I’m running for Commissioner.
My career has taken me across small business, technology, industry and government, often working with people who saw the same problem very differently. Progress started by understanding the problem, working from facts, bringing the right people together, finding common ground and staying accountable for what happened next.
Those experiences taught me that meaningful change doesn’t have to come from somewhere bigger.
Some of the most important change happens closest to home.
Listen First
Living, working and volunteering in Park County gives me the chance to talk with people across our communities: new neighbors and longtime locals, business owners and part-time residents, Republicans, Democrats, independents and plenty of people who would rather not talk about politics at all.
We may come from different places and perspectives, but we share a lot. We care about our families and communities, value the land and lifestyle that make Park County special, and want the next generation to have the opportunity to build a life here.
We also experience our challenges differently. That’s why listening comes first. Better decisions start by understanding the people who have to live with them.
Building Common Sense Together
We talk about “common sense” as though we all share the same one. We don’t. What seems obvious to each of us is shaped by our experiences, values, information and circumstances. That doesn’t mean we can’t find common ground.
It means we have to build it.
That takes good information, honest conversation, mutual respect and a willingness to consider perspectives different from our own. Much of my career has been spent bringing people and organizations with different interests together to understand complicated problems and build better solutions.
Good government should help us build it together.
Bringing Experience Home
My career has put me in the middle of complicated challenges involving business, technology, regulation and government.
The biggest lesson wasn’t technological. Real progress happens when people understand the problem, have good information, are part of the process and share responsibility for the outcome.
I’ve also seen progress stall when protecting power, process or the status quo becomes more important than improving the outcome.
That changed how I think about public service.
There’s an opportunity to do things differently right here in Park County.
Government That Works With Us
County government touches everyday life, from our roads and public safety to local businesses, growth, services and how our tax dollars are spent.
The decisions are local, so government shouldn’t feel distant from the people it serves.
We should know what decisions are being made and why.
Information should be easy to find and understand.
People should be part of important conversations early, while their voices can still help shape the outcome.
Park County already has tremendous knowledge, experience and ingenuity in our businesses, fire districts, nonprofits, towns, ranches, neighborhoods and communities.
Good local government doesn’t just serve those communities. It brings them together, puts their knowledge to work and turns shared priorities into action.
What We Do Now Matters
Waiting has consequences.
Problems don’t become easier because we put them off, and opportunities don’t wait until government is ready for them. Decisions being made today will shape what it costs to live here, the opportunities available to our families and businesses, and the Park County we leave to the next generation.
I hear frustration and even resignation that “this is simply how the government works and there isn’t much we can do”.
I don’t believe that...
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Local government is where our voices can make a real difference.
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Conversations can change decisions.
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Better information can improve outcomes.
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Communities can come together around shared challenges.
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Elected officials can know, listen to and work with the people they represent.
What we do now matters. There’s no time like now to expect and deserve more.
A Different Approach To Leadership
We won’t always agree on every issue or decision, and that’s okay. What matters is how we work through those differences. Here’s what you can expect from me:
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Listen
Not just to the loudest voices or the people who agree with me.
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Communicate
Know what government is doing, what’s next and why it matters.
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Bring people together
Residents, businesses, communities, staff, experts and partners.
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Ask questions
Especially when “that’s how we’ve always done it” is the answer.
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Work from facts
Make good information easier to find, understand and use.
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Be accountable
For priorities, decisions, taxpayer resources and results.
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Keep showing up
Stay engaged, accessible and part of the community I serve.
Shaping What Comes Next
Protecting what makes Park County special also means taking responsibility for what comes next. The future shouldn’t simply happen to us. We should have a hand in building it.
That’s why I’m running. Because I believe in Park County, the people who live here and what we can accomplish together.
Passion. Commitment. Community. That’s enough to start.
