Gary Trauner

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).

Gary Trauner
Personal details
Born (1958-12-15) December 15, 1958
Scarsdale, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Terry Trauner
EducationColgate University (BA)
New York University (MBA)
WebsiteCampaign website

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
Gary Trauner as a congressional candidate, at a session on rural 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 is the Chair of the Aspens Pines Water and Sewer District and his term ends 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 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 again for the seat during the 2008 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming and was endorsed by Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal.[19] He lost 2008 with 43% of the vote to Cynthia Lummis' 53%.

2018 U.S. Senate election
Main article: 2018 United States Senate election in Wyoming

Trauner won the Democratic primary unopposed to run against incumbent United States Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming 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 had been endorsed by End Citizens United.[23] He had 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 diversification of Wyoming's economy.[26]

In the November election, he lost, but by significantly less than most other Democrats who have run for U.S. Senate in Wyoming in recent years.

References
  1. "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. "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. "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
Tim Chesnut		 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Wyoming
(Class 1)
2018		 Most recent
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