Scott Steward is one of two incumbent candidates in the crowded race for just three open seats on the Park County Board of Commissioners.
After first being elected to the board in 2022, Steward is now seeking reelection in a field of nine Republican candidates. Prior to his time on the commissioners board, he spent more than 30 years with the Park County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Steward gradually rose through the ranks at the PCSO, starting off as a dispatcher, before ultimately spending his final 17 years with the PCSO as sheriff. In 2022, before retiring from law enforcement, he decided to make a run at the Commissioners board.
His motivation for running came during his last few years as sheriff , as he watched the influx of people moving to Park County post-Covid and saw the county attempt to handle the rapid growth in the population, Steward said, “I decided I wanted to be part of the solution, rather than just sit back and watch.”
Heading into his first term, Steward identified the need for updated regulations at the county level. The work on updating the county’s Land Use Plan and Development Standards and Regulations is a process that has taken years, but is now nearing completion.
“As sheriff, I had seen issues with subdivisions coming in and issues with people moving in, and the regulations were 20 years outdated,” Steward said.
“Now what we’re trying to do is put it all together into a good document and get it done, but not get it done sloppily… You don’t want to just throw it together and have a sloppy document, we want to look at all the aspects.”
Heading into the August 18 primary, Steward is asking residents of Park County for their vote once again. He cites his prior experience as sheriff, experience on the commissioners board, and love for Park County as defining characteristics of his campaign.
“I just want to give back to the community,” he said. “… I’m built on public service and I don’t do it for myself. I do it for my friends, my family, and everyone else in the community. I just want to be that solid voice, that has the experience.”
To learn more, listen to Scott Steward’s Speak Your Piece interview on KODI below:
