Taft Love appointed to fill Wyoming Senate District 6 after joint Laramie–Platte County vote

Taft Love, a long‑time Eastern Laramie County resident and former Laramie County School District No. 2 trustee, was appointed Tuesday to fill the vacant seat for Wyoming Senate District 6 after a joint meeting of the Laramie and Platte County commissions.

The commissions interviewed three finalists — Taft Love, Roy Burt and Jeff Barnes — in a public session before recessing to an executive session for deliberations. After reconvening, clerks distributed eight ballots, which commissioners cast by secret ballot; the clerk then announced that all eight ballots were cast for Love and the appointment was confirmed. The commissioners signed a certificate of appointment before adjourning.

The session began with the clerk reading the meeting’s purpose under Wyoming statute 22‑18‑111(a)(3)(d) and a description of the process: an ordered series of individual interviews with the three candidates, sequestration of non‑testifying finalists during interviews, an executive session for commissioner deliberation, and a public reconvening for voting. The chair stated that this was not a public hearing and that no public comment would be taken.

During his opening statement, Love described a background in field research with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, a role in the Wyoming Division of Tourism and a decade on the LCSD‑2 school board, including service as chair. "This truly has to come from a place of service," Love said, adding that his first duty would be to "serve the people of Platte and Laramie County that elect us or appoint us in this circumstance." He told commissioners he would also consider statewide interests when acting at the legislature.

Love told commissioners he would be cautious about further property‑tax cuts, calling an additional 25% reduction potentially "absolutely devastating" to small counties and special districts that rely heavily on property tax revenue. He said he would look for legislative tools to support rural housing and child care — for example, authorizing special sewer and water districts to enable smaller lots and more multifamily housing where appropriate.

Roy Burt, who described a background of 31 years in the private sector and church leadership, said he would focus on job creation and technical education to retain young residents, advocating apprenticeships and trade‑school pathways. He also named election integrity among his priorities and said he favored measures to bolster voter confidence.

Jeff Barnes, a retired police commander and Air Force veteran, said he would work for constituents in SD‑6 while also considering statewide needs. Barnes confirmed earlier involvement collecting signatures for a 50% property‑tax initiative but said he would accept the legislature’s existing 25% reduction as a practical matter and pledged to scrutinize budgets and consult local officials about impacts.

After a brief executive session for deliberation, the joint commission reconvened, ballots were distributed and read, and commissioners moved to appoint Love. The motion passed with unanimous recorded support during roll call. Commissioners then signed the certificate of appointment and adjourned.

Next procedural steps: Love will be issued the certificate of appointment by county clerks and will assume the duties of the Senate District 6 seat according to state procedures. The counties did not take public comment at this meeting.

(Reporting from the public proceedings and the commissioners’ roll call and ballot announcements.)