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Democracy and Government:
•We affirm our belief in government of, by, and for the people.
•We believe in open government with public access to information.
•We believe that government must be efficient, effective and accountable.
•We believe that the letter and spirit of open meeting laws must be followed.
•We encourage a climate of open dialogue, and support citizen involvement in government; we believe that all citizens from all elements of our community are equally entitled to a voice in government.
•We recognize the cities of Victor, Driggs, and Tetonia as important partners with the county, and believe we must all work together to achieve goals that benefit the cities and the county.
•We encourage effective communication and cooperation with adjoining counties in both Wyoming and Idaho.
•We support a more effective relationship between Teton County and the state.
•We believe that in order to achieve more balanced representation in
Boise, we will actively recruit and support quality/competent Democratic candidates for state legislature.
•We champion equal treatment for all citizens and oppose discrimination based on ethnic background, age, religion, disabilities, gender or sexual orientation.
Rural Landscape:
•We value a working rural landscape and meaningful, adequate open space.
•We recognize that farmers play a crucial role in protecting Teton County’s resources and open space.
County Finances, Economy and Services:
•We support the adoption of a Capital Improvements Plan, as called for in the Comprehensive Plan, as a way of understanding, budgeting, and planning for the future needs of Teton County.
•We support wages for public servants (such as firefighters, law enforcement officers, and teachers) that are in keeping with local cost of living, including housing, and will attract quality applicants.
•We are committed to economic progress that is viable and sustainable.
•We support researching and pursuing innovative policies to expand and diversify our traditional and current economic base.
•We believe that the protection of Teton Valley’s natural resources is in the county’s best interests economically.
•We support the implementation of fair and equitable impact fees to mitigate the financial burden of new growth on existing residents.
•We support ways to make the Humane Society viable; we believe it provides a service that is essential to the health, safety, and welfare of county residents.
Planning and Zoning:
•We support long-term planning that reflects sound economic and environmental practices and the generally accepted principles of Smart Growth.
•We recognize that the Comprehensive Plan, as the guiding document for the future of Teton County, must be followed as it stands, and will also evolve to reflect the vision and consensus of Teton County residents. The same applies to the City Comprehensive Plans.
•We support strengthening our county ordinances so that they implement the vision of the Comprehensive Plan.
•We support implementing and enforcing city and county ordinances in a strict but fair and equitable manner that protects the rights of individual residents as well as the interests of the city and/or county as a whole.
•We support keeping core commercial development within the city limits of Victor, Driggs, and Tetonia.
•We support commercial development that is appropriately sized to fit with the existing community businesses.
Growth:
•We recognize both the benefits and the increasing burdens that growth has imposed on our county.
•We are committed to realistic assessment and mitigation of fiscal impacts of new development.
•We support affordable housing for working people in Teton County that is balanced with the protection of wildlife, our scenic heritage and existing neighborhoods.
Education:
•We support high quality public education and know that good teachers are the backbone of a good education.
•We must invest more in attracting and hiring highly qualified teachers and compensate teachers commensurate with the cost of living in Teton County.
•We support more community options for adult education.
Transfer Station and Recycling:
•We support the concepts of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle as financially prudent, and socially responsible.
•We support a county recycling program to reduce the pressure on the transfer station.
•We support sorting of wastes, with a tiered fee schedule that encourages sorting and recycling.
Public Lands, Wildlife, and Environment:
•Public lands and access to those lands are an important part of our heritage, as well as our present and future economy. We support county ordinances that maintain access to public lands, including stream and river beds.
•We recognize the importance of wildlife to our lifestyle and economy and will support keeping those populations at healthy levels.
•We support land use plans and ordinances that protect all natural resources in Teton County, including wildlife, native vegetation, free-flowing waterways, groundwater and wetlands.
•We support reduction of greenhouse gases and actively promote the implementation and development of alternative energy sources and energy conservation.
Transportation, Roads and Highways:
•We support a safe, efficient, well planned, and well maintained transportation system within Teton County.
•We support the implementation of impact fees for county road and transportation facilities.
•We encourage county officials to investigate multiple means to enhance revenues for building and maintaining the county road system.
•We support pathways and other measures that will encourage walking, cycling and other non-motorized travel within and between the cities, residential areas, and schools.
•We support development of public transportation and will work to create a system within and beyond Teton County.
Law Enforcement:
•We support law enforcement that treats all members of, and visitors to, our community equally.
•We support an educated, experienced, and effective Law Enforcement staff. |
Teton County Democrats