Missy White for Mayor

Lander has been home for almost 40 years. I didn’t get to pick my birthplace, but like many of you, I chose to make Lander my home and am committed to serving friends and neighbors to make our lives better. Take a look at my Missy for Mayor FB page to see some of how I’ve engaged with and volunteered in the community.

If you want to learn math, you don’t start with calculus. You build up to it with geometry, algebra, and so on. I’ve worked through the building blocks to serve competently as Mayor. I started learning about local government as a community member, then added much more knowledge serving 6+ years as a Council member, including 2 years as what’s now Mayor Pro Tem, and really accelerated my experience with almost 16 months as mayor. Every step added greatly to my knowledge and skills.

In 2018, Council began a biannual strategic plan to provide direction to staff on how to meet our constituents’ needs. A major focus was to determine specifically where to address the highest needs for infrastructure improvements, design projects to be qualified for additional external funds, and to get projects done! McFarlane is done, Lincoln St is almost done, and Buena Vista will start shortly. Cascade, Baldwin, 9th St, 5th St, Dillon Vista, and more are shovel-ready.

We are fortunate to have a group of extremely dedicated and highly talented staff who do the work of keeping the city running. They are critical to getting things done. It’s been a tremendous honor to work with them, to help them find ways to be more efficient, to create long-lasting solutions, and I hope you’ll allow me the opportunity to continue doing so.

Recent Accomplishments

Every day, improvements are done to make life better for Lander residents. Here are just a few of the recent accomplishments

Improvements at softball fields
New dugouts for the Little League fields
McFarlane Drive water and sewer upgrades
Sidewalks near Gannett Peak Elementary School
Flashing crosswalks for better pedestrian safety near schools
4,000-gallon water tank
Lincoln Street overhaul
Fencing repair at rodeo grounds for Indian relay safety
Work has begun to thin the fire load in McManus Park
Buena Vista overhaul – sewer, water, and street/curb/gutter begins shortly

The next four years

Provide maximum services with fiscal prudence
1. Guiding the City’s budget requires a keen eye to have sufficient funds for improvements, with a minimum impact on residents. Tight budgeting and wise use of external dollars maximize City efforts to provide services to you
Continued funding for and working on infrastructure improvements to streets and the water/sewer system
1. Seeking grants and loans to decrease the burden on residents is, and will continue to be, a priority. We couldn’t do the projects you’re seeing now without that funding
Housing for All
1. A core value for me is that those on fixed income and those who do the work around town that make Lander special should be able to live in Lander. I will continue to work on options that increase affordable housing options
Continued transparency
1. Lander government operates at the highest level of transparency it’s ever had through Zoom meetings, publication of agenda packets, strong online presence through web page and social media; accessibility through recordings and minutes; efficient response to public records requests. Everything that can be shared publicly is shared publicly
Community solutions for community challenges
1. Lander is small enough to work together and too small not to work together. I build strong relationships with partners and bring solution-oriented thinking to the table for achievable and sustainable solutions. This is especially important given the current challenge of sustaining the Bruce Gresley Aquatic Center
Sufficient water supply and treatment for long-term vitality
1. Water is life! We’ve significantly increased supply options and streamlined the treatment process through systems improvements rather than hiring additional staff. Clean water pours out of your tap every day as a result.
Refining systems for increased efficiencies and financial savings
1. As we’re tackling major improvements, we’re also working to address all systems and processes for greater efficiency, cost savings, and better service.

While we've accomplished a great deal, there's still important work ahead. Future priorities include additional sidewalks and school crossings, rebuilding more streets while replacing aging water and sewer lines, expanding the cemetery columbarium, and protecting Lander's valuable Territorial water rights.

I'm committed to continuing to serve the residents of Lander and building an even stronger community. I'm grateful to work alongside an exceptional city staff, dedicated volunteers, and engaged residents who make Lander such a special place to call home. Together, we've accomplished a great deal, and together, we can accomplish even more.

I would be honored to earn your trust and your vote to continue serving as Lander's mayor.

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