Posted 5-10-08

Phyllis Sherard Running for Wyoming Senate

Cheyenne (Office of Phyllis Sherard) – Phyllis Sherard, a Democrat, announced today that she will seek election to the Wyoming State Senate, from District 6, which represents a significant portion of eastern Laramie County.

A 2005 retiree of Wyoming state government, Sherard has served as a planning resource to the Wyoming Legislature, state and federal agencies and to local communities on health and social issues including access to health and human services; community assessment and planning; coalition building; youth development; school-based health services; the impact of poverty on Wyoming families; and accountability in planning, management and budgeting.

A graduate of Leadership Wyoming, Class of 2003, she is currently serving a second term as the elected President of the Laramie County Community Partnership, an organization of 65 partners working voluntarily to efficiently use public and non-profit resources and improve conditions of well-being for people in Laramie County.

“Every day in our county, non-profits, local government, community groups and volunteers use their thoughtful and complementary skills to weave wonderful partnerships that protect, nurture and support our residents,” said Sherard.

“More often than not, they are designing innovative, low-cost, common-sense solutions to make the best use of available resources. I am volunteering myself for election to Wyoming’s citizen legislature out of a deep sense of dedication to the success of these partnerships and their tireless work to improve the quality of life and well-being for people in our county. I am uniquely qualified to bring the hands-on experience and knowledge gained from working directly with these successful partnerships to prioritizing and improving key issues facing our state.”

Under Sherard’s direction, over the past two years the Partnerhip has shown remarkable growth and has implemented several county-based initiatives. In early 2006 the Partnership had minimal assets and had lost the services of its long-time executive director due to budget constraints. Today, the Partnership marshals more than $600,000 in assets and has an at-will staff of four working in support of community-based efforts.

As co-chair of the Poverty to Self-Sufficiency Action Team, Sherard helped design, select best-practice protocols and secure funding for an initiative to lift residents from multi-generational poverty to self-sufficiency. Also during Sherard’s tenure, the Laramie County medication donation pilot program was implemented and is currently dispensing donated medications through a central pharmacy, saving low-income residents thousands of dollars while promoting preventive care.

According to Sherard, while serving in the senate she plans to address: access to affordable, primary and preventive health care; early education and life-long learning; affordable housing not just for first time home-buyers, but for residents worried about where they live from month to month; and strengthening county infrastructures to help support individuals and families in crisis.

“While working for Laramie County and the state, Start earlier – and stick with it! will characterize my approach to improving these critical conditions of well-being in Wyoming,” says Sherard.

Sherard is employed by Cheyenne Regional Medical Center as Director of the Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Department. If elected, she will take a leave of absence from her position to attend to legislative duties. She holds undergraduate and advanced degrees in public administration and health care management.