The Nuance of Nepotism

The Sheridan County Board of County Commissioners made news again this week. Like normal, they rarely make news for good reasons, just mostly for violating state statute and the trust of the county citizens.

However, we have good news. The great three plus million-dollar flower pot will be done soon! The BOCC has ensured that funding for this beautiful and useful addition to the community will be continued. Does anyone else think this might be Sheridan’s version of funding the Ukrainian government? If we only had more money we could have bougainvillea and get the evil Brooks Street Hill to surrender once and for all.

The other “good deed” the BOCC did this week was to increase Kenny Custis’ pay by 26%, which, coincidentally, is about the same amount your property taxes increased last year. This worked out to a $20,000 salary increase for doing the exact same job he’s been doing for years. Did you get a 26% pay increase? Everyone else in the county is getting 5% and they’re crying foul. Why is Kenny so special?

According to the BOCC, well, the Frivolous Four since Holly Jennings voted against their frivolity, Kenny wasn’t paid as much as the other Ukrainian Human Resource Directors so they felt some money should be laundered in his direction. I may have made that last part up, but for sure, Kenny isn’t paid as much as the Human Resources Director for Cook County Illinois, and that’s a shame since Kenny isn’t even transgender with pronouns.

But Kenny is special for another reason and this week’s actions of the Frivolous Four raise suspicion. You see, Kenny is married to Lynn Custis who is running for the Board of County Commissioners. You may say, “so what,” but then you’d be misreading the Frivolous Four once again. Lynn is their choice for County Commissioner. Lynn will be well-behaved and keep all of their secrets, going happily along with more Ukrainian Street Flowerpot spending, keeping County Clerk Eda Thompson on the Plantation, and making sure that Federal Grant dollars with DEI requirements continue flowing into Sheridan County. If you don’t believe me, just check out the big Lynn Custis sign in Commissar Tom Ringley’s yard. You may also find her sign in several prominent Democrat’s yards. Hmmmm….

There is a legal problem if Lynn Custis is elected. She runs afoul of Wyoming State Statute, Section 9-13-104. Nepotism. To wit:  “A public official, public member or public employee shall not supervise or manage a family member who is in an office or position of the state, a county, municipality or school district.”

The Frivolous Four will argue that their HR Manager, Kenny Custis, reports directly to the Administrative Director, not the BOCC, so therefore the rule on nepotism does not apply. Aside from the fact that Mr. Duff is in an imaginary job that was fabricated by the BOCC to keep the County Clerk from doing hers, and that the HR Czar Mr. Custis attends the BOCC meetings, what could possibly be the problem?

Let’s return to the beginning. This week the BOCC singled out the Human Resources Director for a $20,000 pay increase. You know, that guy they “don’t supervise or manage.”

[Conspiracy theory time out. Do you suppose they are giving Kenny Custis a big pay increase now in anticipation of not being able to give him one once his wife Lynn is elected as his boss? Why else would Mr. Custis get the equivalent of a 5-year pay increase now?]

What to do? Well, Lynn Custis should have pulled out of the election once this issue was brought to her attention, but since she wants to be part of the Frivolous Four, she has to demonstrate her willingness to flout state statute. Sort of like a gang initiation.

Our County Attorney can’t do anything at the moment since no law has been broken…yet. This could be solved if Lynn is elected and Kenny Custis resigns from his cush HR job at the county, but why would he leave a job that pays two and one-half times what Lynn’s BOCC job pays? And since when has our County Attorney ever enforced state statute against the BOCC or anyone? Bueller?

Sadly, this is identical to the stance the Frivolous Four took on the County Commission vacancy last year: We are going to conspire to do what we want and ignore state statute in order to get our way.

What can you do? Ask Lynn Custis about nepotism and what she plans on doing if elected. Consider carefully who you vote for. Do they represent YOU or do they represent the big money ESTABLISHMENT that says they care about you and then turn around and screw you by taxing you more and wastefully spending your money. Primary day is August 20th. Vote wisely.

Aside from that, enjoy your overpriced flower pot and don’t dare complain about the condition of a county road or bridge or your property taxes.