Timothy Sapp faces Lupe Bickford, Venus “Freedom” Bontadelli and Justin Waterworth in the Aug. 18 primary election.
Four candidates are running for a four-year term representing Ward III on the Powell City Council, according to Park County election records. Incumbent Councilman Timothy Sapp is running against Lupe Bickford, Freedom Bontadelli and Justin Waterworth. The official Park County sample ballot instructs Ward III voters to select one candidate in the Aug. 18 primary election.
Councilman Tim Sapp; Lupe Bickford; Freedom Bontadelli; Justin Waterworth
The municipal contest is nonpartisan. Although the Ward III race appears on partisan primary ballots, party affiliations are not printed next to the candidates’ names in the municipal section.
Responsibilities of the City Council
Powell’s six-member City Council includes two representatives from each of the city’s three wards. Sapp and Troy Bray currently represent Ward III. Under the city’s mayor-council system, the mayor presides over meetings, while the council appoints and oversees the city administrator. Council members also select a president to preside in the mayor’s absence.
Councilman Troy Bray
According to the City of Powell, the council serves as the city’s legislative and policymaking body. Council members enact ordinances and resolutions, approve or amend the annual budget, authorize certain contracts and oversee municipal finances.
The City Council establishes operational fees and approves developmental changes, including zoning, subdivisions, plats, and annexations. Its authority also encompasses determining personnel policies, adopting municipal rules, evaluating the city administrator, and confirming appointments to key offices, boards, and commissions.
As a member of this governing body, the elected representative from Ward III will participate in critical decisions regarding municipal spending, public infrastructure, utility services, development regulations, and long-range strategic planning.
Sapp’s council record
Tim Sapp is the only candidate in the race with a City Council voting record. City records identify him as a current Ward III representative. Published council minutes show that he was serving as council president by June 2025.
In September 2025, Sapp was the only council member to vote against an ordinance reducing the minimum area required for certain corner lots, according to the Powell Tribune. He questioned the reduced lot-size requirement before the other council members present approved the ordinance. Sapp also participated in the council’s consideration of an update to Powell’s master plan, which guides long-term decisions involving land use, development, transportation and infrastructure. The city received proposals from seven consulting firms interested in assisting with the update.
During a March 2026 discussion, Sapp said the existing master plan contained work that could still be completed. The revised plan will guide future municipal decisions, while individual zoning changes, subdivisions and annexations will continue through the city’s established approval process.
Bickford’s Political Involvement
Lupe Bickford has participated in Republican Party politics as a candidate for precinct committeewoman in Powell’s Precinct 9-7.
Candidate Lupe Bickford; image from Facebook
Park County’s official 2024 primary election results show that Bickford ran for one of two Republican precinct committeewoman positions. She received 62 votes in the four-candidate contest. Bickford is again listed as a Republican precinct committeewoman candidate in Precinct 9-7 on the 2026 ballot. She is running for that party position while also seeking the nonpartisan Ward III council seat.
Karin Richard, a candidate for Park County commissioner, said in an emailed statement that Bickford has participated in Republican grassroots politics for several years. Richard described Bickford as “quiet, reserved” and “committed.” Richard also characterized Bickford as politically conservative.
Karin Richard, Park County commissioner candidate
Park County election records independently confirm that Bickford filed for the precinct committee position in 2024 and again in 2026. The public records reviewed for this article do not contain Bickford’s positions on Powell’s budget, zoning regulations, utility services, operational fees, master plan or proposed public facilities.
Bontadelli and Powell’s Animal Ordinance
Freedom Bontadelli received public attention through a dispute with Powell officials over permission to keep a miniature goat at her residence. Bontadelli applied for a permit to keep the goat within the city.
After officials denied her request, she filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Powell’s permitting process violated her right to due process under the 14th Amendment.
The lawsuit challenged the standards used when the city considered requests for exceptions to its restrictions on livestock and exotic animals. Bontadelli alleged that the ordinance did not provide sufficiently specific criteria for determining whether an application should be approved or denied.
The complaint requested declaratory relief, attorney fees and $1 in nominal damages. Nominal damages are a small monetary award that may be requested in a constitutional case to obtain a legal finding that a right was violated.
Candidate Freedom Bontadelli; image via Facebook
The lawsuit and its allegations were reported nationally by Reuters. Claims contained in a civil complaint represent the plaintiff’s allegations and are not judicial findings. Reuters identified the animal as a Nigerian pygmy miniature goat and reported its weight as approximately 20 pounds. Richard described the goat as weighing approximately 10 pounds. The dispute was later resolved in a manner that allowed the goat to remain in Powell through 2031, according to Wyoming Public Media.
Powell subsequently prohibited new exotic pets within city limits. The prohibition includes goats, horses, pigs, cows and snakes longer than three feet. Existing permits remained valid when the ordinance took effect. Some residents supported the city’s ability to limit exotic animals, while others supported allowing Bontadelli to keep the goat as an indoor companion animal.
Bontadelli also spoke during a June public meeting concerning a proposed combined recreation and senior center. The project has been associated with a proposed $19.3 million specific-purpose tax measure expected to be presented to voters in the fall.
Her participation in that meeting establishes her involvement in the public discussion but does not document her position on every component of the proposal, including its financing, design or future operating expenses.
Waterworth’s Professional Background
Justin Waterworth, an English teacher at Powell Middle School, grew up in Worland and has remained involved in education, athletics and student activities. He has coached middle school soccer and served as an assistant coach for the Powell High School speech and debate team.
Candidate Justin Waterworth, image via Facebook
Waterworth competed in policy debate at Worland High School, where he completed an undefeated 84-0 senior season, won state titles and qualified for the 2006 national tournament. He later brought that experience to Powell’s debate program, working with students on research, argument development and competition preparation.
In announcing his Ward III campaign, Waterworth expressed respect for the generations that built Powell and raised concerns about development he believes could change the community’s character. His campaign materials specifically identify high-density, urban-style development as an issue in the city’s future planning. Waterworth is seeking his first term on the City Council.
Issues Facing the Next Council
The Ward III race comes as Powell updates its master plan and considers land use, public facilities and municipal spending. The next council member will help decide zoning amendments, subdivision and annexation requests, infrastructure projects, municipal contracts, operational fees and the city’s annual budget.
Recent council business has included changes to corner-lot requirements, revisions to the city’s animal ordinance and planning for Powell’s future development. Voters are also expected to consider a proposed $19.3 million specific-purpose tax for recreation and senior facilities this fall.
Ward III voters will choose among Sapp, Bickford, Bontadelli and Waterworth in the Aug. 18 primary. The council position carries a four-year term.
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