Town council candidate Jessica Sell Chambers was raised in Pittsburgh in a blue-collar home and the oldest of five siblings. Her mother was a Democrat and her union-member father voted Republican. Larry Hartenstein grew up in New Jersey and currently manages the county’s recycling center after 22 years managing operations at Snow King Mountain Resort.
In this conversation, Chambers and Hartenstein talk about learning from family members who have different political opinions. Chambers shares her story about standing up to the man who sexually assaulted her and being a voice for sexual assault victims. Hartenstein shares why he was inspired to become a volunteer to support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
Chambers is running to reclaim a seat on the Jackson Town Council after serving from 2020 to 2024. Hartenstein manages the Teton County Recycling Center, is the Vice Chair of Make-A-Wish Wyoming and has advocacy certifications from the Community Safety Network.
This conversation was recorded for KHOL’s One Small Step Program that brings people with different beliefs into the recording studio to discover common ground. For election season, KHOL paired candidates running for local office with the constituents they aim to represent.