LCCC trustee candidate who is registered as a sex offender drops out of race due to public backlash

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – A candidate for school board has withdrawn from the general election, citing false information in public comments and from the county Republican Party.

Anthony L. Schmidt was one of seven candidates running for the Laramie County Community College board of directors, but withdrew, he confirmed in a statement to Cap City News on Wednesday. Schmidt’s decision comes a day after Cap City News reported on his status as a sex offender in the state of Wyoming.

“I have decided it is in the best interest of my family and me to drop out of the race,” Schmidt said via email. “This decision was not made lightly. I truly believed I had ideas that could benefit our community, but unfortunately I will not have the opportunity to implement them. The misrepresentation of my past – whether it be an error in the LCRP statement or, worse, in the court documents – is simply too serious to bear.”

In his statement, Schmidt refers to a letter that the Laramie County Republican Party released on Tuesday. The letter was posted on the party’s Facebook page and had received over 50 comments at the time of reporting.

“I will continue to live a law-abiding life and ensure my voice is heard when needed,” Schmidt said in his email Wednesday. “While I will no longer seek political office, I remain committed to working to make positive change in our community.”

Schmidt, 46, was convicted of sexual exploitation of a child in 2002, according to his registration page, and has been on the state’s criminal record since 2007.

It is unclear what impact Schmidt’s criminal history would have had on his ability to serve as a trustee. Under Wyoming law, no one who is a registered sex offender may be on the premises of a school or school grounds. An offender may not be on the premises if he or she has reason to believe that juveniles under the age of 18 will be present there or if children are present 30 minutes before or after a scheduled school activity. LCCC offers programs for students under the age of 18.

Cap City News reached out to LCCC on Tuesday for comment but did not receive a response.

On November 5, voters will be able to decide on the future of the LCCC Board of Trustees. There are four open seats on the community college’s Board of Trustees.

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