LINGLE – Wednesday, Lingle resident Shelly Duncan announced her decision to run for House District No. 5 State Representative – a position currently held by Cheri Steinmetz, who declared her candidacy for Wyoming Senate District 3 earlier this week.
“I’ve decided to run … after spending the last eight years working in leadership for Wyoming Realtors and directly with National Association of Realtors as an advocate for private property rights on behalf of my clients here in Goshen County,” Duncan told the Telegram. “This past year I’ve been frustrated with the continued attack on property owners by way of the push of transfer taxes, tax services fees on our small businesses and employees, and even the attempt on a gross receipt tax.”
Duncan was born in Beaumont, Texas and raised in Wyoming through the oil boom. She married Eric Duncan, her high school sweetheart, in 1988. Together, the couple has three sons, all graduates of Lingle-Fort Laramie High School. The Duncans moved to Lingle in 2003 for Eric to relocate with Union Pacific Railroad. Duncan became a licensed realtor in 2005.
“It was a natural fit having studied art/interior design (at Lamar University in Beaumont),” Duncan said. “I began my career with Premier Properties, and in 2015, opened my own brokerage, Double D Real Estate & Associates with Judy Daily.
“I want to bring a voice of a local business owner that has an understanding of the daily business and impact of decisions, as well as my understanding of working with the needs of my community,” she continued. “I value being directly involved with issues by starting this past year ‘Totes for Hope’ – a tote filled with toiletries given to homeless youth throughout our community – (as well as being a) a member of Goshen County Economic Development Corporation’s business committee and the North Platte Valley Board of Realtors.”
Duncan and her youngest son, Ian, also started the Festival of Trees fundraiser – now associated with Gracie’s Promise.
“He started it for Kiwanis as a FCCLA service project, and I was a Kiwanis member,” she explained. “I have donated a tree every year since its beginning, even after Kiwanis disbanded and Gracie’s Promise took over.”
Duncan has held various leadership roles since 2009, including all levels at the local North Platte Valley Board of Realtors; two-and-a-half years as the Technology Chair for Wyoming Realtors; one year as Southeast District Vice President of Wyoming Realtors; Vice President/Treasurer Wyoming Realtors; President-Elect Wyoming Realtors; President of Wyoming Realtors; and current Immediate Past President.
In 2012, Duncan was voted local Realtor of the Year and Wyoming State Realtor of the Year; in 2017, she received the Goshen County Big Heart Volunteer of the Year award; and in 2016, served on the NAR Risk Management and Professional Standards Committees. Duncan’s volunteerism also includes service on the NAR Broker Involvement Committee and NAR Housing Opportunities Committee & Grant Review in 2017 and 2018, as well as participation on the 2018 NAR Region XI Strategy Committee.
“My experience being president of Wyoming Realtors allowed me to have an understanding of listening to 2,100 (members) and expressing their wishes and their agenda as a whole for their benefit and for their business, rather than that of a personal agenda,” Duncan said. “I believe I can do the job of representing our community and our values as a whole.”
