Surdam Steps Down From Children’s Museum of Cheyenne Board

Cheyenne Mayoral candidate Amy Surdam has resigned her position as President of the Children's Museum of Cheyenne Board.

Caroline Veit, who had been board Vice-President has been chosen to replace Surdam as President. According a release issued Sunday morning Surdam had asked the board to replace her in early August, but had agreed to stay on until plans to relocate the project were formalized.

The board on Friday announced plans to build the museum at 1618 O'Neil, rather than the previously planned location of "the hole" on West LIncolnway.

Laramie County voters in November will decide whether to approve a proposed quarter-cent seventh penny tax to pay for construction of the museum.

The release quotes Surdam as saying she wants to "focus my energy on other things" after leaving the museum board, adding "The museum will always hold a place in my heart."

Surdam is Executive Director of the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority in addition to being a mayoral candidate.

She was one of the founders of the museum organization and has been it's most visible advocate.

Surdam is facing Marian Orr on the November election ballot for Mayor of Cheyenne.

The two have taken opposite sides on the proposed tax to build the museum, with Surdam favoring it and Orr opposing it.

Orr said recently she opposes the tax, adding  "The last thing we need is a new tax — especially for one that funds what was supposed to be a private, non-profit entity."

She contends issues such as improving the city infrastructure and making sure the Cheyenne Police Department is has enough officers should be higher priorities, as opposed to "finding new ways to tax our citizens."

Surdam and other supporters of the seventh penny tax proposal argue the museum will provide an economic boost to Cheyenne in addition to educational benefits for local children. They also say it will help revitalize the downtown area.