Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Where do you currently live and how long have you lived in Senate District 20?
I currently reside outside of Ten Sleep. I was born in Thermopolis up on Hospital Hill for those of us that remember. My family first came to the southern Big Born Basin in 1906. We have been continuously involved in agriculture here from that time. I was raised in Worland on sheep and sugar beets, finishing high school in Ten Sleep. My grandsons recently graduated fourth generation from Ten Sleep Schools. This is our home and will continue to be just that.
Why are you running for Senate District 20?
I'm running to keep Wyoming Wyoming. Living here is not just a place to live, it's a lifestyle. Our values and ethics run deep. Outside influences are continually attacking our state and values. We must be involved to protect what is ours for the future. This is my home. I'm here to help protect it.
How would you like to address the rising property taxes in the state and what impact would that resolution have on residents, businesses, special tax districts and local and state government?
We need to be careful as we reform property taxes. The current structure of property tax is dictated by our State Constitution. The statutes are very restrictive and well structured. A Constitutional Amendment is on the ballot this fall that will give us more latitude for residential tax relief and reform. There are groups out there that do not fully understand property taxes in Wyoming. 100% of the property taxes collected stay right here in our hometown and counties. About 70% goes for schools. The remainder goes to the counties, municipalities and special districts within our counties. We have all become very comfortable with those services such as fire districts, landfills, libraries, weed and pest districts, cemeteries, irrigation districts, etc., all funded through our property taxes and mill levies. Separating residential taxes from the other property tax classes is the first step of a long process of property tax reform.
What areas should the state focus on to diversify its economy, so it is not so dependent on minerals?
Wyoming will continue to be dependent on our minerals for many years to come. We need to continue our fight against Federal overreach attempting to limit or eliminate our resources. Currently Wyoming is involved in 59 lawsuits against the Federal government to protect our way of life. We need to take full advantage of the business structure that has been set up by past legislatures. Today Wyoming is possibly the most business-friendly state in the Nation. On the Minerals and Business Development Committee that I Currently am Vice Chair of we are aggressively recruiting new businesses to Wyoming including manufacturing, minerals, data bases and energy related services. Development of our Rare Earth deposits will bring hundreds of new jobs. We currently have new precious metal mines being developed. I'm very excited about the economic future of Wyoming. We are on the very edge of strong economic growth.
What is one other issue that you feel needs to be addressed by the State Legislature and how would you address it?
In our district and across the state, I believe that federal overreach continues to be one of our biggest challenges. Federal agencies are trying to exterminate our minerals extraction industries, our agriculture, our public lands access and our way of life. It is critical to our well being to continue to adequately fund these lawsuits that push back.
We have a multitude of other issues important to all of us, including property taxes, school funding, rural health care, mental health care, adequate access to affordable insurance, an aging population to name a few. We need to work together in a civil collaboration to help the State address these issues as they rise to the top of our list, before they become an emergency. Cool heads and conservative, common sense, solution-based thinking will prevail.
