The Wyoming House of Representative is the lower house of the state legislature. Similar to the U.S. House of Representatives, they work with Senators to create laws, set the state budget, and determine state tax rates. State Representatives are elected to a two-year term with no term limits.
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I am grateful to call Wyoming home and raise my family here. As a father, husband, teacher, and proud resident, I have a deep-seated interest to keep Wyoming free and ensure that this great state can thrive.
I earned a degree in political science from the University of Wyoming where I later earned certification to teach secondary social studies content.
My professional experience is varied. In teaching, I added a certification to teach English and have taught grades ranging from 6-11. During the summer, I work as a road construction inspector and do some materials technician work. I also have relevant experience as a legislative aide in Colorado's capitol. In my work experiences, I have unique perspectives to bring to the state house.
I do support the ballot initiative for 50% reduction in primary residential property taxes, bearing in mind that the reduction is specifically for primary residences. As I have talked with residents of HD 61, they have expressed appreciation and support for the initiative balanced with reasonable concern for a need for backfilling lost revenue for local municipalities. I share both that support and concern, recognizing the value of residential property tax relief (especially for those on fixed incomes) while also understanding that essential local services need to be funded. State and local governments should be good stewards of the taxpayer's dollars and fund what is necessary while striving to keep tax burdens low.
I oppose sweeping sales/exchanges of public lands. Public lands are an essential part of Wyoming life in hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and other hallmarks of outdoor lifestyle. I do support strategic and managed land exchanges that would optimize public access, but such situations must be transparent to the public. The federal government claims half of Wyoming land. Distant or inept federal control can be cost-ineffective, lead to inefficient land management, and miss out on multi-use opportunities. I support Wyoming lands being in Wyoming hands. That doesn't mean the full privatization of those lands, but I believe that interests and stakes are greater for those with a closer connection to the land than a bureaucrat in Washington.
With regards to education funding, the legislature took some positive first steps in its recalibration efforts this past session, where money intended for education/academic use (like making teacher pay competitive) was siloed to go to those purposes. Considering state and local taxes, Wyoming spends over $20,000 per student. Ensuring that schools are properly funded is a constitutional requirement of the legislature and I believe that much of the recalibration is at least a step in the right direction, but there are clearly adjustments to make with regards to school activities funding and ensuring that existing funds are being administered appropriately. It is essential to provide Wyoming students a quality and well-rounded education.
On a state and local level especially, effective social services are important so as to support communities who might need them. Social services should serve as a safety net, not lead to dependency. In tandem with private charities and programs, social services ought to operate as a means to self-sufficient and independent lives since it is difficult to find meaning and fulfillment when reliant on government programs. Spending on social services should be done transparently and based on efficiency so that those who find themselves in need get the requisite help to the point where they may lead as independent lives as possible.
