Representatives
are paid an annual salary of $169,300.
They can participate in federal employee health and life insurance
programs. Term of office is 2 years. In the Primary, one person from each party
will advance to the General Election.
1.
Biographical information. (100 words)
Mark
Gordon (R): I was raised on the family
ranch at Mayoworth outside of Kaycee. I attended Middlebury College and received a
BA in History. I returned, worked on the
family ranch until 1988 when my wife and I bought the Merlin Ranch outside
Buffalo. My wife and I also started a
catalog company and later had a bookstore in Sheridan. We are part of the movie theater in
Buffalo. My wife passed away in 1993,
leaving me to raise daughters as a single parent. I met Jennie Young and we married in 2000
putting together two families. I am
committed to service.
W.
David Herbert (L): I grew up in the
Salinas Valley of California. My father
was a self described “dirt farmer with 50 head of cows”. I graduated from Palma (Catholic) High
School, Salinas, CA in 1961. I first
became acquainted with Wyoming in the early 1960’s while attending college. I flew in combat in Vietnam and retired from
the US Army as a podiatrist (Lt. Colonel).
I attended night law school and received a J.D. degree with distinction
from the University of the Pacific. I
have been licensed as a Podiatrist in Wyoming since 1976. Contact me at www.herbert2008.com.
Michael S. Holland (R): I was born in Kansas during the Korean
conflict, while my dad was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. I earned my
bachelor's degree in Geophysics from the
University of Missouri-Rolla, and I
went to work for the next 10 years doing oil and gas exploration. While in Houston I made a career change, and
was accepted to medical school at the University of Texas Medical
Branch-Galveston. I did my specialty training in Phoenix, and practiced
pathology in Arizona and Texas until 2006 when I joined a practice in Wyoming.
Cynthia M. Lummis (R): I am a
fourth-generation Wyoming rancher. I graduated from UW with degrees in
Animal Science, Biology, and Law. I served in Wyoming’s legislature for
14 years. I missed only five votes out of six thousand and was the
youngest woman ever elected.
I served eight
years as State Treasurer. During that time, I restructured Wyoming’s
investments to ensure Wyoming residents will never need to pay a state income
tax. My husband, Al Wiederspahn, and I have one
daughter, Annaliese. I remain active in
numerous state-wide organizations. My experience and Republican values
will give Wyoming a strong voice in DC.
Gary Trauner (D): I am a husband, father, businessman, community
volunteer, and elected official residing in Wilson, Wyoming. I have considerable experience running
private and public companies, at heart, I am a businessman who loves to start
new companies and create jobs. I have
also been active in public service throughout my adult life. In 2006, I nearly
won Wyoming’s lone seat in the US House of Representatives by focusing on my
desire to restore leadership, integrity, a commitment to service and a
willingness to do the right thing, regardless of party, for all the people of
Wyoming.
Bill Winney (R): Graduate, US
Naval Academy, 1972, BS Oceanography. Graduate, The
Catholic University of America, 2000, Masters in Engineering (Engineering
Management). Captain, US Navy (Retired), Served as Commanding Officer, USS
Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) and USS Holland (AS-32). Served as Chief Engineer, USS Francis Scott
Key (SSBN-657) FAA Certificated Flight Instructor and Commercial Rated Pilot. Served three tours of duty in the Pentagon on the Staff of the
Chief of Naval Operations and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense,
extensive experience within the acquisition process and as liaison with the
United Kingdom within the ATSD (Nuclear, Chemical, & Biological Warfare)
office.
2. Considering
that the US Senate has recently rejected one bi-partisan bill on global warming
(the Climate Security Act, S. 2191), what do you think the US should do, if
anything, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? (75 words)
Mark
Gordon (R): I have concerns about S.2191 because of its potential cost to
consumers. Congress should address
greenhouse gas emissions responsibly. We
must step up to this challenge by fostering energy sources that minimize carbon
emissions, and by encouraging energy efficiencies and conservation. Moreover, we must deal responsibly with
carbon sequestration and offsets. An
energy policy addressing these issues is critical to our future. Congress must steward our tax dollars and
natural resources for the long-term.
W.
David Herbert (L): I have an undergraduate background in chemistry and a
medical degree. I have seen no evidence
that convinces me that any green house gas alone causes global warming. At this time any legislation to reduce CO2 or
any other green house gas would be premature in my opinion. Attempts to reduce pollution would be a different
story.
Michael S. Holland (R): The small increase in global temperatures
appears to be related to increased solar output, as evidenced by the melting of
the polar ice caps on Mars and similar changes on the moons of Saturn. The constant drumbeat about climate change is
politically motivated to justify yet another tax, in furtherance of global
"governance." I oppose any
so-called carbon tax.
Cynthia M. Lummis (R): I am not
convinced sufficient evidence exists to establish mankind as the sole cause of
climate change. I recognize the need to protect the environment and
responsibly produce energy. We must balance conservation with
carbon-based and renewable energies. Producers of greenhouse gases must
be held accountable and must minimize emissions through clean technology.
This, plus incentives to switch to zero emission transportation, would be a
solid first step in reducing greenhouse emissions.
Gary Trauner (D): Greenhouse gas reduction presents an
incredible opportunity for America to do what it does best – innovate to
develop new technologies/industries that will drive the economy of the
future. We need an “Apollo-Moon”-type
project, a public-private partnership, to commercialize new & alternative
energy sources, including clean coal technologies. We can huff and puff until we are blue in the
face arguing over climate change, but the world will move on without us.
Bill
Winney (R): The rejected legislation was poorly
crafted. We can, and should, get on with
research to limit CO2 emissions from power generating stations and other
sources. When developed we should
implement the methods found effective.
This cannot be done if we so hobble our economy that we lose our
leadership position in the world.
3. Explain
your position on whether or not the US should allow more off-shore exploration
and drilling for oil, particularly off Florida and California, and in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (75 words)
Mark
Gordon (R): We must develop our domestic
resources prudently. I support responsible
energy production in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and ANWR. Exploration and production in these areas
must utilize best available technologies and best strategies with a minimal
footprint – standards must be proportionate with the respect we have afforded
these areas to date. Furthermore the
energy produced from these special places must be for domestic use, not
frittered away internationally. States
concerns are important too.
W.
David Herbert (L): We have tied our hands and made ourselves energy dependent
by not drilling in ANWAR and all other places.
We know oil exists. We also have
abundant supplies of oil in a number of other places, we should drill there
also!
Michael S. Holland (R): As matters stand, China drills offshore
Florida, while American companies are prohibited. I would open up ANWR and offshore California
and Florida to
exploration by American companies. I would also repeal the outrageous Escalante
Monument which barred development of the largest deposit of clean burning coal
in the world. The myth of peak oil has
been foisted on the American public since the 1950's to justify high oil prices
and warfare against oil-producing nations.
Cynthia M. Lummis (R): The
current energy dilemma is largely based on tight oil supply, increasing demand,
and speculation. Wyoming people recognize that if oil production
increases, speculation decreases, and energy prices will likely drop. The US
has vast, untapped resources offshore. These resources (combined with
renewable advances) must be utilized to cure the current energy dilemma, shore
up the US economy by strengthening the dollar, and vastly improve our national
security by decreasing US dependency on foreign countries.
Gary Trauner (D): President Bush said we are addicted to oil. I agree.
The United States has only 3% of the world’s oil reserves; according to
experts we cannot affect the market price of oil in any significant way. So the more we continue down a path of
oil-dependence, the more we compromise our national security and risk our
economy. As a businessman, I would rather invest in future technologies and
sources of energy that provide long-term investment benefits.
Bill
Winney (R): We must remain strong economically as a
nation. The geology of energy has
changed in the last decade and we must take note of that. We cannot continue to fence off our own
resources while expanding imports of energy.
Such actions as horizontal drilling from remote locations can be used to
safely extract resources and preserve the environment.