Candidates for US House of Representatives

 

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.