Candidates for Wyoming House and Senate
Wyoming Senators serve four-year terms; Wyoming Representatives serve two-year terms. Salary is the same for each: $150 per working day, with $85 per diem plus travel, reimbursed at the Federal rate. A legislator can petition for an additional $150 per quarter for “constituent service”. There are four House Districts (HD) within Albany County and one, HD 47, which is in portions of both Albany and Carbon Counties.
1. What is your background, and what qualifies you for this office? (100 words)
Neil Harrison (D) SD 10: I know how big business works: I have worked with Fortune 500 companies in a wide range of industries. I understand how the “oil patch” operates because I have advised oil and gas companies and run a mining company. And I know small business, having owned and managed several small businesses and advised Wyoming companies on managerial efficiency. But I also understand the uses and limits of government. I was a member of the Political Science Faculty at UW and I have published books on how to balance energy, environment, and community, which is Wyoming’s principal challenge.
Phil Nicholas (R) SD 10: I have been an active member of the Laramie community for 26 years. My wife Karen and I have four children, all of whom attended Albany County Schools and the University of Wyoming. I have served on the boards of the Laramie Economic Development Corporation, Laramie Beautification Committee, Ivinson Memorial Hospital, Chamber of Commerce, and Laramie Planning Commission. I served eight years in the House of Representatives. I am completing my first term in the Wyoming Senate and presently serve as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Previously I served on the Judiciary, Revenue, Rules, and Travel, Recreation and Wildlife Committees.
Cathy Connolly (D) HD 13: I have lived and worked in Laramie since 1992 when I accepted a faculty position at UW. I have a PhD in sociology and a law degree. I have served the State as a grant reviewer for the Division of Victim Services, facilitator for the Council for the Humanities, and co-author of the legislative-initiated study on the wage gap between men and women. I have served in leadership positions with the Albany County SAFE Project, Equality Initiatives, and Whiting Alternative High School. My 22 year-old son is an artist and attends college in Florida.
(No Republican filed for the HD 13 seat.)
Kermit C. Brown (R) HD 14: I grew up in Casper and attended UW. After earning two bachelor’s degrees, I became a naval officer and served in Viet Nam. I came back to Laramie and earned my law degree. I practiced law two years in Wheatland and 18 years in Rawlins. I have practiced law in Laramie since 1992. I am the senior managing member of Brown and Hiser LLC. I was President of the Wyoming Bar Association in 1994. I have a broad range of experience in many areas that come before the legislature. I have served two terms in the Wyoming House of Representatives.
Pat Kiovsky (D) HD 14: I have worked 40 years as a nurse, health care executive and planner, preparing me to deal with one of Wyoming’s most pressing problems – access to quality health care. I have designed, implemented and managed health care delivery systems and solutions. I am a small business owner and understand issues facing small businesses. I am involved in the community through several organizations, currently serving on the boards of Zonta International District 12, and Laramie Plains Museum. I am a problem solver and a good listener, and ready to work for the families of Wyoming.
Seth Carson (D) HD 45: A recent campaign contributor said that I would be a “breath of fresh air for Albany County” in the Wyoming legislature. While I am greatly honored with such praise, I believe that it serves as a brief testament to my last four years of headstrong and progressive public service on the Laramie City Council. Looking around Laramie, I am greatly pleased with the progress we have made to ensure that our community’s water supply is better protected, that our local economy is prosperous, and that our educational institutions are thriving. I plan to raise eyebrows and make Wyoming a “greener” place.
(No Republican filed for the HD 45 seat.)
Glenn Moniz (R) HD 46: I am a retired Division Chief from the Laramie Fire Department after 27 years of service. I spent 10 years as Albany County Emergency Management Coordinator as part of my duties as Division Chief. The last 14 years I’ve been owner/operator of “The Feed Store”. Affiliations include: Chamber of Commerce, West Laramie Business Association, 4-H, and Jubilee Committee. I’ve served in leadership roles in all of these groups. I’ve gained a perspective on dealing with government regulations and all the issues of providing a living wage, health care benefits and a decent work environment. I am a life-long resident.
Jim Thompson (D) HD 46: I was raised in Casper and have degrees in economics and
sociology. I retired as a faculty member at UW. My wife, Nancy Stanton, and I moved here in 1972 and our children, Garth and Meg, were born here. Nancy passed away in March 2008. I still live on our "place" in south Albany County. I was a partner in a consulting firm in Laramie for 12 years, and worked for many communities, which is where I got my interest in being a legislator. I teach one course at UW and serve on the Albany County Planning and Zoning Committee.
William “Jeb” Steward (R) HD 47: I have lived in the Encampment area for over 30 years and worked at the Silver Spur Ranch for 20 of these while raising a daughter. I now own an agriculture business. I feel it is important to give back to my community and was involved with our volunteer fire, ambulance and search/rescue services for over 20 years. Since 2000 my public service broadened to include involvement as chair of SER Conservation District, board member of our local water user’s association, and Commissioner with Wyoming Water Development. I am currently serving in the Wyoming Legislature as HD 47 Representative.
(No Democrat filed for the HD 47 seat.)
2. How do we reallocate state revenues in Wyoming so that mineral-poor Albany County gets more parity with mineral-rich counties in our state? (75 words)
Neil Harrison (D) SD 10: Resource revenues and royalty distributions should be allocated based on county population which should include all registered students, because they consume services in Albany County. Also, the State of Wyoming should compensate the County and the City of Laramie for the social and economic impacts of hosting the University, just as it compensates counties affected by energy development. The state should pay the City and County a fixed amount in lieu of property taxes.
Phil Nicholas (R) SD 10: Funding for communities is provided through the budget process. The Appropriations Committee has primary responsibility for allocating funding to local governments. I introduced a bill to provide municipal and county hardship funding in 2006. That bill proposed additional funding for local governments with low per-capita tax revenues. Elements of that bill were incorporated into the 2006 Budget Bill. Every budget bill since that time has included some variation of hardship funding for “revenue challenged” communities.
Cathy Connolly (D) HD 13: While the energy boom has been beneficial to the Wyoming economy, assuring fair amounts of severance tax and Federal royalty revenues must be a priority. In order to distribute these funds equitably among the counties, an examination and changes to the current distribution formula must take place so that counties without mineral-revenues, like Albany, can support needed infrastructure without additional taxation. Educational, health-care, arts, recreation and workforce services should be a priority.
Kermit C. Brown (R) HD 14: The needs of our citizens do not vary directly with the mineral wealth of the counties. Therefore, funding must be oriented toward citizen’s needs and not the county’s mineral wealth. State involvement is needed to ensure equitable funding for each county sufficient to meet reasonable needs. We need a state distribution formula that will give each county a fair share of the mineral revenues sufficient to meet its reasonable needs regardless of its mineral wealth.
Pat Kiovsky (D) HD 14: The legislature must revamp the formula used for direct distributing to local governments and increase funding for state grants and loan programs. The distribution formula should define the minimum level of services for residents of a county/city and include a method of determining the cost of those services. The state would then supplement funds for the counties lacking their own revenues, much as we do now for K-12 school funding.
Seth Carson (D) HD 45: This starts with identifying our governmental needs in Albany County, then bring them to fruition with smart spending action plans and local/state partnerships. City direct distribution and county block grant appropriations help greatly (Senate File 1, Sections 328, 329), but the revenue challenged appropriations need to be increased, based on needs, not formulas. The flip side is convincing the state to invest money in Albany County infrastructure, businesses, and the emerging renewable energy economy.
Glenn Moniz (R) HD 46: Albany County and the City of Laramie are supported by a state tax revenue stream which is third lowest in the state, per capita. Distribution formulas have been adjusted in the past to recognize some of the disparity. More needs to be done in the future. Allocations based on population and strength of sales tax is a good start. Albany County has a State Senator chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee and dealing with this issue.
Jim Thompson (D) HD 46: The Legislative Committee on Local Government and Finance has been meeting on this issue for several years with no progress. The Committee has focused on "expenditures" of cities and counties. This approach does not work. The effective approach is to measure "per capita revenue" for successful cities and counties by population size categories. Then "negotiate" an "adequate" per-capita revenue figure and fund all cities and counties to the negotiated figure for their size category.
William “Jeb” Steward (R) HD 47: No response
3. Do you think it is appropriate for the state government to subsidize public transportation? Explain what you suggest to deal with the difficulty of getting around both within a Wyoming city and from one Wyoming city to another. (75 words)
Neil Harrison (D) SD 10: The State of Wyoming should subsidize the cost of public transportation if it generates social and economic benefits. For example, the bus system that UW is testing should reduce transportation and parking costs in Laramie. With State support, the system should be designed and managed by a local transportation authority for the benefit of both students and citizens. Bus or rail service (with self-powered railcars) from Cheyenne to Laramie and Casper might be tested.
Phil Nicholas (R) SD10: The legislature should exercise caution in subsidizing private enterprise. Funding of public transportation should be limited to those instances where the private sector is unable to provide essential services, and then only if the benefits are measurably consistent with the amount of subsidies. Local governments should determine what intra city transportation will be used by their community. Financial assistance for air service is provided through WYDOT in the form of air services assistance and airport improvements.
Cathy Connolly (D) HD 13: The state of Wyoming, in conjunction with local communities and with Federal financial support, subsidizes public transportation systems and should continue to do so. The Wyoming Public Transit Association is a private, non-profit organization consisting of forty plus transit-only and social service agencies from every county in the state. We should explore expanding these existing transportation options for commuters within as well as between communities, as well as increasing transportation capacity.
Kermit C. Brown (R) HD 14: State government already subsidizes public transportation with the construction of highways and airports, and that expense alone is enormous. The history of our state is littered with failed attempts to implement public transportation, most notably air transportation. Until the public demands differently, the automobile will rule. If and when there is a demand, state government may be able to facilitate a public transportation solution, but state government should not be the public transportation solution.
Pat Kiovsky (D) HD 14: The state already subsidizes public transportation by providing highways, so it is appropriate to consider other options such as bus or van service within and between Wyoming cities and towns. We should build on the model being tested by UW, our senior center (particularly important given Wyoming’s increasing senior population), and other entities around the state to ascertain residents’ needs, develop plans, and raise funds to provide public transportation options appropriate to a particular area.
Seth Carson (D) HD 45: Yes, subsidizing public transportation is necessary. Most of us took the bus to school until we were 16, then we stopped because of the nature of our independent culture. Now, current fuel costs have opened up a market for good adult ridership. Consistent morning/evening buses and/or commuter trains back and forth from Laramie to Cheyenne are realistic. Wyoming community-wide transit systems using state funding for both bus purchasing and operations/maintenance is the future.
Glenn Moniz (R) HD 46: Legislation missed introduction by one vote last year during the budgetary session and will most likely be introduced again this year. The legislation deals with a “vanpooling program”. Vanpooling deals with transportation of passengers traveling together primarily to and from the passengers’ places of business or work. Vanpools provide an attractive transportation alternative for groups of six to fifteen individuals who live near one another and who work fairly regular hours.
Jim Thompson (D) HD 46: No, the state should not subsidize public transportation. The state already provides a subsidy to Great West Airlines. The state is conducting other studies related to public transportation. The state should leave transportation to the private market. The solution is to pay people enough so that they can use their own vehicles or afford to use buses and other modes provided by the private sector. The Federal government should again regulate the airlines.
William “Jeb” Steward (R) HD 47: No response