Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 52

Surwtny, November 1, 1902 Candidates for Wyoming State Senate To fhnl your district, nfcr to the index mop on page Ft 2 Casper. Wyo 'V4jjJ53j43y51iU 5L' Jim Gei injer I n- 1 1 In order for the Senate to maintain the "staggered" terms of half its members, the senators from odd-numbered districts will be elected to two-year terms, while the even-numbered districts will senators to four-year terms. 'til id L-l-l 1 Francie lliday eLL Republican farmer Residence: Wheatland Prior elective office: 4 years Wyoming Senate, 6 years Wyoming House (leringcr, 48, hits no opposition in this race. He said "the ability, or lack of ability, of the Legislature to set priorities" is the most pressing issue facing Wyoming. "So much of it boils down to making sure we're getting the best that we can for the dollar that's spent," the incumbent senator said.

"1 here should be a stronger effort to reinvent government to make it 0 A. April Brimmer Kunz Republican Occupation: attorney, businesswoman Residence: Cheyenne Prior elective olTice: Wyoming I louse 4 years Kunz, 38, said state fiscal questions have "two sides." "You need to look at the spending side of the equation before you raisetaxes," Kunz said. But if tax increases are necessary, all options should be considered, she said. The Legislature should also took at consolidating school districts, Kunz said. "I think the budget process has failed," she said.

She added the state heeds to evaluate all its spending priorities, including salaries and health insurance for state employees. She supports abortion rights only in cases of rape, incest or threat to a mother's health. Kunz said she does not make the decision to close or open a caucus, "and I would not be doing my constituents a favor if I wasn't there." She said she has come out in favor of recording votes but is concerned that legislators who vote one way on a measure and then change their minds after hearing arguments would have that used against them. J7S I I Jim Twiford Republican Occupation: school district director of transportation and Ehysical plant Residence: Douglas Prior elective office: Wyoming Senate 6 years Twiford, 49, said the "big dilemma" facing Wyoming is how to deal with its budget deficit. He said some programs may need to be reduced or eliminated.

The incumbent senator suggested that a return to traditional values might help alleviate dependence on government-sponsored social programs. Twiford said he sees additional sales taxes, fuel taxes and the elimination of some sales tax exemptions as likely recommendations of the Legislature's Joint Revenue Committee. However, he does not agree with an increase in state severance taxes on mineral production. Twiford describes himself as a "pro-lifer" on abortion and sees it as a moral rather than political issue. He said closed caucuses "have their proper place if they're correctly used." He would not object to recording all legislative votes but expressed concern that such records might be "meaningless" because sometimes legislators Vote "strategically" to maneuver their way onto a conference committee.

Richard Larson Republican Occupation: farmer Residence: Albin Prior elective office: Wyoming House one year, 8 years Wyoming Senate, 9 years Albin school board Larson, 64, said he would not favor raising taxes to address Wyoming's budget deficit, but he might consider putting earmarked revenues back into the General Fund. He declined to specify which programs deserve funding increases or cuts until he returns to the Legislature. The state will "obviously have to cut services somewhere," he said. Larson said "I agree with the governor and the president of the United States" on abortion, in that he would only support access to abortion in cases of rape, incest Or to save a mother's life. Of closed caucuses, Larson said, "The system's Worked well since 1890 The minority party seems to think it's a problem, but 1 don't agree." Recording all votes is not a big issue as far as he's concerned.

yfo i I Jerry B. Dixon Republican Occupation: trucker Residence: Newcastle Prior elective ofTlce: 10 years Wyoming Senate, Newcastle Sch(xl Hoard 2 yrs Incumbent Dixon, 53, said about the budget deficit, legislators will find out inhere is, indeed, a deficit and how much when revenue projections are reported, probably in December. Dixon said he's always been a proponent of adequate funding for education and has helped get school buildings in northeast Wyoming. I Ic said education budget problems can be worked out but it's too early to predict at what level schools will be funded. He said he believes some government services could be handled better and be more cost-effective but he isn't targeting any specific agency.

Dixon said he has been "pro-choice" on abortion rights for ten years. "I'm not for abortion but I do think that should be available for certain situations and I think it's the women's choice and I think they ought to be able to make that choice," he said. The abortion issue, he said, is "very difficult for a man to understand." Dixon said he favors closed legislative caucuses. "1 think that is part of the legislative process and has been for the last 100 years and it's Worked successfully in the past and I think it's needed for some of the work we're required to do," he said. 5 A V.

Cynthia M. Lummis Republican Occupation: attorney, rancher Residence: Cheyenne Prior elective office: Wyoming House 12 years Lummis, 37, said to control the state budget the Legislature must first restrain spending, and if that is inadequate "then and only then" should taxes be raised. She is opposed to earmarking state funds for any purpose and wants the Legislature to set priorities on spending. Medicaid, which Lummis said has grown 24 percent in the last 30 months, is "the most significant single component of our budget woes" and must be restructured. She said some school districts may need to be consolidated, and the state should look at alternative sentencing methods before funding a new penitentiary.

Abortion is a "sin against God," Lummis said, but she does not believe it should be illegal because an individual is in a better position to evaluate their circumstances than the state is. Closed caucuses were overused in the last session, Lummis said, but are necessary in some cases. She would not object to recording all votes, although she noted that legislator's views do change during debate on bills. m- 1 EL rasa Hid 1 Democrat Occupation: family violence and sexual assault crisis center director Residence: Newcastle Prior elective office: none lliday, 41, said revenue and "how to maintain the services we have without increasing taxes" are the main problems facing the state. "I don't think there's a deficit right now, but I think there will be if we don't correct the trend," she said, lliday said the state will have to find some places to cut and will need to come up with new sources of revenue.

"We're obviously getting less revenue from minerals than we were before," she added. She said every department needs to look at cutting its own expenses first. As an example, Hi-day said that school expenses could be cut, but care should be taken not to lessen the quality of education. She said teacher salaries should not be cut, but certain services such as bus and janitorial services could be contracted out to the private sector for a cost savings. If Voluntary departmental cuts did not yield sufficient revenue, lliday said she would support taxes on alcohol and tobacco.

Hiday said abortion is a personal decision and should be made by a woman, her significant other, and a doctor. Though not in favor of abortions, she does not favor restricting the right to an abortion any more than it is now. Hiday is opposed to closed caucuses and in favor of recording all votes in committee and on the floor, saying "people should be accountable for their actions." Harriett Elizabeth 'Liz' Byrd Democrat Occupation: retired teacher Residence: Cheyenne Prior elective office: Wyoming House 8 years, 4 years Wyoming Senate Byrd, 66, believes finding a permanent source of funding for education is one of Wyoming's top priorities. She said many people she's talked to would support a one-cent sales tax if they knew it was earmarked for education. "If the tax is not earmarked for education, I don't want a tax increase," she said.

To combat the state's budget problems, Byrd would maximize revenues by strengthening the audit department and would like to see an auditor in the state Department of Education to examine how allocated money is being spent. The incumbent senator believes the state's health and social service offices need bigger staffs to relieve "overworked and underpaid" case workers. Byrd supports Wyoming's parental consent law for minors seeking an abortion, although she acknowledged that there are "hard cases" in which young women should be able to get permission from the court or a social worker. She supports open caucuses and recording all legislative votes. New registrations a lot more efficient." (leringer described himself as "pro-life on abortion, although it might be permissible in cases or rape, incest or threat to a mother's life.

"I don't favor closed meetings of any kind," (leringer said, lie said it "wouldn't bother" him if all legislative votes were recorded, but he is not sure it would enhance accountability. 1- Pat Hacker Democrat Occupation: attorney Residence: Cheyenne I Prior elective office: Wyoming I louse 3 years Hacker, 45, said the Legislature needs to figure out how to fund the state's critical programs rather than just trying to "get by" while letting services deteriorate. He said reinstating the $20 million annual coal tax that expired last year would be a possible source of extra revenue. "I am proud to say we shouldn't cut taxes on coal and trona and raise them on the average guy." He also would look into expanding the audit department and might consider extra taxes on sales, gasoline, or alcohol and cigarettes. The funding authorization for a new prison in Lovell should be rescinded because the overcrowding problem can be solved by other means.

Hacker said. He said abortion should be permitted in cases of rape, incest, or danger to a mother's life or health, but not otherwise. If elected Hacker intends to offer legislation that would require the Wyoming legislature to open its caucuses. He favors recording all legislative votes. Guy E.

Cameron Democrat Occupation: firefighter Residence: Cheyenne Prior elective office: Wyoming Senate 3 years, 3 years Wyoming House Incumbent Cameron, 34, believes, "Wyoming is on the threshold of social, economic and environmental changes." More applied research needs to be done at the post-secondary level that will directly benefit Wyoming's economy, he said. The Legislature can deal with the state's budget shortfall by considering sales tax and fuel tax increases, Cameron said. Education needs a long-term funding system that ensures that dollars will reach the classroom, Cameron said. Abortion should remain a personal, and not a state, decision, Cameron said. He opposes closed caucuses and supports recording all legislative votes.

SSffi I 1 Cisco R. Valdez Democrat Occupation: coal company employee Residence: Douglas Prior elective office: none Valdez, 39, believes the economy is the most pressing issue facing Wyoming. He said politicians need to stop serving special interests and tune in to their constituents. Valdez believes the state needs to play up its own strengths. "I have a hard time believing that with the amount of mineral resources, the amount of wildlife and the way of life we have in the state, that we're not doing any better." he said.

Valdez said he sees an increase in state severance taxes on mineral production as a possible revenue source. Valdez would support incentives to companies that hire Wyoming workers. Although he personally opposes abortion, Valdez said he believes in constitutional freedoms and would not interfere with anyone else's decision on the issue. Valdez favors recording committee and floor Votes during legislative sessions and opposes closed caucuses. Rich Cathcart Democrat Occupation: construction contractor Residence: Carpenter Prior elective office: none Cathcart, 46, said jobs and economic development are two major statewide concerns.

Wyoming has relied on minerals for so long that it has gotten lazy about attracting other industries, he said. Education needs long-term financing sources so school districts cart plan ahead, Cathcart said. He would oppose an increase in the property tax and would probably not approve of an income tax unless all other possibilities had been exhausted. He might consider fuel and sales taxes, and elimination of some sales-tax exemptions. Abortion is a moral issue that shouldn't be legislated, Cathcart said.

Politicians should not be allowed to conduct the people's business in private, Cathcart said, but closed caucuses might be acceptable when discussing personnel issues. All legislative votes should be recorded, he said. vote between Aug. 1 8 and Oct. 5, representing a 1 2 percent increase over the prc-primary photograph unavailable Carl G.

Le Jambre, lit Republican Occupation: business owner Residence: Cheyenne Prior elective office: none Lc Jambre, 30, said that Wyoming will have a budget deficit. "As a businessman, I'm not allowed to have a deficit, and the state is going to have to break even," Le Jambre said. He said the Legislature's number one concern should be making its programs operate more efficiently. Wyoming's fiscal woes may require the restructuring of many state services, Lc Jambre said. "All parts of government are going to have to bear the burden," he said.

On abortion Le Jambre said, "It doesn't affect my family directly, so 1 really haven't formed an opinion on it." He said he would vote according to the preferences of majority of his constituents. He supports closed caucuses and favors recording all legislative votes. Karpan predicts high voter turnout Nov 3 boost numbers CHEYENNE Secretary of State Kathy Karpan is projecting an 82 percent voter turnout for the Nov. 3 general election. Karpan said in a news release she based her predictions on the surge in voter registrations between primary election day and the Oct.

5 cutoff. The primary election turnout was below expectations with a 61 percent turnout, compared to a traditional average of 65 percent, the release said. Karpan said she believes the general election turnout will meet the traditional level for presidential elections. In 1984 and 1988, 82 percent of registered voters cast votes, and in 1 980, 83 percent, the release said. Karpan reported that 25.454 Wyoming residents registered to registration figures.

Democrats represented the highest number of new registrants with 1 Republicans added 9,765, Libertarians, 49, and Independents, 4,501, the release said. The new registrations increased the total number of registered voters from a prc-primary figure of 208,806 to 234,260, the release said. The Republican Party continues to dominate party registration with 53.5 percent of the total registered voters compared to the Democratic Party with 35.5 percent. Independent voters comprise 1 1 percent and Libertarians less than 1 percent. ft Your vote.

Your choice. Voo count.