Ken Chestek
Active Candidates for WY House District 13
Republican
Democrat
Inactive Candidates
On the Issues
The answers below were solicited from candidates via a written questionnaire created by WyoFile reporters and editors in June 2024. Responses are presented exactly as submitted, without fact-checking, wordsmithing or editing for grammar, punctuation or spelling errors.
Legislative candidates were invited to respond to the questionnaire several times by email and by phone. Out of fairness to the candidates who met the deadline, WyoFile will not add responses after the guide's publication.
Where do you live currently? How long have you lived there? How long have you lived in Wyoming? Where were you born?
I currently live in Laramie, Wyoming, and have lived here for 12 years. This is the only place I have lived in Wyoming. I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
What age will you be on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024?
71
Please tell the voters about yourself including your background and qualifications.
I recently retired from the faculty of the University of Wyoming College of Law, where I specialized in teaching legal writing, analysis and persuasion. I have co-authored a textbook on that subject, so I believe my background gives me the perfect skills set for a career in writing laws as a member of the Wyoming legislature. I am currently completing my first term as a Representative for House District 13.
How, within the framework of a lawmaker's powers and duties, would you address the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Wyoming today?
First and foremost, through informed engagement with legislators from around the state. I believe there is more that unifies us than divides us. I will do the research to discover the facts about any issue presented to us, and to share those facts with my fellow legislators. Once we all understand the issues, we can bring our divergent viewpoints to an open and respectful debate about the best possible solution for the issue. I believe the best solutions to any problem come from such debates, and often involve compromises.
As a state lawmaker, what will guide your approach to local control? How do you determine when a decision should be left to local leaders or made by the Wyoming Legislature?
I believe that top-down, "one size fits all" solutions are rarely the best solution. The state legislature is more likely to craft the top-down solution, so I would defer, whenever possible, to local governments and local control, where solutions can be better tailored to local conditions.
Wyoming has wrestled for years with issues of housing, health care, education and economic development. What do you believe the state's role should be in supporting the well-being of Wyoming citizens and their families?
I view the role of state government as creating a level playing field so that every citizen can be free to thrive in whatever role best fulfills their aspirations. That means we need to strongly support free public education for K-12 students, keep the cost of community college and University education as low as possible, and find ways to support affordable housing in all of our communities. If we have a well-educated work force and affordable places to live, economic development should naturally occur without the state attempting to direct how that happens.
How willing are you to compromise with legislators and other officials with different perspectives?
Compromise is essential for effective governing. Full stop.
How do you balance the often competing demands of wildlife and open spaces versus energy, industrial and real estate development?
I will be a strong advocate for wildlife and open space protection. The energy, industrial and real estate sectors have been prioritized for too long. Wildlife and open spaces cannot speak for themselves, and once they are gone, there is no way to recover them.
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Chestek | 1,937 | |
| Shane Swett | 1,711 |
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Chestek | N/A |
WyoFile Coverage of CHESTEK
About this Project
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