Casper, HD57. I was born and raised in Casper, and lived in Natrona County my whole life.

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I am a lifelong Casper resident, and a stepdad to three amazing little girls. I’ve grown up here, and I’ve watched where we have struggled to provide support to families who need it most. My family was forced to move during the market crash of ‘08, highlighting to me at a young age how fragile stability can be.

I worked to save Rock the Block. I organized the Pokémon Go community to cleanup downtown Casper. I’ve helped on service projects at the Historic Trails Center. I’ve built playgrounds with my bare hands.

I am running to give my neighbors a choice this year. I don’t believe an election should be decided by one party, at the primary election. 70% of voter-aged residents didn’t even show up at our last primary election, and it left me wondering what a “majority” decision looks like. I’m running because my representation feels designed to manage my concerns, not seek to sincerely understand my viewpoint, and I believe I can provide the representation I feel I’m lacking.

We have an opportunity to grow in several ways across the state. First, our kids are leaving, schools are being cut. Next, healthcare in Wyoming is struggling, from physical to mental wellbeing, and even addiction. Wyoming is often a leader across the nation in youthful suicides, with suicide being the second-highest leading cause of death. Finally, our minimum wage hasn’t increased in Wyoming for decades.

I think that in order to solve these problems, we first need to understand the impact of tax cuts before recklessly implementing them. We should expand healthcare access across the state, while holding monopolistic organizations accountable for the harm they have caused our communities. And, let’s be frank, the economy isn’t survivable at $5.15/hour.

Wyoming already sees a shortage of doctors in nearly every county across the state. While we’ve seen that shortage, many of these communities have seen one or two specific resources take over where local doctors used to serve. It is imperative when we have access to federal grants, that we consider accepting and allocating those funds.

We also see a shortage of mental health care. As a legislator, I would push for mental health emergency services, taking some of the most vulnerable in our community and providing solutions that allow officers to focus their efforts in service and protection of our community where it is better placed.

I want to be very clear here; I grew up here in Wyoming. I’ve hunted and fished these lands religiously since I was a child. These are also the same lands I take my children to learn, play, and grow. I appreciate the resources, labor, and love that are dedicated to caring for our land daily. I do not support any measure attempting to sell public lands, and would vigorously defend the land on behalf of the people.

I believe that the public deserves tax relief, but I’m not sure we’re approaching it the right way. Property tax relief specifically helps people who own property. Roughly a quarter of all Wyoming families are renters. Some are born and raised here, others have lived here for years but sold the family farm to be closer to relatives, and nearly every one I’ve talked to would love to find their own home to live in.

I would like to see tax relief for all residents, which means ensuring that relief reaches the seniors and families in rentals, without doing so at the expense of my children’s future. I would advocate for legislation that aligns with these values.

I believe the Legislature's role in economic development should be to create the conditions for private industry to thrive, not to run or ruin it. The film industry is a perfect example.

Far too many productions have chosen to represent Wyoming with an older, out-of-touch view, and I believe allowing these productions to film here would encourage tourism, and create a more modern view of Wyoming across the world. When a $20,000,000-and-growing industry comes knocking at your door to spend money in your city, why are we saying no?

I believe in transparency for campaign donations. I’m not sure if I think the system needs reform at this time, but if I were to support any reform, it would be with ease of access for the voter, while not creating a barrier for potential candidates, at the front of my mind.