Green River, 50 years, 50 years, Steubenville, Ohio

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I graduated from Green River High School in 1987 and proudly served our nation in the United States Marine Corps. After my military service, I spent more than 22 years with the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office, serving as a law enforcement officer and Bomb Squad Commander.

I previously had the honor of serving as State Representative for House District 60, where I served on the Joint Judiciary Committee and the Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee.

As a Marine, law enforcement officer, business owner, and legislator, I understand the importance of public safety, responsible government, fiscal accountability, and economic opportunity. I have remained active in veterans' organizations and community service because I believe leadership is about serving others.

These experiences have prepared me to stand up for Wyoming values, protect our freedoms, and ensure government remains accountable to the people it serves.

Wyoming's biggest challenge is strengthening and diversifying our economy while protecting the industries that built our state, including energy, mining, agriculture, and tourism. We must create opportunities that keep young people in Wyoming and attract new businesses without sacrificing our values.

Another challenge is affordability. Rising property taxes, housing costs, healthcare expenses, and inflation continue to impact families, seniors, and small businesses.

Our greatest opportunity is Wyoming's people, abundant resources, and strong communities. By supporting workforce development, vocational education, infrastructure, and responsible economic growth, we can build a stronger future.

As a legislator, I will focus on protecting taxpayers, supporting public safety, defending local control, encouraging job creation, and ensuring government remains accountable, efficient, and focused on serving the people of Wyoming.

Healthcare affordability and access are major concerns, especially in rural Wyoming where many residents must travel long distances for care. The Legislature should focus on practical solutions that increase access while controlling costs.

I support efforts to strengthen Wyoming's healthcare workforce by attracting and retaining doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, and other providers, particularly in rural communities. We should also reduce unnecessary regulations that drive up costs and encourage innovation such as telehealth services where appropriate.

At the same time, we must work to protect rural hospitals and healthcare facilities that serve as lifelines for many communities. My goal is to improve access to quality healthcare, increase provider availability, and promote policies that help make healthcare more affordable for Wyoming families, seniors, and small businesses while remaining fiscally responsible.

I support keeping Wyoming lands in public hands. Our public lands are one of Wyoming's greatest assets, providing opportunities for hunting, fishing, recreation, grazing, energy development, tourism, and public access. These lands belong to the people and should remain available for future generations.

I will oppose efforts to transfer or sell public lands that could limit public access or place an undue burden on Wyoming taxpayers. I support responsible, multiple-use management that balances recreation, agriculture, energy production, wildlife conservation, and economic development.

I will work to ensure local communities have a strong voice in land management decisions and advocate for better coordination between state, local, and federal agencies. My goal is to keep Wyoming lands productive, accessible, and managed in the best interests of the people of Wyoming, not outside special interests.

Property tax relief is important, but it must be done responsibly. No two Wyoming counties are the same, and many local governments rely heavily on property tax revenue to fund essential services such as public safety, roads, emergency response, and other community needs.

I will work to provide meaningful tax relief while protecting counties, municipalities, and special districts from unfunded mandates or sudden revenue losses that could force cuts to services. I believe local communities are best positioned to understand their own financial needs, and any tax relief plan should include safeguards that prevent shifting the burden onto local governments.

My goal is to find a balanced solution that provides relief to taxpayers while ensuring our counties, cities, towns, and special districts can continue delivering the services Wyoming families depend on.

The Wyoming Legislature has an important role in creating an environment where businesses can succeed and jobs can grow. While government should not pick winners and losers, it can help attract investment by maintaining sound infrastructure, supporting workforce development, and ensuring regulations are reasonable and predictable.

I believe taxpayer dollars must be spent responsibly. Any economic development incentives or programs should be transparent, accountable, and focused on delivering measurable benefits for Wyoming communities. Our goal should be to attract businesses that create good-paying jobs, expand our tax base, and provide long-term economic opportunities.

I will support responsible investments that encourage businesses to locate and grow in Wyoming while protecting taxpayers and ensuring government remains a good steward of public funds.

I believe campaign finance should be transparent, ethical, and open to public scrutiny. I support campaign contributions that are fully disclosed and available for voters to review, but I have serious concerns about dark money organizations that hide the true source of political spending.

I also believe there should be a clear separation between fundraising and legislative duties. Contributions should not be solicited, given, or received during legislative proceedings. The incident commonly referred to as "Checkgate" undermined public confidence in government and demonstrated why strong ethical standards are necessary.

I support the additional rules and safeguards adopted by the Governor, Senate, and House following that incident. Wyoming's campaign finance system should continue to emphasize transparency, accountability, and public trust so voters can have confidence that elected officials are serving the people, not special interests.