Identified as a “Common Sense Republican for Wyoming”

Common sense and no drama are two ways to describe a candidate with degrees in engineering and business administration.  As I have knocked on thousands of doors in House District 51 there have been some themes to what interests voters. Common sense, keeping public lands in public hands, listening to constituents, responding to phone calls and emails, concerns about increasing valuation of homes and ranches, and keeping Wyoming – Wyoming have topped the list of concerns and hopes.

I am pleased to be identified among the candidates who are “committed to funding Wyoming’s critical institutions and infrastructure.” I agree with Common Sense Republicans for Wyoming that “there is healthy debate to be had about the right funding levels, property tax reform, and many other factors.” As I have said consistently, I believe the property tax rates that I have been paying for the last 30 years were fair. What was not “fair” was the steep increases in property valuation in Sheridan County and other growing Wyoming communities that increased the resulting property taxes.

The legislature in recent years has addressed the impact of increasing property taxes in several ways including a 25% reduction in taxes for folks who live in their homes more than 8 months each year, a 50% reduction in taxes for those who like me are over 65 and have paid Wyoming property taxes for over 25 years, and a 4% cap on the annual increase in the fair market valuation going forward. The 50% exemption for Long Term Homeowners (LTHO) originally expired on July 1, 2027. The 2026 Legislature removed the sunset date and made the exemption permanent.

I believe the three property tax reform measures enacted in 2024, 2025 and 2026 have benefited Wyoming homeowners tremendously. Many who I visited with at their doors agreed. Some had not heard about the 4% cap on assessed valuation growth but thought that sounded like a good idea.  As a legislator, I will work in 2027 to backfill special districts from general funds since they do not have revenue sources other than property taxes and have felt the pinch of the exemptions the most.