CHEYENNE - Voters in House District 9 in Cheyenne will have to look closely to see the differences between Republican state Rep. David Zwonitzer and his Democratic opponent, attorney Tony Reyes.

Both candidates oppose higher state fuel taxes, and think that charging tolls to pay for construction and repairs and Interstate 80 across southern Wyoming is a bad idea.

Both candidates also support a statewide smoking ban although Zwonitzer would require exceptions for some businesses.

The candidates also take a mostly hands-off approach to solving the state housing and worker shortage.

Zwonitzer said the markets should be allowed to sort out both issues. Reyes said workers should be paid wages comparable to those in surrounding states, and the state Legislature should monitor the situation closely and lend assistance whenever possible.

"The housing shortages are now unfortunately tied to the current credit crisis and are something the federal candidates will have to deal with more closely than state candidates," Reyes said.

Both candidates also support property tax relief.

Zwonitzer said the Legislature needs to continue its efforts to expand property tax relief programs.

Reyes said the state Legislature should provide property tax relief to help elderly Wyoming residents stay in their homes.

"I believe that this state has enough of a revenue surplus to allow for property tax relief to the elderly so that they may remain in their homes even if it requires amending the Wyoming Constitution," Reyes said.

Both candidates support efforts to pool resources to drive down health insurance costs in the state.

Zwonitzer said the state should be looking into partnerships with other states in the Rocky Mountain region to create larger health insurance pools to reduce costs.

Reyes said he was particularly interested in an unsuccessful bill last session that would have created an insurance pool for working people who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but don't receive health insurance through their jobs.

One area where the candidates differ slightly is on harsher drunk driving penalties.

Reyes said Wyoming�s drunk driving laws are strict enough, but he would consider any proposal to change them on its merits. Zwonitzer said he supports "some minor form of jail time" for first-time offenders.

Reyes said the state can diversify its economy and attract more professionals to the state by offering programs that "assist with student loans in various fields in exchange for working in Wyoming."

"The presence of young professionals in the state will diversify the economy due to their demands for different types of services," Reyes said.

Zwonitzer said the state has benefited in the last decade from the Wyoming Business Council's Business Ready Community Program. The state also needs to continue to encourage high-tech businesses to relocate and start up in Wyoming.

The state must also continue to promote tourism as a vital aspect of a growing economy, Zwonitzer said.

Reyes' priorities for spending the anticipated state budget surplus are highway construction, infrastructure to help sustain the state's energy economy, better care for juvenile offenders, health care and affordable quality child care.

Zwonitzer would like to see the state save a large chunk of the anticipated budget surplus, while some funds should be spent on state highways, the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust fund, improving state parks and creating matching fund programs to encourage "quality-of-life" projects and infrastructure.

Contact state capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or {M7jared.miller@trib.com

BIO BOXES

House District 9

representing most of northeastern Cheyenne

Tony Reyes

Party: Democrat

Age: 38

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Attorney

Education: Bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Wyoming, 1994; bachelor's in administration of justice from UW, 1994; master's in sociology from UW, 1996; Law degree from UW, 1999

Family: Single

Political experience: None

David Zwonitzer

Party: Republican

Age: 55

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Auctioneer and business owner

Education: Bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wyoming

Family: Married, two sons

Political experience: Two years in the House

representing most of northeastern Cheyenne

Tony Reyes

Party: Democrat

Age: 38

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Attorney

Education: Bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Wyoming, 1994; bachelor's in administration of justice from UW, 1994; master's in sociology from UW, 1996; Law degree from UW, 1999

Family: Single

Political experience: None

David Zwonitzer

Party: Republican

Age: 55

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Auctioneer and business owner

Education: Bachelor�s and master�s degrees from the University of Wyoming

Family: Married, two sons

Political experience: Two years in the House]]->