CHEYENNE - Becket Hinckley, a senior assistant district attorney in Cheyenne, wants more stringent laws for people convicted of driving while under the influence.

One of the primary sponsors of the bill making it a felony to have four convictions in five years, he thinks the law is too lenient.

"I believe three DUIs in a lifetime should be the law," he said.

Hinckley said the DUI statutes should be the same as for misdemeanor marijuana possession - three convictions in a lifetime is a felony.

Tim Bolin, a Cheyenne mathematics teacher, supports stricter penalties for DUI but wants to make education and treatment of offenders a priority.

The winner of the Aug. 19 Republican primary election for House District 41 will face Democratic incumbent Ken Esquibel in the November general election. Esquibel is running unopposed in the primary.

One of Bolin's top priorities is a statewide smoking ban in places frequented by the public, including bars and restaurants.

"We need to protect the employees and patrons of businesses from the dangers of second-hand smoke," he said. "I have known several bartenders who did not smoke themselves but who died of cancers related to smoking."

Hinckley said decisions on smoking bans should be made by local city councils.

The two candidates also disagree about increasing the fuel tax and charging a toll for big trucks on Interstate 80.

Bolin supports both.

"I believe the citizens and companies using the roadways in Wyoming should be paying for their upkeep," Bolin said

Hinckley opposes a higher fuel tax. Instead, he said, the state should spend as much of the revenue surplus as possible on the billions of dollars of backlogged maintenance of Wyoming roads and highways.

Although he isn't sold yet on a toll road for trucks, he wants to keep the idea alive until it has been completely studied and vetted.

Bolin and Hinckley agree that the community college system needs a consistent, permanent financing method.

Bolin prefers a system similar to the one for K-12 public schools.

Hinckley wants a statewide funding stream with equal representation from around the state.

Both candidates support spending the state revenue surplus on infrastructure: water, roads, utilities, bridges.

Regarding the perennial quest for property tax relief, Bolin suggested a new system that keeps a person's home at the same valuation it was when purchased.

Hinckley had no specific proposal but said the Legislature ought to examine any and all imaginative ideas, excluding nothing.

The candidates have differing approaches to the goal of making health care more available to residents.

Bolin supports financial assistance to low-income residents who cannot afford health insurance premiums. The Legislature, he said, also needs to help the Wyoming insurance commissioner to make sure residents are getting the best coverage from their policies.

Bolin also would like to expand low-interest loans and grants for doctors coming out of the family practice residency programs and to continue financial help to students in nursing programs who decide to practice in Wyoming.

Hinckley wants to expand the number of Wyoming medical school slots at the University of Washington and add physician assistants. He also said the federal government must allow insurance companies to start competing across state borders for insurance customers.

To encourage diversification of the state's economy, Bolin wants to recruit high-tech jobs suited to Wyoming's isolated location and continue financing state agencies that are successful in bringing quality jobs to the state.

Hinckley said that since education is directly tied to economic diversification, it is imperative that the state's education system be second to none.

"Businesses want to move where the citizenry is well educated and the primary, secondary and post-secondary schools produce top-notch young people," Hinckley said.

Contact Joan Barron at joan.barron@trib.com or by phone at 307-632-1244.

BIO BOXES

Tim Bolin

Party: Republican

Age: 53

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Math teacher

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

Family: Married; one daughter

Political experience: Candidate for HD 41 in 2006

Becket Hinckley

Party: Republican

Age: 38

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Senior assistant district attorney

Education: University of Wyoming College of Law; Stanford University, bachelor of arts, political science

Family: Married; two daughters

Political experience: Served two terms in Wyoming House; did not seek re-election in 2006

Party: Republican

Age: 53

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Math teacher

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

Family: Married; one daughter

Political experience: Candidate for HD 41 in 2006

Becket Hinckley

Party: Republican

Age: 38

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Senior assistant district attorney

Education: University of Wyoming College of Law; Stanford University, bachelor of arts, political science

Family: Married; two daughters

Political experience: Served two terms in Wyoming House; did not seek re-election in 2006]]->