Both candidates for House District 8 in north Cheyenne support reinstatement of the Homestead Exemption Act but disagree on a constitutional amendment to allow broad-based property tax relief.

"It's the quickest and fairest way to offer property tax relief," Democrat Lori Millin said of the homestead exemption.

"In order to do anything beyond that we will have to have a constitutional amendment," she added.

Her Republican opponent, Bob Nicholas, said he would support a homestead tax exemption for homes with an assessed value of less than $250,000.

He opposes a constitutional amendment on the grounds it would only shift taxes to businesses and may result in long-term problems.

More than 27,000 residents, he added, benefit from the four existing property tax relief programs primarily aimed at the needy and veterans.

To make health care more available to residents, Millin supports increased Medicaid reimbursement to physicians and dentists, continuation of the physician and dentist loan repayment program and the recruitment program.

She also would support expansion of some of the current state health insurance programs.

Nicholas supports all the current programs and wants the state to make sure people are aware of what's available to them.

Millin's priorities for next year's projected revenue surplus are infrastructure and highways, local governments, health care access and affordability, more equitable funding to community colleges, state employee raises and a cost of living increase.

Nicholas wants a well-funded rainy-day account and one-time capital expenditures.

He said a new Biohazard Level III Laboratory for the state is a high priority, one-time project he would support.

The present Division of Criminal Investigation labs located in the Hathaway Building "must be moved for the safety of our state employees," he said.

Millin is co-sponsoring a bill that would increase the use of interlock devices as part of sentencing in drunk driving cases.

"It's not enough to suspend licenses for DUI," Millin said. "We need to ensure that they cannot drive their cars unless they are sober."

Stronger penalties for repeat DUI offenders and instances of serious bodily injury make sense, Nicholas said.

"It is also important to have the ability to offer intensive treatment alternatives to address the addiction aspect of alcoholism and drug abuse," he said.

Regarding community colleges, Millin said it seems only fair that other counties should help pay for services that Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne provide for them.

Nicholas agreed. He said that while the colleges instruct more than 26,000 students a year, they traditionally have been the underfunded stepchildren of the state's educational system.

A statewide mill levy to help fund the colleges is "probably the most logical route," he said.

Millin supports a statewide ban on smoking in places frequented by the public, including bars and restaurants.

Nicholas would support limiting smoking in public areas where the general public is exposed to secondhand smoke, but believes there should be exceptions for bars and private clubs.

Millin said the Legislature "at some point" will need to raise the state fuels tax for highways. She said she would support a toll for big trucks on Interstate 80.

Nicholas is opposed to raising fuel taxes on the consumer.

Charging a toll on trucks on I-80 will require serious review, however, he said.

Contact capital bureau reporter Joan Barron at (307) 632-1244 or joan.barron@trib.com

BIO BOXES

House District 8

covering north Cheyenne

Lori Millin

Party: Democrat

Age: 39

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Certified surgical assistant

Education: Surgical Technology diploma, Presentation College

Family: Married, three children

Political experience: Two years in Wyoming House

Bob Nicholas

Party: Republican

Age: 51

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Attorney and owner of paintbrush company

Education: Bachelor's degree in political science and law degree, both University of Wyoming

Family: Widowed, three children

Political experience: None

covering north Cheyenne

Lori Millin

Party: Democrat

Age: 39

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Certified surgical assistant

Education: Surgical Technology diploma, Presentation College

Family: Married, three children

Political experience: Two years in Wyoming House

Bob Nicholas

Party: Republican

Age: 51

Home: Cheyenne

Occupation: Attorney and owner of paintbrush company

Education: Bachelor's degree in political science and law degree, both University of Wyoming

Family: Widowed, three children

Political experience: None]]->

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