GILLETTE - Republican U.S. House candidate Mark Gordon faced tough questions Thursday about his past affiliations with environmental and Democratic causes during a candidate forum held in conjunction with a coal-bed methane expo in Gillette.

The forum also featured Republican U.S. House candidates Cynthia Lummis, the former state treasurer from Cheyenne, and Bill Winney, a former Navy officer from Sublette County, as well as Democrat Gary Trauner, a businessman from Wilson who ran for the office in 2006.

The candidates highlighted their views on oil and gas drilling in the Wyoming Range, challenges facing the energy industry, global warming and a host of other mostly Wyoming topics.

But audience members, who were allowed to ask questions,'seemed just as interested in Gordon's past support of 'liberal' candidates and causes, including 2004 U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry, the Sierra Club and the Powder River Basin Resource Council.

Records show that Gordon, a rancher and businessman from Johnson County, donated $6,500 to Democratic candidates and the Democratic Central Committee over the last couple of years, including Trauner during his previous run for the U.S. House seat.

Gordon admitted Thursday that he made the contributions, and said he did so out of frustration with the Republican-controlled federal government and the 'spending spree' it was overseeing.

Gordon also explained that he got involved with the environmental movement as a rancher because 'they were trying to shut us down,' and he wanted to change the movement from the inside.

'I thought if I were able to get involved, I might be able to make a difference, and I did,' said Gordon, adding that he used his time with the groups to promote 'wise and responsible development.'

Gordon explained that he eventually parted ways with the Sierra Club because it strayed too far from ideas he could support. However, he said he still believes in working with diverse organizations to get things done.

'My objective has been to try to find those places where we can move forward so we can have progress, development and leave a place for our kids,' Gordon said.

Grouse restrictions

Another hot topic at Thursday's forum was new federal restrictions on coal-bed methane drilling in the Powder River Basin. The Bureau of Land Management last month announced that it would impose sweeping regulations in an effort to protect sage grouse. Producers fear the restrictions could damage their livelihood.

Winney expressed concern about the restrictions, and said his own review of the science didn't indicate that they were warranted.

'We must be careful that the science makes sense when it comes to environmental restrictions,' said Winney, who warned of 'beltway bandits' and their skewed approach to studies and statistics.

Winney said his skepticism extends to other important issues, including human-caused global warming.

'There is something going on, but they haven't made it clear yet,' said Winney, adding that other possible factors of warming such as increased output from the sun may need to be considered further.

Winney also said Congress must work harder to make U.S. energy more competitive. He proposed a mandate that the nation import less than 50 percent of its energy from other countries, and he said the United States needs to resume its focus on nuclear energy.

'We need to get on with nuclear,' Winney added.

Lummis also expressed skepticism about the BLM's new plan to restrict coal-bed methane development in the Powder River Basin.

Lummis, who is also a rancher and former longtime state lawmaker, said the BLM needs to do a better job following its own rules and regulations when it comes to managing coal-bed methane.

'If I were a member of Congress, I would say, 'Where is the science behind this?'" said Lummis, whose comments drew a round of applause.

Trauner said the key to the nation's energy needs is a comprehensive energy policy. That will require more predictable regulations that 'level the playing field' and producers can rely on. It will also require a diverse energy portfolio that includes oil, coal, natural gas, wind, conservation and other sources.

'Wyoming is ground zero for many or all of these things,' Trauner said.

Gordon said U.S. energy policy will have to deal 'coherently' with greenhouse gases so that Wyoming can 'get its energy out of the ground.' He also said energy regulations need to be consistent so producers can plan for the future.

Gordon said his career as a rancher has given him hands-on experience with issues such as the sage grouse. 'That is an issue we are all contending with,' Gordon said.

Wyoming Range

Some of the candidates also addressed their positions on natural resource drilling in the scenic Wyoming Range in western Wyoming. U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., is sponsoring legislation that would make a portion of the range off-limits to drilling.

Winney, who has a home near the Wyoming Range, said he is not thrilled about seeing drilling activity in his backyard, but he's concerned that too much land is off-limits to energy production.

'I'm concerned about how much of the nation we have fenced off,' Winney said.

Trauner, who also lives in western Wyoming, said there are plenty of other places to drill, and 'we don't need to do any development right now' in the Wyoming Range.

Lummis said she will not take an official position on the issue until she talks to the Lincoln County commissioners, who she said have been largely ignored in the debate over drilling.

But, she added: 'Locking up the Wyoming Range into perpetuity may not be in the best interest of this country.'

Gordon said the whole state needs to engage in a discussion about the issue, but he has not yet taken a position.

Michael Holland, a doctor from Green River, is also running for the U.S. House seat as a Republican. W. David Herbert of Cody is running as a Libertarian.

Reach reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 of at jared.miller@trib.com.