JARED MILLER Star-Tribune capital bureau | Posted: Friday, October 10, 2008 12:00 am
CHEYENNE - The candidates for House District 3 in southeast Wyoming disagree on how drunken drivers should be treated by the criminal justice system.
Republican Frank Peasley, 64, an attorney in Douglas, said he opposes harsher penalties for those who drive drunk.
Terry Jones, a Platte County farmer running as a Democrat, said multiple drunken driving offense should be treated as a felony that carries with it harsher penalties, including longer jail sentences.
The incumbent, Rep. Deborah Alden, R-Wheatland, is not seeking re-election.
The candidates offered different approaches to solving the shortage of available health care in Wyoming.
Peasley said the state Legislature can make health care more available to Wyomingites by passing tort reform, reducing regulation, expanding market-based influence and investigating billing transparency.
Jones said he would work to create incentives to bring health care professionals to Wyoming. He also said it would be helpful if the federal program Medicare would keep up with health care costs so doctors don't lose money when they accept Medicare patients.
Both candidates opposed a statewide smoking ban, and both support property tax relief.
Peasley sees some merit to the reactivation of the homestead property tax exemption to curb increasing property taxes. As a long-term solution, Peasley said he's inclined toward a constitutional amendment to create a separate tier of taxation for residential property.
Jones said "targeted" tax relief will help some of the state's citizens, especially those on fixed incomes.
"Working people are suffering from rising property taxes," Jones said. "But people with fixed incomes are really being affected. Targeted tax relief is really needed for some of our citizens."
Peasley said the state Legislature should spend the anticipated budget surplus on "building more infrastructure."
Jones said his priorities for the money would be highways, funding for counties and municipalities and a higher entry pay rate for state employees.
Jones said he's in favor of more local control of the state's seven community colleges, even thought the majority of funding comes from the state.
"There should be more vocational training in the community colleges so Wyoming doesn't have to import workers form out of state," Jones added.
Peasley said funding should be increased for trade-related education at Wyoming community colleges. He also said the state should leave the current community college funding system alone.
"Don't fix what isn't broken," he said.
Peasley said it's not the government's job to address the state worker and housing shortage, although he did say that community-level government participation may be appropriate, and the state's role is assistance with infrastructure development.
Jones said the influx of workers and the resulting housing shortages and infrastructure problems often show up before increased tax revenue is available to local governments. That's why he said communities affected by the state worker and housing shortage should be able to apply for state grants to fund housing infrastructure projects.
"The state grants should be timely and focused on the impact as it happens," Jones said.
Peasley said economic diversity can be achieved by making Wyoming a good place to work and do business.
"Simply make the state attractive to both residents and businesses," Peasley said.
Jones said infrastructure money should be readily available for counties and towns to promote business. He would also support an expansion of the Wyoming Business Council if needed.
Peasley said the state should continue to defer to county and municipal governments when it comes to regulation of land development.
Jones said unregulated 35-acre land developments are to blame for much of the sprawl in Wyoming. He said counties should be responsible for the regulation based on local conditions.
Contact capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or jared.miller@trib.com
CANDIDATE BIOS
House District 3
covering southern and western Platte County, as well as a section of southern Converse County that includes a portion of Douglas
Terry R. Jones
Party: Democrat
Age: 60
Home: Rural Wheatland (Platte County)
Occupation: Farmer
Education: High school
Family: Married, five children
Political experience: None
Frank Peasley
Party: Republican
Age: 64
Home: Douglas
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Bachelor's and law degree from the University of Wyoming
Family: Married, four children
Political experience: Converse County attorney, 1981-1985
covering southern and western Platte County, as well as a section of southern Converse County that includes a portion of Douglas
Terry R. Jones
Party: Democrat
Age: 60
Home: Rural Wheatland (Platte County)
Occupation: Farmer
Education: High school
Family: Married, five children
Political experience: None
Frank Peasley
Party: Republican
Age: 64
Home: Douglas
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Bachelor�s and law degree from the University of Wyoming
Family: Married, four children
Political experience: Converse County attorney, 1981-1985]]->