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This month’s editorial board consists of:
Samantha Getz- Branding Iron editorial editor
Hanna Bush- Branding Iron editor-in-chief
Jacqui Frost- trained election coverage reporter
Max D’Onofrio-Political Sciences Major, member of Amnesty International
Wiley Combs-Election reform activist
Paul Weaver-College Democrats* President
*Invitations to serve on the board were sent to all political organizations on campus
In order to influence UW students to vote, the following information was collected in personal interviews done with various members of the Branding Iron staff. We chose to endorse candidates based off of their efforts to speak with us, efforts to benefit UW students in their campaign, and the benefits they plan to make to the state.
Phil Nicholas
Wyoming Senate District 10
Incumbent
Phil Nicholas thinks that we should be conserving our energy. As we tap into our resources, we need to make sure that coal remains a viable product. We also need to investigate how to burn coal cleaner and find an incentive to manufacture turbines in Wyoming.
Nicholas said that a 5-year plan needs to be established so that the money allotted to UW and the city is always set aside. He said that most of the time, the energy revenue is spent before it even gets to the university. Also, this way UW can decide where the money should be spent.
A parking structure should only be supported if it rose to the level of where it lies in the trustees priority list. He said that he would rather support more building infrastructure if the trustees saw it as more important. Nicholas believes that the bus system is more efficient because it “doesn’t eat up funds and doesn’t run off of fines.”
Nicholas supports the Hathaway Scholarship and thinks that the source of funds behind it was “clever.” He thinks it is important to take notice of the fact that tuition at UW is still lower than competing institutions.
Neil Harrison
Wyoming Senate District 10
Challenging Democrat ENDORSE
Neil Harrison has taught courses at the University of Wyoming in both the environment and political fields. He believes the “boom and bust” technique Wyoming is currently using is an improper method of spending the money gained by our energy resources. He wants to encourage private investment in the state and tax the energy industry in order to store money for the future.
In addition, he believes that students should be allowed the cheapest form of education possible. In order to do so, he thinks the Hathaway scholarship should be adapted to benefit poorer families. This would reduce costs to those who might not be able to attend college due to the expensive value.
As for the infrastructure on campus, Harrison said he believes the construction is going to be hard to maintain. “We really have insufficient funds for the long term,” Harrison said. Though the construction seems like a good idea, it will be impossible to maintain it in the future.
He is in favor of expanding the bus system on campus, and said he strongly supports a partnership with the city to do so. If the bus system does not help parking problems on campus, Harrison said then a parking structure should be considered.
Harrison said he wants to help benefit researchers on campus because they can directly benefit our state. This will help foster new ideas that could in turn benefit our state if an issue were to arise.
We endorse Neil Harrison because of his stable energy plan, his projected scholarship advancements, idea for bus transit expansion on UW and his favoritism toward student researchers.
Kermit Brown
Wyoming House District 14
Incumbent
Kermit Brown’s energy plan includes using sources that “no one likes to talk about.” As a state, we do need to use clean coal technology and nuclear power. He also thinks that we need to be responsible about our energy usage
He would “probably not” support a parking structure on campus. He believes that it would not be a very good use of funds and that there is a lack of a proper location; the bus system is more effective.
“I’d rather put more money there than $24,000 into a parking structure that in a few years will be inaccurate.” Brown said, “In a few years I just don’t think anyone is going to be driving and parking like that.”
He supports the infrastructure on campus completely. He approved all of the plans that are currently under construction.
The Hathaway scholarship is a good start, but he wants to make it more inclusive by being more academically based. “I don’t want to make it another place to go drink beer for a couple of semesters before getting serious about what you do with your life,” Brown said.
Pat Kiovsky
Wyoming House District 14
Challenging Democrat ENDORSE
Pat Kiovsky supports alternative energy and believes that energy sources need to be taxed in order to fund additional revenue. The biggest focus in her campaign is healthcare since she is a former nurse. She wants to increase healthcare and somehow ensure that students fresh out of college are able to obtain it. Kiovsky is also a believer in homeopathic remedies as a means to healthcare.
She was appalled at the housing available to UW students off of campus that she saw going door-to-door introducing herself to the Laramie youth. Kiovsky hopes to improve the conditions of apartments offered to students.
She supports the Hathaway scholarship, but also thinks it should be expanded to non-traditional students in order to give full benefits to everyone. In addition, Kiovsky thinks that the government should re-consider the use of Pell grants as a way to fund students’ tuition at UW.
Kiovsky said she is an “honest and candid” candidate and thinks that UW students could appreciate her efforts. She hopes to increase the job market for the youth of Wyoming.
We endorse Kiovsky because of her interest in alternative energy, her idea to expand the Hathaway Scholarship to non-traditional students, and her “honest and candid” efforts made to the youth of Wyoming.
Glen Moniz
House District 46
Incumbent
Glen Moniz is a full supporter of alternative energy. Since Wyoming has an abundance of wind, he believes we should try to encourage this energy source. In addition, since it is a renewable source, he thinks that hydroelectric power should be considered as well.
Moniz thinks this energy revenue should be funneled into the general fund of UW and then allocated wherever is necessary. It is important to avoid funding projects that UW would have to continuously fund. He thinks that the staff does an adequate job of evaluating what the students need, and hope that they would count on the student body as well for input.
He believes that a parking structure on campus is probably not “economically feasible.” After all the grants are distributed, expanding the current bus system would be less expensive.
Moniz believes that the Hathaway Scholarship is effective, but that it should be expanded to fit the students that aren’t in “the niche” of graduating in four years. He thinks it might be best to relax the standard of years required in finishing education at UW, but still monitor GPA.
Moniz said he has been utilizing feedback that he has received from students who are helping in his campaign.
Jim Thompson
House District 46
Challenging Democrat ENDORSE
Jim Thompson is a temporary lecturer in applied economics in the Agriculture department. He supports alternative energy and looks specifically at research done by students to foster new ideas of renewable sources. Also, he said Wyoming needs to look at how to reduce carbon emissions.
He thinks the current construction is good, but money should also be allocated to academic projects as well. In addition, he wants to increase staff salary so we have the opportunity to attract additional faculty.
Thompson supports a multi-layer parking structure on campus. He said that over the long term, it would be the most feasible for students over the bus system. Thompson supports the new buildings on campus since it keeps the campus consolidated for easy-access by students.
He is a firm believer that education should be as near free as possible and wants to place a “ceiling on tuition” for both in-state and out-of-state students. This way UW can attract more students with a competitively low tuition.
Thompson thinks that the youth vote is important to focus on, especially since the Obama campaign is fostering so much interest by America’s youth.
We endorse Jim Thompson because of his emphasis on student research, interest in keeping campus consolidated for students, idea for keeping tuition low and his focus on the importance of the youth vote.
Mike Enzi
U.S. Senator
Republican ENDORSE
Mike Enzi has been the U.S. Senator representing Wyoming for the past twelve years. He is a former mayor of Gillette and has served on numerous committees and passed bills that affect college students.
Enzi thinks the biggest problem facing college students today is the job market. As a catalyst in the Higher Education Act, he hopes that money will be given to fund careers that are needed in the state.
Although he is a Republican candidate, he said that compromising with the other parties is not what is important when it comes to joint decision. It is deciding what is best for the situation “and agreeing on that.”
He believes in domestic drilling because he thinks “we can do that environmentally sound and do it well.” Through the Wyoming Range bill he also believes that certain areas should be protected “so that people can continue to do the things that they’ve been doing there and enjoy.” Enzi also wants to continue allowing UW to do research to find more renewable types of energy.
Enzi said that students should vote for him because, “I’m the person that’s already worked on the issues for the University of Wyoming, the state of Wyoming and America as a whole.” Enzi said, “I’ve gotten a lot of things done, I’ve got the trust built up, I’ve got the experience so I’m at a point where I can accelerate what I’m doing only if I’m returned to do and to be able to take advantage of all the work that I’ve put in there.”
Chris Rothfuss
U.S. Senator
Democrat
As a former UW graduate, Chris Rothfuss still teaches courses on campus. He believes that the biggest current problem facing college students today is finding jobs. He said he believes that growth is essential right now in that area, and the best focus on job creation lies in energy policy. However, he doesn’t think it is his job to keep students in Wyoming after they graduate. “I like to see internal issues handled internally and things should only rise to the federal level if they absolutely have to,” Rothfuss said.
He is an advocate for “everything concerning energy” including alternative sources and domestic drilling. He is a promoter for any source of energy as long as it is done with “sustainability and stewardship.” Rothfuss think that a carbon tax could be imposed, but carbon trade is a better idea for lowering emissions.
As a university, Rothfuss believes more money needs to be funded to undergraduate research programs. He also wants to extend the Hathaway scholarship to non-traditional students.
He believes that the youth vote is important to focus on right now. Rothfuss thinks he has the “spirit of hope” that could make things happen, unlike his opponent.
John Barasso
U.S. Senator (unexpired term)
Republican
John Barasso has been in Wyoming for 25 years. In that time he has been an orthopedic surgeon and has spent five of those years in the Wyoming state senate. He fought to remove the sales tax on groceries and was an original co-sponsor of the bill that became the Hathaway scholarship.
He believes that it is important to keep students in state after they graduate. This can be done with the Hathaway scholarship “and with a great K-12.” He said that the economy needs to be grown in a way that allows people who want to stay, to stay in Wyoming.
He is for wind and solar energy forms as well as conservation of energy sources. However, he believes that oil, gas and coal are also needed. “Wyoming really has what America needs,” Barasso said. He introduced the Wyoming Range bill in order to protect certain boundaries to be drawn with drilling. “I do support American exploration, and American energy, but it is for all energy,” Barasso said.
Nick Carter
U.S. Senator (unexpired term)
Democrat
Nick Carter has been an active attorney in Gillette for the past 20 years. He started his own practice after graduating from UW. He believes that the biggest problem facing UW students today is the allocation of resources toward education. He thinks the government has gone away from funding education for our youth and would like to fix that.
Remembering his experiences at UW, he also wants to start more of a “buddy system” to build a support system of friends rapidly. “A lot of times, at-risk students, may not have the family resources or family background, maybe not just financial support, but moral support of making it through the few lonely months at college.”
He believes in using local resources for energy because it plays such a big part in our economy. Also, he thinks it is important to learn how to conserve energy and methods to reduce carbon emissions.
Carter addresses the youth vote because it is pivotal in the current election. “I’m not going to go there to take a republican agenda. I’m going there to take a Wyoming and an American agenda and for that reason, Wyoming students should vote for me,” Carter said.
Nothing about either one of these candidates stood out to us. Barasso rudely ended the interview early, refused to answer any more questions and said that questions could be directed to his representative to answer. Though Carter addresses the youth vote as being important, his campaign seems to be feeding off of work done by national candidates as well as the office preceding him. We choose to not endorse either candidate.
W. David Herbert
U.S. Representative
Libertarian
W. David Herbert has been involved in politics since 1980. He understands veterans’ issues very well since he served as a podiatrist in the military for 32 years. He has never held elective office.
He thinks the most important issue facing college students is taking courses that require thinking “like taking classes such as calculus.” He believes that these kinds of classes are more important than the actual major. Herbert also says the price of college has risen so much, that students should beware of how much money they end up borrowing.
He plans on keeping graduating seniors in Wyoming by the advent of the Internet. Herbert said that students now have the capability of living in state and working across the world, so it is best to keep in tune with technology.
Herbert believes in alternate forms of energy such as direct solar energy and natural gas. Also, he thinks that we should drill offshore, but by finding a way to do it effectively.
He is unsure of UW’s strengths because he doesn’t know how we compared to other schools.
“I know the law school I went to was higher rated than UW,” Herbert said.
As for helping Wyoming’s youth, Herbert doesn’t know what he has to offer besides combating the draft.
Gary Trauner
U.S. Representative
Democrat ENDORSE
Gary Trauner is a businessman. He has a masters degree in finance and spent most of his career building businesses. He is also a former chairman of the school board in Teton county.
Trauner believes the biggest problem facing college students is their ability to pay for education. The Hathaway is a step toward funding, but more needs to be done to include the Wyoming students that want to continue their education out of state.
He supports domestic drilling and believes Barasso’s Wyoming Range Bill best maintains it. He is in favor of alternative energy research, especially done at the college level.
“Energy is the issue of our time,” Trauner said.
He plans on helping to expand the job market in order to keep graduating seniors in state. Trauner believes this can best be done by putting an end to the “boom and bust cycle” since it will create technologies here.
Trauner said that UW students should vote for him because he thinks changes need to be made at a national level. In addition, he thinks that it is important to address people outside of his party.
“Someone needs to step up to do what is best for Wyoming and our country, and not for either party,” Trauner said.
We endorse Trauner because he wants to increase funding for all Wyoming students, believes in alternative energy research granted by UW, wants to expand the job market and because he wants to do what is best for Wyoming and not just his party.
Cynthia Lummis
U.S. Representative
Republican
Numerous attempts were made by the Branding Iron staff to contact Cynthia Lummis. She refused to speak with our student media, which shows that she doesn’t care about the youth vote. Every other candidate made a point to speak with our reporters, and because no efforts were made on behalf of Lummis, we cannot endorse her as a candidate.
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Gary Trauner, a Democrat running for Wyoming’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, believes “creating sustainable energy independence is the issue of our time, and Wyoming should be leading the world.” Trauner says that Wyoming’s potential to be a provider of various energy forms such as clean natural gas, cleaner coal, wind energy and solar energy is almost limitless. According to Trauner’s Web site, www.traunerforcongress.com, “[Trauner] will protect and strengthen Wyoming’s position as a leader in responsible, conventional energy development.”