CHEYENNE – A WyoFile investigation of the three candidates vying to be Wyoming’s next secretary of state reveals differences in professional experience, political backing and history of compliance with the laws and regulations enforced by this very office.
kAm$64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6 :D E96 D64@?5 9:896DE @77:46 :? (J@>:?8’D 6I64FE:G6 3C2?49 369:?5 @?=J E96 8@G6C?@C] xE’D 2 7@FC\J62C A@D:E:@?]k^Am
k9bm#6A] vC2Jk^9bm
kAm#6A] r9F4< vC2J[ #\r2DA6C[ 92D C6AC6D6?E65 w@FD6 s:DEC:4E df :? E96 {68:D=2EFC6 D:?46 a_`f]k^Am
kAmw6 564=:?65 E@ 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D]k^Am
kAmw6 92D =:DE65 |@F?E #FD9>@C6 qC@2542DE:?8 x?4] 2D 9:D D@=6 6>A=@J>6?E – :?:E:2==J H@C<:?8 2D 2 AC@8C2> 5:C64E@C[ E96? =2E6C 2D 2? @A6C2E:@?D >2?286C]k^Am
kAm|@F?E #FD9>@C6 qC@2542DE:?8 H2D 25>:?:DEC2E:G6=J 5:DD@=G65 3J E96 DE2E6 2=>@DE EH@ 564256D 28@ 7@C 72:=:?8 E@ 7:=6 2??F2= C6A@CED 2?5 A2J :ED =:46?D6 766D E@ (J@>:?8] vC2J’D 72E96C[ y2? r92C=6D vC2J[ :D AC6D:56?E @7 E96 s6=2H2C6\32D65 6?E:EJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ DE2E6 C64@C5D] %96 6?E:EJ FD6D 2 C68:DE6C65 286?E :? :ED (J@>:?8 7:=:?8D[ 2?5 a_`e 5@4F>6?ED 7C@> E96 u656C2= r@>>F?:42E:@?D r@>>:DD:@? :?5:42E6 E92E E96 6=56C vC2J :D E96 @H?6C]k^Am
kAm{:<6 2== @FE\@7\DE2E6 6?E:E:6D[ :E H2D C6BF:C65 E@ @3E2:? 2 46CE:7:42E6 @7 2FE9@C:EJ 7C@> E96 D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6’D @77:46 367@C6 EC2?D24E:?8 3FD:?6DD :? E96 DE2E6] xE 5:5 D@ :? `hhb[ 3FE 72:=65 E@ 7:=6 C6BF:D:E6 2??F2= C6A@CED 2?5 A2J J62C=J 766D 32D65 @? :ED 2DD6ED]k^Am
kAm|@F?E #FD9>@C6 6?E6C65 :?E@ 2 ac\>@?E9 A6C:@5 5FC:?8 H9:49 :E 4@F=5 92G6 A2:5 2 C6:?DE2E6>6?E 766[ 2D H6== 2D H92E H2D 2=C625J @H65] %96 4@>A2?J 5:5 ?@E 4@>A=J H:E9:? E96 EH@\J62C H:?5@H[ 27E6C H9:49 (J@>:?8 DE2EFE6 5@6D ?@E 2==@H 6?E:E:6D E@ 36 3C@F89E 324< :?E@ 8@@5 DE2?5:?8]k^Am
kAm|@?:BF6 |66D6 H:E9 E96 (J@>:?8 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6’D @77:46 4@?7:C>65 E92E |@F?E #FD9>@C6 qC@2542DE:?8 x?4] H2D 25>:?:DEC2E:G6=J 5:DD@=G65 @? yF?6 `_[ a__b[ 2?5 E96C63J =@DE E96 23:=:EJ E@ 36 C6:?DE2E65] %96 6?E:EJ :D ?@E F?56C C6G:6H 3J E96 @77:46[ |66D6 D2:5[ 3642FD6 ?@ HC:EE6? 4@>A=2:?ED 925 366? DF3>:EE65]k^Am
kAm~? 9:D >@DE C646?E DE2E6 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D 7:?2?4:2= 5:D4=@DFC6 7@C> 52E65 y2?] ag[ a_aa[ vC2J =:DE65 @A6C2E:@?D >2?286C @7 |@F?E #FD9>@C6 qC@2542DE:?8 2D 9:D 6>A=@J>6?E] p44@C5:?8 E@ 9:D 42>A2:8? H63D:E6[ 96 3682? 9:D 42C66C E96C6 :? a_`b “2D 2 C25:@ 6I64FE:G6 2?5 9@DE65 2 4@?D6CG2E:G6 C25:@ D9@H[” F?E:= a_`h]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 2 yF=J 42?5:52E6 7@CF> :? r2DA6C[ vC2J D2:5 96 3642>6 2 A6C>2?6?E C6D:56?E @7 (J@>:?8 :? a_`a] w6 DA6?E 9:D 49:=59@@5 DF>>6CD 96C6 H:E9 9:D 72E96C 27E6C 9:D A2C6?ED 5:G@C465[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm!C:@C E@ 8@:?8 E@ H@C< 7@C 9:D 72E96C[ vC2J 8C25F2E65 7C@> E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 !6??DJ=G2?:2 H:E9 32496=@C’D @7 D4:6?46 2?5 32496=@C’D @7 2CED 568C66D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 9:D =2H>2<6C 3:@8C2A9J]k^Am
kAm(96? (J@u:=6 2AAC@24965 vC2J E@ 4=2C:7J 9:D AC@76DD:@?2= 6IA6C:6?46 :>>65:2E6=J 7@==@H:?8 E96 7@CF> :? r2DA6C[ 96 564=:?65 E@ 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D[ D2J:?8 96 H@F=5 C6DA@?5 E@ HC:EE6? BF6DE:@?D] (J@u:=6 D6?E BF6DE:@?D]k^Am
kAmvC2J C6DA@?565 H:E9 2 DE2E6>6?E 23@FE 32==@E 5C@A 3@I6D 2?5 32==@E 92CG6DE:?8 – 96 766=D 3@E9 2C6 E9C62ED E@ 6=64E:@? :?E68C:EJ]k^Am
kAm|@F?E #FD9>@C6 qC@2542DE:?8 :D 4FCC6?E=J E96 =:46?D66 7@C EH@ p| DE2E:@?D 2?5 7:G6 u| DE2E:@?D :? (J@>:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ urr C64@C5D] |@DE @7 E9@D6 DE2E:@?D 2C6 :? r2DA6C[ 2?5 2== 3FE @?6 @7 E9@D6 42? 4FCC6?E=J 36 962C5 @? E96 2:C]k^Am
kAmx? a_`e[ E9C66 J62CD 27E6C vC2J 4=2:>D E@ 92G6 368F? H@C<:?8 E96C6[ |@F?E #FD9>@C6 6?E6C65 :?E@ 2 4@?D6?E 564C66 H:E9 E96 urr 7@C 72:=:?8 E@ >2:?E2:? 2 7F==\E:>6 >2?286>6?E 2?5 DE277 AC6D6?46 2E E96 >2:? DEF5:@ @7 EH@ @7 :ED DE2E:@?D 5FC:?8 C68F=2C 3FD:?6DD 9@FCD[ 2>@?8 @E96C E9:?8D] ~?6 E6C> H2D 2 Sad[___ 4:G:= A6?2=EJ[ H9:49 H2D =6DD E92? E96 @C:8:?2==J AC@A@D65 A6?2=EJ] |@F?E #FD9>@C6 qC@2542DE:?8 DF3>:EE65 2 DH@C? DE2E6>6?E 2=@?8 H:E9 D6G6C2= J62CD @7 E2I C6EFC?D :?5:42E:?8 2? :?23:=:EJ E@ A2J 2== 7@C76:EFC6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 4@?D6?E 564C66]k^Am
kAm%96 @C:8:?2= 2>@F?E H2D ;FDE F?56C S`e_[___[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 urr] |@F?E #FD9>@C6 qC@2542DE:?8 H2D C6BF:C65 E@ A2J E96 C6>2:?56C @7 E96 @C:8:?2==J AC@A@D65 A6?2=E:6D :7 E96 urr 7@F?5 :E >:D=65 E96 4@>>:DD:@? C682C5:?8 :ED 7:?2?4:2= DE2EFD] %96 4@>>:DD:@? 564=:?65 E@ D2J H96E96C E92E @44FCC65]k^Am
kAmx? a_`d[ |@F?E #FD9>@C6 qC@2542DE:?8 A2:5 2=>@DE Sd[___ :? 324< H286D E@ 7@C>6C 6>A=@J66D[ 27E6C E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 {23@C DF65 E96 6?E:EJ 7@C ?@E AC@A6C=J A2J:?8 :ED H@C<6CD]k^Am
kAmq6EH66? pAC:= a_a_ 2?5 |2C49 a_a`[ :E C646:G65 >@C6 E92? Sag[___ E9C@F89 E96 7656C2= !2J4964< !C@E64E:@? !C@8C2> :? @C56C E@ C6E2:? EH@ ;@3D] vC2J[ 2? @AA@?6?E @7 7656C2= DF3D:5:6D[ G@E65 5FC:?8 E96 a_aa {68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@? 282:?DE 2 3:== 2FE9@C:K:?8 E96 DE2E6 E@ DA6?5 @E96C A2?56>:4 C6=:67 7F?5D]k^Am
kAmy2? r92C=6D vC2J 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am
kAmr9F4< vC2J’D 42>A2:8? 7:?2?46D 2?5 A6CD@?2= C6D@FC46D 92G6 C646?E=J 366? 492==6?865] {2DE H66<[ 7@C>6C (J@>:?8 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6 |2I |2I7:6=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]HJ@>:?8?6HD]4@>^?6HD^6=64E:@?D^D6?\?6E96C4@EE\D2JD\C6A\8C2J\5:DBF2=:7:65\:?\D64J\@7\DE2E6\8C2J\56?:6D\4=2:>D^2CE:4=60ae4bcff`\ag`f\d`45\h`d3\f_6_bcg7dbea]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm7:=65k^2m 2 4@>A=2:?E H:E9 E96 u656C2= t=64E:@? r@>>:DD:@?[ C2:D:?8 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE 9@H 2 42?5:52E6 H9@ C6A@CED 2? 2??F2= :?4@>6 @7 2C@F?5 S`_[___ 4@F=5 =@2? 9:D @H? 42>A2:8? 2=>@DE Sb__[___] pE 2 5632E6 :? r2DA6C 62C=:6C E9:D H66<[ vC2J D2:5 96 :?96C:E65 E96 >@?6J 7C@> 9:D 8C2?572E96C]k^Am
kAmvC2J’D 7:?2?4:2= 562=:?8D 5:DBF2=:7J 9:> 7C@> E96 ;@3[ 244@C5:?8 E@ @?6 @7 9:D @AA@?6?ED[ $6?] %2C2 }6E96C4@EE[ #\r96J6??6] }6E96C4@EE 92D 366? 6?5@CD65 3J |2I7:6=5]k^Am
kAmu@C>6C !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A 92D 6?5@CD65 vC2J’D 42?5:524J[ 2D 92G6 #6AD] y@9? q62C[ #\v:==6EE6j y6C6>J w2C@=5D@?[ #\(962E=2?5[ |2C< y6??:?8D[ #\$96C:52?[ 2?5 (J@>:?8 $E2E6 %C62DFC6C rFCE |6:6C]k^Am
k9bm%2C2 }6E96C4@EEk^9bm
kAm}6E96C4@EE[ 2 r96J6??6 2EE@C?6J[ 92D C6AC6D6?E65 $6?2E6 s:DEC:4E c D:?46 a_`f]k^Am
kAm$:?46 a_`b[ }6E96C4@EE 92D 366? =2E6 D:I E:>6D E@ 7:=6 2??F2= C6A@CED H:E9 (J@>:?8 7@C 96C :?\DE2E6 4@CA@C2E:@?[ %2C2 q] }6E96C4@EE !]r] pE ?@ A@:?E 5:5 D96 6I4665 E96 ac\>@?E9 4@>A=:2?46 H:?5@H[ 2?5 E96 2EE@C?6J’D 3FD:?6DD C6>2:?D :? 8@@5 DE2?5:?8] }6E96C4@EE :D 2=D@ AC@A6C=J 2FE9@C:K65 E@ AC24E:46 =2H :? E96 DE2E6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ (J@>:?8 DE2E6 32C C64@C5D[ 2?5 92D ?@ 9:DE@CJ @7 5:D4:A=:?2CJ 492C86D @C AF3=:4 5:D4:A=:?6]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 8C@H:?8 FA :? uC6>@?E r@F?EJ[ }6E96C4@EE D2:5 D96 62C?65 E9C66 568C66D 7C@> E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 (J@>:?8[ :?4=F5:?8 96C ;FC:D 5@4E@C2E6 :? a__h] uC@> E96C6[ D96 D2:5 D96 3682? 2 AC:G2E6 AC24E:46 :? r96J6??6 2?5 DA6?E 23@FE 2 564256 H:E9 (@@59@FD6 #@56? }6E96C4@EE] %96 7:C> C6=:65 @? 7656C2= A2?56>:4 C6=:67 E9C@F89 2 !!! =@2? @7 S```[___ :? @C56C E@ C6E2:? ?:?6 6>A=@J66D] }6E96C4@EE G@E65 282:?DE E96 D2>6 p#!p 2==@42E:@? 3:== E92E vC2J 5:5[ 3FE D2:5 96C G@E6 H2D 5F6 E@ H92E H2D =67E @FE @7 E96 3:== 2?5 D96 H@F=5 ?@E 92G6 G@E65 282:?DE :E 925 E96 G@E6 366? 4=@D6C]k^Am
kAm$96 4FCC6?E=J AC24E:46D H:E9 rC@H=6J u=64<[ 2?5 >F49 @7 96C =682= H@C< :?G@=G6D 3FD:?6DD @C82?:K2E:@?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 =2H>2<6C]k^Am
kAm“x 2> E96 >@DE BF2=:7:65 42?5:52E6 CF??:?8 7@C 2 G2C:6EJ @7 C62D@?D[” }6E96C4@EE D2:5[ A@:?E:?8 E@ 96C ?F>6C@FD =6256CD9:A A@D:E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 2D 4@\492:CA6CD@? @7 E96 {68:D=2EFC6’D y@:?E yF5:4:2CJ r@>>:EE66 5FC:?8 E96 eeE9 (J@>:?8 {68:D=2EFC6 2?5 492:C>2? @7 E96 3@2C5 @7 5:C64E@CD 7@C E96 vC62E6C r96J6??6 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 :? a_`g]k^Am
kAmp=@?8 H:E9 E96 6=64E:@? 2?5 3FD:?6DD 5:G:D:@?D[ E96 4@>A=:2?46 5:G:D:@? @7 E96 D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6’D @77:46 :D 2?@E96C AC:>2CJ C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @7 E96 A@D:E:@?] %92E 5:G:D:@? @G6CD66D 2?5 6?7@C46D (J@>:?8’D 7:?2?4:2= D64FC:E:6D =2H]k^Am
kAmpD 2? 2EE@C?6J[ }6E96C4@EE :D 7@C>2==J 65F42E65 :? D64FC:E:6D C68F=2E:@?[ D96 D2:5] $96 56D4C:365 92G:?8 6IA6C:6?46 C6AC6D6?E:?8 G:4E:>D @7 7:?2?4:2= 7C2F5 2?5 92D H@C<65 @? AC@D64FE:@? E62>D @? D64FC:E:6D C68F=2E:@? G:@=2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C $6?] s2? s@4<DE256C[ #\p7E@?[ 5C@AA65 @FE @7 E96 C246[ 96 6?5@CD65 }6E96C4@EE] $96’D 2=D@ 366? 6?5@CD65 3J (J@>:?8 v~! &]$] $6?] rJ?E9:2 {F>>:Dj #6AD] $E6G6 w2CD9>2?[ #\r2DA6Cj {=@J5 {2CD6?[ #\{2?56Cj tG2? $:>AD@?j #\p7E@?j 2?5 $6?] y677 (2DD6C3FC86C[ #\v:==6EE6]k^Am
k9bm|2C< pC>DEC@?8k^9bm
kAm|2C< pC>DEC@?8[ E96 E9:C5 42?5:52E6 :? E96 C246[ 92D DA6?E 9:D 42C66C H@C<:?8 2D 2 86@=@8:DE[ 2?5 96 D2:5 E92E’D 2? :>A@CE2?E 5:DE:?4E:@? 36EH66? 9:> 2?5 9:D 4@>A6E:E@CD]k^Am
kAm“%96D6 A6@A=6 :? 8@G6C?>6?E WH9@X 2C6?’E D4:6?E:DED[ E96J 5@?’E <?@H H92E 8@@5 D4:6?46 :D[” pC>DEC@?8 D2:5] “xE’D 6IEC6>6=J 5:77:4F=E E@ 9@=5 E96> 244@F?E23=6 7@C :?2AAC@AC:2E6 24E:@?D] p?5 x 42? E2<6 42C6 @7 E9@D6 E9:?8D 2D D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6]”k^Am
kAmpC>DEC@?8 92D 62C?65 568C66D 7C@> D6G6C2= F?:G6CD:E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 (J@>:?8[ E96 r@=@C25@ $49@@= @7 |:?6D 2?5 $E2?7@C5 &?:G6CD:EJ[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? a_`_[ pC>DEC@?8’D =:46?D6 E@ AC24E:46 86@=@8J :? (J@>:?8 6IA:C65 H96? 96 5:5 ?@E C6?6H :E] w6 >256 E96 564:D:@? E@ =6E :E =2AD6 27E6C E96 (J@>:?8 q@2C5 @7 !C@76DD:@?2= v6@=@8:DED “H@F=5 ?@E 6?7@C46 2 3=2E2?E 6E9:4D G:@=2E:@?[” 96 D2:5] $:?46 E96?[ 9:D 86@=@8J H@C< 92D 366? 32D65 :? r2=:7@C?:2[ H96C6 96 C6>2:?D AC@76DD:@?2==J =:46?D65]k^Am
kAmpC>DEC@?8 5@6D ?@E 92G6 =682= EC2:?:?8[ 3FE 96 92D =682= 6IA6C:6?46 7C@> 2 =6?8E9J 4@FCE 32EE=6 H:E9 9:D 7@C>6C 6>A=@J6C[ E96 (J@>:?8 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= "F2=:EJ[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED[ pC>DEC@?8 3682? H@C< :? a__d 2D 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 2?2=JDE 7@C E96 DE2E6 286?4J[ :?DA64E:?8 2?5 :DDF:?8 A6C>:ED 7@C H2DE6 724:=:E:6D] pC>DEC@?8 E@=5 E96 5:C64E@C @7 st" E92E 96 E9@F89E 9:D DFA6CG:D@C H2D :>AC@A6C=J :?7=F6?4:?8 2 A6C>:EE:?8 564:D:@? :?G@=G:?8 2 r2DA6C =2?57:==]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6 7:C65 pC>DEC@?8 :? a__f 7@C :?4FCC:?8 Sa[d__ :? A6CD@?2= 492C86D @? 9:D DE2E6\:DDF65 46== A9@?6] %96 DE2E6’D ~77:46 @7 p5>:?:DEC2E:G6 w62C:?8D C6:?DE2E65 pC>DEC@?8 :? a__g 2?5 st" 2AA62=65 E92E 564:D:@?]k^Am
kAmpC>DEC@?8 7@F?5 5:776C6?E H@C< :? |@?E2?2 – 2?@E96C A@D:E:@? C6=2E65 E@ 6?G:C@?>6?E2= H2DE6 – 3FE E96 =682= 32EE=6 4@?E:?F65[ H:E9 pC>DEC@?8 C6AC6D6?E:?8 9:>D6=7] tG6?EF2==J[ 96 2AA62=65 E@ E96 (J@>:?8 $FAC6>6 r@FCE] w:D 42D6 H2D 5:D>:DD65 7@C “72:=FC6 E@ 7@==@H E96 (J@>:?8 #F=6D @7 pAA6==2E6 !C@465FC6[” 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 @A:?:@? HC:EE6? 3J 7@C>6C yFDE:46 (:==:2> w:==]k^Am
kAm%96 H2J pC>DEC@?8 D66D :E[ E96 AC@46DD 82G6 9:> 4@FCEC@@> 6IA6C:6?46 E92E H@F=5 36 G2=F23=6 E@ E96 D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6 C@=6]k^Am