Williams to replace Rep. Hunt

KateLynn Slaamot 
NLJ Reporter
and Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Lusk’s J.D. Williams was chosen to replace former Rep. Hans Hunt, filling the seat for House District 2 until the 2022 election. On Tuesday, Oct. 19, the Board of Weston County Commissioners met with commissioners from both Goshen and Niobrara counties to select the official replacement out of the names forwarded to them by the Republican Central Committees. 
On Thursday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m., at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds, the Republican Central Committees from Goshen, Niobrara and Weston counties gathered to choose three candidates to be forwarded to the Tuesday meeting. The three candidates they chose were Williams and Gregg Matney, both of Niobrara County, and Allen Slagle of Weston County. 
In addition to the three names chosen by the committee, Sara Sampers of Niobrara County, Roger Huckfeldt of Goshen County and R. Dean Nelson of Niobrara County were also considered. 
The candidates for the empty house seat gave their opening statements. First to speak was Williams. Williams said he was raised in Saratoga and has been a lifelong rancher. 
Williams went on to say that although he’s not a politician, he felt “called to step up at this time of vacancy to serve.” 
“I’m not a politician,” he said. “But I’ll do my best, you can count on that.” 
Next was Matney, who was born in Fort Collins, Colorado. He was home-schooled in the fifth through eighth grade and then attended American High School. Matney spent many years trucking and is also a rancher. 
Slagle outlined his stance as a pro-life and pro-family Christian and how that would influence his job as representative, if elected. He also noted that his goal is to keep counties “whole” in the upcoming redistricting matter. 
“My goal, if elected to this position, is to represent all of you,” Slagle said. 
Sarah Sampers, from Wisconsin, moved to Wyoming in 2009, and she said that
she “learned to love
Wyoming.” Sampers stated that she wants to protect the future for her children. 
“I believe that the way that we live here needs to be preserved and protected,” Sampers stated. 
Huckfeldt is a former legislator and said that he would be the strong voice needed in the Wyoming Legislature. He also noted his intentions to help with redistricting for the best interests of each county. 
Nelson emphasized that it’s of utmost importance for elected officials to listen to their constituents and their needs. 
The candidates were then asked several questions, with each of the six candidates getting an opportunity to respond. The candidates were asked whether they would vote in favor of banning vaccine mandates during the upcoming special session, at which the issue will be discussed. 
All six candidates agreed that they would not support vaccine mandates and stressed that it was unconstitutional. 
“What we’re talking about is liberty,” Williams said. 
Slagle noted that the mandate would be “another overreach of government telling individuals what they can do.” 
The candidates were also asked whether they would stand against President Biden’s attack on coal and oil, instituted when he put an end to oil and gas leases on federal lands. 
Wyoming depends on the coal and oil industry, Nelson said, and the industry should be defended. 
Matney brought up that regulations are in the way
of industry, and the government needs to get out of the way. Slagle echoed similar sentiments. 
Huckfeldt was concerned that the impact on the coal and oil industries would in turn have a tremendous impact on local communities and the state as a whole. 
When asked what the candidates thought of Wyoming’s budget deficit and if they’d support a raise in taxes, Matney responded that he was against new taxes and wanted to look at cutting taxes. 
“I do not believe in deficit spending,” Matney said. 
Other candidates agreed, and Slagle said there are areas where the budget could be cut, such as education. He added that Wyoming’s Rainy Day Fund is just a few years from running out, so it would be best to begin gradual budget cuts now. Sampers was also against new taxes, but she did think education should be cut and said research should be done as to where it would be best to put the state’s money. 
Candidates were also asked how they would make themselves available to constituents, and they all expressed their willingness to hear from the people they would represent and encouraged them to express their concerns. 
“I work for you. I need to talk to you. I need to visit with you,” Nelson said. 
Matney added that candidates are elected for their values and character and he will stick to that. 
“We represent you with our values,” he said. 
Slagle said he intends to have community forums and answer phone calls and emails, and he will stick to his core values. 
A number of other questions were also asked, including those that addressed the candidates’ stances on the Second Amendment, their opinion on Wyoming getting federal lands back, whether or not they
supported Medicaid expansion and more. After the question and answer time, committee members cast their votes,
with Matney, Williams and Slagle emerging as the top three candidates.