July 15, 2024 |
Photo – HD 15 Candidates Terry Weickum (left) and Pam Thayer (right) – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
On Thursday evening, House District 15 Republican candidates Terry Weickum and Pam Thayer held a question-and-answer session at the Carbon County Higher Education Center in Rawlins.
Wyoming House District 15 covers the northwestern corner of Carbon County and the northeast corner of Sweetwater County, including the municipalities of Rawlins, Sinclair, and Bairoil.
Rawlins Mayor and former Carbon County Commission Chairman Terry Weickum, Rawlins Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Pam Thayer, and mental health advisor and No More Empty Saddles co-founder Sheryl Foland are vying for Donald Burkhart’s seat, as he steps away from the Wyoming legislature.
The Carbon County Higher Education Center invited the three candidates to a forum-style discussion. Foland was unable to attend the event for unspecified reasons.
Higher Education Center Executive Director Jennifer Moore moderated the forum. Following a brief introduction by the two candidates, Moore asked about their goals as Wyoming representatives, how they plan to assist the community, and the potential challenges they might face.
Thayer said she wants to entice young people to stay in Wyoming by creating new job opportunities.
Weickum said his goal is to educate the state legislature about the unique challenges faced by small municipalities. The candidate said changing the minds of lawmakers may be difficult.
The candidates were asked about how they make decisions.
Weickum said as the District 15 representative, he will put his personal feelings aside and do what is best for his constituents.
Thayer said she will thoroughly study every bill before voting. The candidate said bills can contain hidden provisions that may negatively impact the people of District 15.
Moore asked about the candidates’ opinions regarding taxpayer-funded public services.
Thayer said residents need to be better informed about how their tax money is spent.
Weickum said taxes are a divisive subject. Residents want well-funded services, but are often reluctant to pay for them. Weickum said the state can’t continue taxing more affluent towns, such as Jackson, in the same manner as Rawlins.
The candidates were then asked about the rising cost of education. Both Weickum and Thayer agreed that more educational opportunities, such as increased access to trade schools, are important.
Moore asked the candidates how they felt about paying to send students to privately owned schools using taxpayer money.
Thayer said she does not support the private school voucher program.
Weickum disagreed, saying that he supports all types of education, including public school, private school, and home schooling. The house candidate said some students learn better in different environments.
Both candidates focused on increasing education opportunities for young people as a way to maintain the district’s dwindling population and increase economic growth.
The House District 15 primary election will occur on August 20. Voters will pick one of the Republican candidates to run in the November general election. Because District 15 has no Democratic candidate, whoever is chosen on August 20th will go on to represent House District 15 in the state legislature.
