Candidates for US House of Representatives

Annual salary is $169,300. Representatives can participate in Federal employee health and life insurance programs. Wyoming has one US Representative; term of office is two years.

1. What is your background, and what qualifies you for this office? (100 words)

W. David Herbert (L):  I grew up in the Salinas Valley of California.  My father was a self described “dirt farmer with 50 head of cows”.  I graduated from Palma (Catholic) High School, Salinas, California in 1961.  I first became acquainted with Wyoming in the early 1960’s while attending college.  I flew in combat in Vietnam and retired from the US Army as a podiatrist (Lt. Colonel).  I attended night law school and received a J.D. degree with distinction from the University of the Pacific.  I have been licensed as a Podiatrist in Wyoming since 1976.  Contact me at www.herbert2008.com.

Cynthia M. Lummis (R):  I am a fourth-generation Wyoming rancher.  I graduated from UW with degrees in Animal Science, Biology, and Law.  I served in Wyoming’s legislature for 14 years.  I missed only five votes out of six thousand and was the youngest woman ever elected.  I served eight years as State Treasurer.  During that time, I restructured Wyoming’s investments to ensure Wyoming residents will never need to pay a state income tax.  My husband, Al Wiederspahn, and I have one daughter, Annaliese.  I remain active in numerous state-wide organizations.  My experience and Republican values will give Wyoming a strong voice in DC.

Gary Trauner (D): I am a devoted family man and a businessman with a degree in Economics and a Masters in Finance. I have helped run large public companies, recently, created jobs by starting and running small businesses in Wyoming. I am a locally elected official, having held or still holding non-partisan positions in my home county. I am a community volunteer, serving on the boards of several community organizations. Most importantly, I have a track record of success in all aspects of my life by working with anyone, regardless of philosophy, to “do the right thing” and achieve common goals.

2. What would you do to work with other members of Congress to further the interests of Wyoming? (75 words)

W. David Herbert (L): I would endeavor to work with people from other states on our mutual interests. For example, unfunded mandates handed down by the Federal government should be eliminated. I believe this could be done in a tri-partisan manner. There are a number of people in all parties who would like to see this onerous situation caused by the Federal government to be changed.

Cynthia M. Lummis (R):  Wyoming’s economy is rooted in energy, travel and tourism and agriculture. Many of these are operated by small business people like me. I will bring the ethic of honest hard work and fiscal responsibility to Congress. I will be on the team with Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso to insure Wyoming’s interests are protected.

Gary Trauner (D): There is no magic bullet to being successful. It takes hard work, finding others with common interests and working with people across all parties and philosophies. I would bring the same focus and skill set I bring to my businesses in the private sector: independent thinking, strong values, a clear set of objectives, a well-thought out plan of action and the ability to bring people together to work towards specific goals.

3. In a 2000 report, the World Health Organization (UN) ranked the US as thirty-seventh out of its 190 member nations in the performance of its health systems. What needs to be done to improve health care performance in the US? (75 words)

W. David Herbert (L): My basic approach to reducing health care costs is to infuse as much free-market forces into the system as possible. This would involve eliminating as much as possible the influence of that great government-sanctioned monopoly called the American Medical Association. The AMA has done more than any organization to limit the number of doctors and to increase complexity of provision and pricing for all health care services.

Cynthia M. Lummis (R):  I support small businesses, families, and individuals being able to purchase health insurance nationwide, across state lines, which will foster increased competition for insurers and lower costs for Americans. I also support the development of tax-advantaged healthcare savings accounts and I am fully behind Senator Enzi’s 10-point plan for healthcare. To sum up, I believe in patient-directed healthcare not government-dictated healthcare.

Gary Trauner (D): We must recognize that there is no free lunch - we already have a national healthcare system because those who have insurance or who pay for care subsidize those who don’t or can’t. We need to ensure everyone has access to basic, quality healthcare, spreading cost and risk across the largest pool possible; insurers compete on an apples-to-apples basis; treatment is based on an outcomes-based approach; and we ensure true portability while removing pre-existing conditions.