Joe Meyer (R): Casper native Joe Meyer received his BA and JD from UW. He has been married for 40 years to Sheridan native Mary Orr Meyer. They have two sons and two grandsons.  Joe was a former Fremont County prosecuting attorney, Legislative Service Office Deputy Director, the longest serving Wyoming Attorney General, a UW Officer, and currently is Secretary of State. Joe’s involvement includes: the Bush-Cheney ’01 Transition Team; Chairman, Cheyenne-Laramie County Board of Health; governing Board member, National Association of Secretaries of State; Chairman, Frontier Certified Development Company; and Chairman and senior Western State Attorney General, Conference of Western Attorneys General.

 

Ron Redo (D):  I was born in Hayward, California in 1945, and have a B.S. degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.  For the California State Fund, I did a few thousand payroll audits, and as a Certified Safety Professional helped reduce work injuries.  For 7 months I worked in Wyoming’s Workers’ Compensation Division.  In October 1989, I was asked to help a company get coverage.  I tried, then the owner went to Cheyenne to argue for his employees.  Soon after that I was fired.  A week later he went to the attorney general, and his employees got coverage.

 

 

Joe Meyer (R):  I see no need to do so at the present time.  Since those taxes are based on current market value of the product, if the market goes up so does Wyoming taxes.  If the market goes down, so does the gross amount of taxes paid.  If the state budget needs additional revenue, those taxes can be reviewed at that time.  Not needed at present to make budget.

 

Ron Redo (D):  I believe oil, natural gas and coal severance taxes can be raised a few percent.  A study at UW indicated this could be done without any harm to jobs.  I oppose raising the tax on trona, because it could cause the loss of jobs for Sweetwater County miners.  Also I believe Wyoming citizens should get a rebate every two years on their mineral wealth. 

 

 

Joe Meyer (R):  Wyoming converted to a uniform accounting system many years ago and has been favorably cited nationally for the depth of its accounting and reporting.  Wyoming funds and investments are audited annually.  Unless some specific issue is raised regarding Wyoming’s financial system, I do not see any need for change at this time.

 

Ron Redo (D): In reports on investments, I would note any uncommon details. For example, my opponent and the other Republicans on the State Loan and Investment Board gave one investment manager the right to keep all Wyoming money given to him for 10 years. That was disclosed, but should be prominently noted on all investment reports that include his firm. If the state treasurer does an audit of an investment manager, the results would be noted.