The two Republican contenders seeking to replace outgoing state Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams made their cases to a roomful of local voters on Monday.

Cody audiologist Levi Asay and Cody attorney David Hill shared their backgrounds and views at a legislative debate hosted by the Park County Republican Party.

In his remarks, Asay said he’s a fifth-generation Wyomingite, which provides “a good perspective of where we’ve been and where we should be heading.”

“I think our Cowboy State values are really critical, and something that we should be defending, that we should be carrying forth to the rest of the nation,” Asay said, mentioning the importance of families, Christian faith and freedoms.

Asay told the audience he originally registered as an independent; according to the Park County Elections Office, Asay switched from unaffiliated to Republican last August.

“I don’t think I’ve ever voted Democrat,” Asay told the audience, adding that “what draws me to the Republican Party is that it feels like it’s the common sense party.”

Hill said he’s been registered as a Republican since he turned 18. However, “to me being a conservative is more important than being a Republican,” he said, “because … it’s the values that we hold, and it’s who we really are.”

Hill moved to Wyoming over a decade ago and said he and his wife have chosen to raise their family in Park County because it’s the best place to do so.

“I’m running because I want to preserve the Wyoming way of life that I’ve come to know, and what’s important to me and my family,” Hill said.

He ticked off good schools, taking care of each other, limited government and local control as among his priorities.

Hand counting?

As an example of his views on local control, Hill said he wants county commissioners and clerks “heavily involved” in how a county’s elections operate —  including whether the results are counted by hand or machine. 

Lawmakers recently passed legislation requiring 5% of a county’s machine-counted election results to be audited with a hand count and Hill said that process should be “very enlightening.”

“It’ll let us know if hand-counting versus the tabulators are effective, how effective they are, and what processes and improvements we can make,” he said.

If the audit shows changes are needed, “I’m completely behind taking those appropriate steps,” Hill said.

As for Asay, he said he is “hesitant to completely get rid of machine counting.”

“I think for efficiency it makes sense. I think in a lot of ways, it can eliminate human error,” he said.

Asay added that he likes the idea of hand audits, though “I don’t know that it makes sense to hand count every ballot, because you could introduce corruption that way, too.”

“So, I think having both [methods] is a bit of a cross check for each other to be sure that all of our votes are counted,” he said.

Business Council views

The candidates were also asked about the Wyoming Business Council, which conservative lawmakers in the House attempted to defund during last winter’s Budget Session.

Asay, who owns Big Horn Basin Hearing, said he hadn’t been very aware of the council or what services they offered “and I think that is definitely a strike against them.”

However, “I don’t want to throw them under the bus,” he added, “because I think they’re certainly doing some good things.”

The state can improve its economic opportunities, he said, by being business friendly.

“I love that we just stole the PRCA Hall of Fame from Colorado,” Asay said, referring to a Legislature-approved plan to help move the rodeo organization to Cheyenne with $15 million of state funding. “If we can do things like that, where we can incentivize business to come in, I think those are great opportunities for us to do that.”

For his part, Hill said the Wyoming Business Council does serve a purpose and that the state needs an economic development arm. However, he said the council should focus on funding infrastructure improvements instead of backing specific companies.

“If we can focus on infrastructure in our communities, that can entice businesses across the board to come to Park County to come to Wyoming, and that way we’re not worrying about picking winners and losers,” Hill said.

He also said it was wrong for the council to give Park County grant applications a lower priority due to the county not having a general purpose 1% sales tax in place.

“We’re being punished because we’re fiscally conservative,” Hill said. “I don’t agree with that.”

Budget priorities

Hill said he would want to target waste within the state budget, specifically criticizing the way that past funding for the Wyoming State Hospital went towards upgrading administrative offices instead of adding beds for mentally ill patients.

Asay said he would want to trim fat and waste, mentioning that it’s difficult to subtract from really critical things like education and healthcare. He said he’d like to see the state reinvest in infrastructure, like roads and bridges, along with food security.

“Being involved with Mannahouse, I’ve been shocked at the food insecurity, even in this community,” Asay said, “so I think it’s important for us to make sure that some of those programs are funded …”

He also wants the state to continue to develop trade schools and offer more four-year degrees at community colleges to help keep young people here.

Legislative priorities

If elected, Hill said he would focus his proposed bills on local needs. He specifically suggested legislation putting data centers under the provisions of the Wyoming Industrial Siting Act, defending the freedom of speech relating to the display of political yard signs, and tweaks to the Wyoming Food Freedom Act; he alluded to a recent situation in which the Wyoming Department of Agriculture barred Cody’s Hippy Cow Creamery from serving lattes with raw milk.

“What we really need to do is we need to push to clarify the Food Freedom Act to make sure that we don’t have bureaucrats … who are misinterpreting the law to trample on rights,” Hill said.

As for Asay, he mentioned a desire to establish a Deaf and Blind Commission in the state.

“I think it’d be a great way for us to offer more services to a very vulnerable and then a very underserved part of our population,” he said.

He also expressed interest in addressing data centers, including preparing for quantum computing. Asay called data centers “a great opportunity,” but said the state must look at how much water and power they’re using.

Asay said the state is also primed to host nuclear power facilities.

“I think it’s something personally I would support,” he said, “but again … the communities involved ultimately should be making those decisions.”

Three-way race

It initially appeared to be a three-way primary, as Park County Republican Party Chairman Vince Vanata filed to run for the position. However, Vanata withdrew from the race on June 1, citing personal reasons. Vanata had experienced some medical issues in early May, but “all was good,” he said at a party meeting last week.

“Contrary to rumors of my early demise, I am still alive and here,” he told the body, drawing cheers and applause. 

Vanata said he appreciated those who had reached out.

House District 50 represents the eastern side of Cody, along with Clark, Ralston and the Heart Mountain area.

Whichever candidate wins the Republican primary on Aug. 18 will face off with Libertarian candidate Carrie Satterwhite of Ralston in November’s general election. The winner will replace Williams, who’s running for secretary of state.