Dear Editor:

Sandy Newsome narrowly won HD-24 with 1,810 votes to Nina Webber’s 1,727 Votes. A mere 83 point spread, or 2.3%. Consider the following with regard to that very narrow spread:

The Newsome campaign spent three times more than Webber:  approximately $40,000 compared to $13,000.   Newsome supporters dug deep to keep her in and hopefully benefit from big government and the public trough.

Six hundred twenty-five Democrats crossed over to vote in the Park County Republican primary.  This was primarily done at the behest of the Liz Cheney campaign.  Down ticket liberal Republicans like Newsome benefited from this crossover.  

Lets face it. Big bucks from special interests and Democrat crossovers narrowly saved Newsome’s bacon. 

The Aug. 16 primary shows that Cody-HD 24 is deeply divided as Newsome and Webber hold dramatically different views and records.  Sandy Newsome repeatedly said she represents all voters in HD-24.  Since HD-24 is so evenly split, how is she going to square the circle and represent the conservative half of her district that did not vote for her and hold antithetical views?  Will she triangulate and shift right like Bill Clinton did back in the 90s?  Or will she just continue with her liberal positions in a winner takes all attitude?  

Watching how she votes in committees and on the House floor will provide the answer. The conservative half that did not vote for her should hold her feet to the fire for the next two years.  Between now and then hopefully Cheyenne will ban crossover voting so we can have a true measure for Republican representation in our primary elections.

Jim Vetter

Cody