The Wyoming General Election is November 7, 2006. Get out and vote for Carson.
Why should you vote for Seth Carson?
- Carson grew up in Laramie. He knows the people, the town and the issues facing its residents. He encourages everyone to talk to him about the issues.
- He promotes economic development. The fact is Albany County is one of the poorest counties in the state because it has no natural resources like oil, gas or coal. Despite housing the University of Wyoming, Laramie remains a very poor city because half of its property owners do not pay taxes. Laramie needs help to encourage its economic development. It needs state support to help diversify its economy. Wyomingites often say that they do not want our state to turn into Colorado, but the fact is if you are not growing, you are dying. Laramie residents need better paying jobs and Laramie needs more jobs to encourage young people to stay here.
- Carson is a member of the Laramie City Council, and he has a working relationship with members of the Wyoming State Legislature and Wyoming State Government. He has statewide connections because of his involvement in activities like the Wyoming Association of Municipalities and working with the State Energy Program through the Wyoming Business Council. He has also served on numerous committees such as the Downtown Streetscapes Committee and Environmental Advisory Committee.
- Carson cares about environmental causes. As project manager, was instrumental in helping the new LCCC Albany County Campus secure state and federal funds for its new energy-efficient campus with its wind turbine, solar energy and geothermal energy. He also works to make other buildings and homes in and around Laramie more “green.” In addition, Carson is a supporter of curbside recycling programs in the City of Laramie and around the state.
Carson is a passionate environmentalist and believes the state needs to provide incentives for sustainable businesses, like the $35 million zero-emission “Future-Gen” power plant incentive the state recently offered. Wyoming needs to re-think the stereotype as an “oil and gas state” and actively redefine itself as an energy state with high-tech support business. The state should also assist curbside recycling efforts in communities. He supports businesses that have environmental accountability and will invest in our cities.
Carson believes a balance cannot be achieved without first executing a long-term state "energy plan." Preventing environmental effects requires contracted reclamation and clean-up solutions before drilling begins. Reinvesting energy surplus funds back into alternative energy is critical to a well-balanced energy portfolio. The state should financially encourage farmers to use agricultural areas for large-scale wind development. He strongly believes Albany County 's best economic potential and future tax base will be from wind power.
The issues that apply to District 45:
Carson will support the following issues when elected to the state house:
- Funding for large Wind Power energy development and infrastructure.
- Additional Funding for the City of Laramie
- Funding for New Clark Street Viaduct and 4 Lane Expansion of HWY 287 (Additional Funded WYDOT Projects)
- Funding for one time infrastructure improvement for West Laramie
- Funding for Adams Street Expansion
- Funding for West Laramie Corridor Beautification Projects (Wyoming Business Council Grant Support)
- Funding for Curbside Recycling
- Funding to assist with West Laramie Fire Station
- Support the Creation and Implementation of a State Wide Energy Development Plan
- Increased Funding for Wildlife and Habitat Protection
- In support of Tort Reform
- Funding for State Wide Health Care Program
- Support of the University of Wyoming
- Additional funding for the Wyoming Business Council grant programs
Q & A with Carson on the Issues:
- What should the legislature do to help diversify the economy? Clearly, the state needs to continue assisting the private sector financially with economic development funds, incentives, and provide communities with additional funding for business parks and beatification projects. Specifically, efforts should be directed at fostering innovative technology based businesses and alternative energy businesses.
- How would you address the state's workforce shortage? First, I don’t necessarily think that this a big important issue to solve when compared to others in our state. Additionally, this is an issue that the private sector needs to solve, specifically the oil and gas companies. While we are all paying more at the gas tank, they too can afford to pay high wages and recruit and retain a quality workforce.
- To address housing shortage? In my observation, the housing shortages are in boom towns. Thus, the oil and gas business should make the investment to house their employees in new and affordable housing developments. These companies are already are in the business of hiring large numbers and subcontractors and large construction firms, they have the power to solve the problem and should do so for the health of their businesses. In short, if we import people to come and build our communities, the state must demand that these developments are built with quality and will not fall apart when the boom time tapers off.
- To improve access and affordability of health care? At some, if the surplus continues, I think the state needs to look at assisting Wyoming based business and citizens with a state wide subsidized health care program. Now that there has been large funding increases in education, salaries, and infrastructure, it seems like the right time to have a “healthy” health care system in our state.
- What to do about the meth problem? First off, this is one issue that needs bipartisan cooperation and solutions and not election time political mudslinging. Simply put, more time and effort needs to be dedicated towards meth awareness. I also think that with all the money floating around during this boom time, positive financial avenues (investment opportunities ) should be presented by their employers so that their pay checks are not spent on meth. Employers should play a major role in solving this problem.
- What should legislature do with the expected budget surplus? In addition to the comments I made earlier about funding for economic development and a “healthy” health care system, I believe that the state should now begin to invest a great deal of its budget surplus back into energy projects. More specifically, “FutureGen” Power plants and other green and clean power plant projects, alternative energy R&D, UW School of Energy, net zero energy schools buildings, municipal energy projects, and large scale expansion of wind farms and power lines utility infrastructure. Additionally, large funding should be made available for residential and business renewable energy grant programs. The state should make it financially easy for residents and small business owners to make their own power, and become more energy efficient. A massive push towards alternative energy development and energy efficiency will further thrust Wyoming as an energy power house for many years to come. It will also carry us through down times. Remember, every energy dollar we save as a state, is another dollar we can profit from by selling that energy to another state.
- Should the sales tax exemption on groceries be made permanent? I currently support the sales food tax exemption, because the state has the money. Although, permanent tax cuts can cause a real problem to state and city services, if and when funding dries up.
Want to know more about Carson?
|
