House 46 race draws three candidates

Incumbent Republican Ocean Andrew faces a primary challenge from R.J. Lennox. The winner of the Republican primary will likely face UW researcher Merav Ben-David in the general.

Welcome to the Laramie Reporter’s 2022 Elections newsletter. This newsletter seeks to introduce Albany County and Laramie residents to the candidates who have filed to run and to explore the issues surrounding what promises to be an interesting, impactful local election.

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House District 46 is largely rural — and made even more rural during this year’s redistricting. Unlike other Albany County districts, it’s generally considered a safe seat for Republicans.

House 46

House 46 (border with city districts)

In 2020, Albany County elected Ocean Andrew to represent HD-46. Andrew was 26 at the time and affiliated with the right-wing group Young Americans for Liberty. He spoke during a militia-recruiting event in 2020 and sponsored the Grace Smith Medical Freedom Act during Wyoming’s special session the next year. (Like most bills that session, it did not pass.)

Andrew is now running for reelection against a pair of challengers, both within and outside of his party. In the primary, he will face R.J. Lennox.

Lennox grew up in Wyoming, but worked as a teacher for years in California. Returning to his home state, he now works at his family’s business, the Lennox Auto Body Shop.

Whoever wins the Republican primary is set to face Merav Ben-David in the general election. Ben-David is a researcher from the University of Wyoming, best known for her work on the ways climate change is altering life for Arctic polar bears. She ran in 2020 for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Cynthia Lummis. Ben-David lost handily to Lummis in the general election.

Ben-David and Lennox answered a series of questions from the Laramie Reporter about their backgrounds, opinions and hopes for the 2022 reelection. Andrew agreed to fill out the same questionnaire, but missed the deadline to provide his answers.

Laramie Reporter: What should voters know about your background, profession and interest in politics?

Merav Ben-David: After my military service in the Israeli Air Force (which included the Lebanon war), I decided to study biology and zoology. I relocated to the US and received a Ph.D. in wildlife management in Alaska, where I learned to ski, skijor, fly fish, and hunt, which I still do.  In 2000, I accepted a professorship at the University of Wyoming, and have called Laramie home ever since. I became a U.S. citizen in a moving ceremony at the federal courthouse in Cheyenne in 2009, and have been a full professor since 2010. I have studied the effects of invasive species, logging, pollution, and climate change on animals ranging from polar bears and mountain lions to river otters and chipmunks for over 30 years. Most of my career has been devoted to research and training scientists and conservationists, and lending my voice to climate advocacy efforts in recent years. But I realized that I can and should do more to help resolve Wyoming’s pressing problems: stagnant economy, loss of talented young people, and lack of investment in the basic needs of Wyomingites.

R.J. Lennox: I grew up in Cheyenne and graduated from Cheyenne Central High School, then graduated with a bachelor’s of education from the University of Wyoming in 1995. I worked in education for 23 years in California — elementary, middle school and high school. Eight of those years were in an administrative capacity. I returned to Wyoming in 2018 to help run the family business: Lennox Auto Body. A business my father started in 1993. While attending Laramie County Community College, I had the opportunity to work for the Wyoming State Legislature. As a young adult, I was immediately in awe of the process. Having a front row seat to the inner workings of a citizen legislature planted a seed. I knew one day I would run for office.

Reporter: If elected, what would be your priorities in office?

Ben-David: Introduce, sponsor, and support bills that will improve the lives of Wyomingites: Ensure access to high-quality health care, including prenatal and maternity care; Maintain and improve our education system from early childhood care, K-12, community colleges, and the University of Wyoming; Ensure the rights and privacy of all Wyomingites — regardless of sex, gender, race — are protected; Create new economic opportunities for current Wyomingites and attract a young and skilled workforce; Protect Wyoming’s natural heritage, fish, and wildlife, and protect our public lands.

Lennox: My priorities are to bring common sense back to the process and focus on law making over politics. Wyoming needs a competitive, modern energy industry, an education system at the top of its game, and a healthy and prosperous citizenry.

Reporter: What are the biggest issues facing the Wyoming Legislature today?

Ben-David: The Wyoming Legislature is currently dominated by officials who have little understanding of the real issues we face. They follow national talking points and try to force an outside agenda on us (e.g., border security, critical race theory, etc). The bills introduced by these members detract from discussion about our true problems (e.g., 65% of Wyoming teachers wish they could quit). In order to address the issues we face, we need to elect leaders that recognize the issues and are committed to providing workable solutions.

Lennox: The lawmaking process is being hampered by “social media” politics. Niche issues that are popular on cable news and other media platforms are infiltrating committees and diverting attention from more substantial issues that are unique to Wyoming. Too many lawmakers are virtue signaling when they should be focused on Wyoming’s energy, agriculture and business industries.

Reporter: What does the Legislature do well? What should it improve upon?

Ben-David: After watching many hearings in the legislature over the past two years, I know there are many legislators who truly care about the status of the state and our residents regardless of party affiliation. We need to amplify their voices and add diversity to the body that will represent all Wyomingites, not just outside interest groups.

Lennox: What makes our Wyoming Legislature unique is that it continues to run as a citizen legislature. The varied voices from entrepreneurs, industry and professionals from law, education, agriculture, etc. work together to provide real solutions to challenges that face our state. As I mentioned, lawmakers need to keep focused on matters of the state.

Reporter: What role should the state government play in addressing climate change?

Ben-David: All levels of government (from county, city, state and federal) should do everything in their power to resolve the climate crisis. It is an existential threat to every person on Earth today. Building infrastructure to support the transition to renewable energy can be done at any and all levels of government. In Wyoming this will require extra effort to create an alternative economy to the one largely dependent on fossil fuels.

Lennox: Wyoming, along with many western and energy producing states, currently adheres to regulatory standards outlined in the BLM Gold Book. This comprehensive management plan provides rules and regulations during the exploration, production and reclamation phases of mineral extraction. Every effort is made to protect the environment. Additionally, Wyoming ranchers utilized rotational grazing and other land management processes to maintain grasslands and avoid soil erosion and compaction. These are clear examples of “stewardship” of our environment. These industries — along with hunters, outdoorsmen and recreationists — demonstrate what it means to protect the environment. The West understands a healthy environment equals productive industries. This is something federal law makers out of the Bronx will never understand. The Wyoming State Legislature should continue to work with those aforementioned industries to protect both the private and public land for future generations.

Reporter: Does Wyoming need to consider a state income tax or otherwise diversify its revenue?

Ben-David: Wyoming needs to consider EVERY action that would diversify our revenue sources, including income, wealth, corporate and other types of taxes. Importantly we need to protect low earners and ask people to pay their fair share in fueling our economy. We gain little from being a tax shelter for outsiders who use our system.

Lennox: Wyoming continually ranks No. 1 on the State Business Tax Climate Index, yet many send a clear message that public service costs exceed the revenues new business would bring in. Therefore, new business and industries need not apply. Whether this can be alleviated through the lawmaking process and/or policies within select municipalities, a paradigm shift is needed to find ways to attract new business to our state. I would never consider a state income or corporate tax and the state certainly needs to continue its support of our energy, agriculture and tourism industries, but to ignore new economic opportunities would be foolish. Wyoming’s business climate must be welcoming and in a position to pivot to meet future needs and/or opportunities.

Reporter: Should Wyoming expand Medicaid?

Ben-David: Absolutely yes! Last year, nearly 54,000 Wyomingites (nearly 10% of the state population) were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children Health Insurance Program. An additional 19,000, however, would have been eligible. While some are able to obtain health insurance through the federal exchanges of the Affordable Care Act, there are 6,000 Wyofolk left without access to health insurance at all. Leaving people uninsured during this pandemic, where complications leave people with lasting heart and kidney damage, is unimaginable. Further, by refusing to expand Medicaid, Wyoming is expected to lose $1.3 billion over the next decade — money that could cover uncompensated medical costs for the state and support our rural hospitals during this crisis. Last but not least, Medicaid expansion in other states has substantially reduced maternal and fetus mortality, while here in Wyoming we are losing OB/Gyn departments in many hospitals.

Lennox: The recent end of maternity services in Rawlins and Kemmerer are troubling and may need legislative attention. I support Medicaid expansion. The numbers support this. Both in the number of Wyomingites in favor of expansion, but in the additional revenue it would bring in. More importantly, if we can bring services to roughly 25,000 uncovered Wyoming citizens, that’s a good thing.

Reporter: What role should the state government play in addressing the housing shortage seen in Laramie and other communities?

Ben-David: The state can assist local governments (county and city) with grants to support building affordable housing. The funding for such programs can be obtained from allocating some of the wealth tax proposed above.

Lennox: Along with creating a welcoming business climate, the legislature needs to solve the discrepancy in the revenue generated from new businesses and industries and the impact on local and state services. This includes being able to create adequate housing that the community can sustain.

Reporter: If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, how should Wyoming’s state law change, if at all?

Ben-David: I’m a Wyomingite, and as such, I believe in individual liberty and personal choice. Because I believe in individual freedom, I recognize every person’s right to choose if and when they want to have children. That includes their right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. That difficult decision should be made by the pregnant person, their family and their physician, NOT the government. Not Wyoming’s government and not the federal one.

Lennox: Recent developments have brought Roe v. Wade to the forefront and will undoubtedly be a topic of many campaigns. I must say my position will most likely disappoint both sides of this issue. It is my understanding that Wyoming has legislation that will automatically kick in (trigger law) if Roe is overturned. I will not sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to reverse this. However, I will not support additional restrictions that may come up in future sessions. This includes but is not limited to travel bans, Plan B, etc. Regardless of possible supreme court decisions, access to family planning and reproductive health to low income Wyomingites is essential. We tend to forget that these clinics offer other services such as annual exams, screenings and other vital services.

Reporter: Should Wyoming pass a non-discrimination statute, prohibiting employers from firing employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity?

Ben-David: Absolutely! The Wyoming Constitution recognizes the rights of all people. Equality is our motto and should be applied to every Wyomingite regardless of sex, gender, race or orientation. We can not apply different rules for different people if we strive to keep our Wyoming values.

Lennox: I’m not sure where it came from, but I grew up with the notion of “live and let live.” It was kind of a Wyoming thing that your neighbor’s politics, religion or opinions had nothing to do with you. Despite differences you’d still get pulled out of a ditch, help with an errant herd or receive help if someone took ill and couldn’t tend to livestock, chores … really anything. Harriet Liz Byrd once spoke about black settlers finding mutual respect because making it through a Wyoming winter took a great deal of courage and grit no matter the race, ethnicity or gender. Wyoming’s diversity isn’t necessarily always on display, but it’s there. It exists. We don’t always see it because of the “live and let live” mentality. I would support the addition of orientation and identity in our non-discrimination policy. Because it’s not someone gay in the ditch; it is your neighbor.

Reporter: If elected, what is one bill you would like to write, sponsor or introduce?

Ben-David: The first bill I will introduce will be designed to use federal funds and revenues from the fossil fuel industry to create an granting program for Wyoming residents to install roof-top solar on their property. Between this program, the tax refund, and the savings from generating their own electricity, Wyoming residents will enjoy higher income. The bill will also address the needs of utility companies to modify the grid for dispersed energy production.

Lennox: Being a limited government Republican, I’m not too eager to add to state statutes. I would be very inclined to sign onto legislation that streamlines regulations and eliminates obsolete laws and policies. I see myself as a check to those who wish to create law for creation’s sake.

Reporter: Finally, why should the residents of Albany County vote for you?

Ben-David: I will do everything in my power to make Wyoming an economically viable state where all people have access to high-quality healthcare, excellent education, and be able to enjoy our outdoors.

Lennox: As Albany County residents ponder their vote, I would like them to consider that the House 46 representative will most likely sit on the education committee. While I support a parent’s right to school choice, the reality is that most Wyoming students will remain in the public education system. These public schools are often the nucleus of our small rural communities. There is much to fix in our schools. I have the experience to know what is possible and what is just political rhetoric. I have seen wasteful spending and know what monies will actually make it down to the classroom and what will evaporate in the administrative ether. Voters in House 46 must hear me when I tell you that the dialogue between us will not end on November 8. I am committed to you and you alone. When I cast a vote, I will not be worried about my political ratings. My only hope is that gas prices come down because 46 is a big’ole district. But one town … long streets, yes?