Provenza running unopposed for House District 45

The progressive representative is seeking a second term. While she fought off both primary and general opponents in 2020, she will appear uncontested on the primary ballot in August.

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.

House District 45

Rep. Karlee Provenza (HD-45) rose to local prominence as a founding member of Albany County for Proper Policing – a group seeking greater transparency and accountability in law enforcement.

The group pushed for the termination of former Albany County Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Colling, who shot and killed an unarmed man in 2018. Colling was not fired, nor was he indicted on criminal charges. But ACoPP takes at least partial credit for ousting former Sheriff Dave O’Malley, who hired Colling and defended him in the wake of the shooting, and for ousting former County Attorney Peggy Trent, who convened the grand jury that failed to indict Colling. Trent denies that her departure was related to pressure from ACoPP.

Colling was reassigned from detective to detention duty under O’Malley’s successor and left the sheriff’s office in 2021. ACoPP continues to push for Colling’s decertification.

In 2020, Provenza defeated fellow Democrat Jean Garrison in a close primary and went onto defeat Roxie Hensley in a tight, sometimes heated, general election. In 2022, seeking a second term, she stands officially unopposed in the primary. And no one has yet met the threshold to challenge her in the general election as either a Republican or an Independent.

In her first term, Provenza has been outspoken about criminal justice reform, police accountability, expanding Medicaid, abortion access, and raising the minimum wage.

Provenza answered a series of questions from the Laramie Reporter about her background, opinions and hopes for her 2022 reelection bid.

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

Karlee Provenza: I am finishing my first term as the Representative for House District 45 – which I have done while completing my doctoral degree in experimental psychology. Complimentary to my work as a policymaker, I co-founded and continue to volunteer much of my time to police reform work as the Executive Director of Albany County for Proper Policing. I came to politics as an advocate for justice reform and hungry for change for working-class families like mine that struggled with economic insecurity.

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

KP: My top priorities have been and will continue to be criminal justice reform and healthcare access. Every day that we go without expanded Medicaid is another day that someone doesn’t go to the doctor or can’t afford their medication. Wyoming also incarcerates people at higher rates than other states while not addressing the root problems that cause crime – I’m looking towards those solutions to reduce the number of people who become justice involved in the first place.

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

KP: How the state makes money has important implications for services that people in Wyoming need. Because we do not diversify Wyoming’s revenue streams and instead rely on the mineral industry, we force the people of Wyoming to endure boom and bust cycles that reflect in everything from healthcare to snowplows. Hospitals are closing their doors and there aren’t enough mental health services to support the needs in our communities. Until more lawmakers are willing to put the needs of the people above anti-tax idealogues, Wyomingites will continue to suffer.  

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

KP: The Wyoming Legislature is more accessible by the people they represent than probably any other state in the Union. Unfortunately, how the legislature has interacted with the public has taken a turn for the worse – civility has decreased and the lack of appetite for addressing negative behavior of Wyoming legislators has changed the nature of politics in Wyoming.  

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

KP: State government should be doing everything in its power to address climate change. Most importantly, state and federal government should be looking for ways to dramatically reduce the amount of energy we use. While supporting green energy is a move in the right direction, we do not solve our climate crisis without severely changing how we use energy.

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

KP: Nearly every issue that impacts the people of Wyoming stems from the refusal to change our tax structure. We should start with tax reform that requires large corporations to pay their fair share, rather than leaning solely on the mineral industry. Given that Wyoming taxes so little, we can solve our revenue woes without requiring more from the average Wyomingite.

LR: Should Wyoming expand Medicaid?

KP: Yes. I co-sponsored the Medical Treatment Opportunity Act in 2021. This bill was the first to pass the Wyoming House before it died in the Senate. I remain optimistic that we will expand Medicaid benefits in several ways during the 2023 General Session.

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

KP: The state legislature should be supporting municipalities in developing affordable housing for those that struggle with economic insecurity. A good place to start would be providing funding for creating affordable housing through rental and housing assistance placed under the Department of Family Services. Additionally, our state statutes are not comprehensive enough to protect renters from malevolent landlords – we need to change that.

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

KP: The state of Wyoming should respect bodily autonomy and personal liberty by placing prohibitions on any entity or person trying to obstruct one’s individual right to choose abortion services.

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

KP: Yes. Wyomingites of any background should have the same rights and access to employment opportunities as anyone else. Businesses that infringe on individuals based on gender identity and sexual orientation should be subject to civil penalties.

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

KP: I remain dedicated to improving and passing legislation that I introduced during my first term. Primarily, the focus of bills that I have sponsored have been to reduce the number of people we put in our prisons and increase healthcare access for the people of Wyoming. The best way to accomplish both of those goals is to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis.

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

KP: I have a proven track record of fighting for the people of Albany County and holding local officials accountable to our community. I fought alongside many members of this community for justice for Robbie Ramirez before I ever envisioned myself in politics. Our efforts resulted in the appointment of a new sheriff, county attorney, and safer community interactions with Albany County Sheriff’s Officers. I also fought for Albany County’s health through the COVID-19 pandemic by effectively shutting down every piece of legislation that would have prohibited private businesses and government entities from having the right to require their employees be vaccinated.