JACKSON, Wyo. — The final voter forum of the season was held at the Teton County Library on Wednesday night, featuring appearances by both candidates vying to represent District 23 in the Wyoming House of Representatives.
Incumbent candidate Liz Storer, a Democrat, is facing Republican candidate Shannon Brennan. House District 23 covers a large swath of Teton County, including: Skyline/Hi-Country/Gros Ventre Butte, North Jackson, Mid Jackson – Hillside, Rafter J, Southeast of Jackson/East Hoback, Indian Trails, Kelly/Moose/Airport, Moran, Moose/Wilson Road, Teton Village/Moose/Wilson Road and Alta.
Because Brennan had declined to participate until the day of the event, she was given the opportunity to deliver a brief statement instead of joining Storer for the media panel Q&A. Brennan shared that her decision stemmed from her disapproval of Storer’s handling of financial transparency, including her role in the creation of the political action committee Keep Jackson Whole.
In her remarks, Brennan said, “Why would I suspect the same subterranean money shifting isn’t being used against my campaign? I had chosen earlier not to debate Liz because her ethics fall far short of what I hold myself to and that which I expect from others. To debate her would be to lend credibility to her and her campaign, something I have no intention of doing.”
Another factor in her last-minute decision to participate in the forum, Brennan said, had to do with a car accident she endured earlier this week.
“I almost lost my life two days ago,” Brennan said. “Here’s part of my car. … What I ask of our leaders is empathy. What I ask of our leaders is a statement to say, ‘Oh my goodness, we lost people on Teton Pass,’ maybe even call up the people who lived beyond and lost their relatives. But I didn’t hear anything of that from the leaders. So I’m going to ask you today: Liz, are you empathetic with what happened to me two days ago?”
Following Brennan’s remarks, Storer took the stage to answer questions posed by reporters. She shared that she is opposed to proposed property tax exemption Proposition 1, saying the tax breaks would ultimately end up going to people who don’t need them. Storer also explained how the dynamics in the state legislature might evolve with fewer Freedom Caucus lawmakers in office.
“I know what we value here,” Storer said in her opening statement. “Public lands and wildlife, housing and healthcare for our families, strong public schools, and leaders who solve problems. In Cheyenne, for me, solving problems means working with Republicans while representing Teton County’s values.”
When asked to respond to Brennan’s assertion that Storer’s voting record reflected 13% alignment with the rest of the state legislature, Storer argued that it wasn’t a credible criticism.
“I don’t know where that number came from,” Storer said. “It’s hard to actually know what she means by that. Perhaps she got that off of Honor Wyoming, which, frankly, rates all of the legislators — all the ones that I work with were all a bunch of clowns, apparently. So I don’t really give that much credence. I can tell you that in my first two years, I voted in the majority about 95% of the time, and in the last two years when the Freedom Caucus had the majority, I voted in the minority for probably 95% of the time. But I was with a lot of people in that, so I don’t know where that 13% came from.”
See the forum unfold in the video below:
These candidate forums are presented by the League of Women Voters of Wyoming, Teton County Library, the Jackson Hole News&Guide, KHOL Radio and Buckrail. KHOL’s Evan Robinson-Johnson moderated the conversation, and questions were posed by Buckrail’s Monica Stout, KHOL’s Sophia Boyd-Fliegel, and Jasmine Hall with the News&Guide. Early voting is now open and Election Day is Nov. 3.
