JACKSON HOLE, WYO – State Senator Leland Christensen, of Alta, yesterday announced his bid to run for Wyoming Treasurer. The current Treasurer Mark Gordon announced last week his campaign for Governor. Christensen had declared interest in the open Secretary of State job after Ed Murray’s resignation. Christensen then learned he was ineligible to be appointed to the position as a sitting legislator.
“Wyoming’s dollars should work as hard as Wyoming people do, Christensen said. “My commitment to serve Wyoming, my country and help Wyoming people is 100 percent—that means offering real solutions and a conservative focus. I look forward to building on the great work of previous Wyoming Treasurers for the very best investment portfolio.”
Under the recently enacted budget, Wyoming still faces about a $1 billion structural deficit even though spending reductions have been made over several budget years. The current two-year spending gap is being paid for largely by Wyoming’s savings.
“This funding gap is eating through Wyoming’s savings. It’s unsustainable over the long term,” Christensen said. “Wyoming families find ways to pay their bills, even if that means taking on an extra shift or getting a second job to meet their obligations. The real solution is Wyoming should be seeking ways to put our money to work overtime, so taxpayers don’t have to see more of their hard-earned money scooped up by the taxman to make up for budget shortfalls.”
Christensen said his top priority would be to keep taxes low for hard-working Wyomingites, and to avoid instituting new ones. He added that maximizing Wyoming’s $20 billion investment fund is smart fiscal management.
“Folks are already facing the threat of new taxes. As Treasurer, I’ll help fight the threat of higher taxation. Increasing investment returns can be the difference between a Wyoming income tax and no Wyoming income tax. We must responsibly invest for Wyoming’s future so that Wyoming families and people young and those of all ages thrive, without seeing a statewide income tax in this great state. That is the Christensen for Treasurer foundational platform: ‘Increase investment returns, not new taxes.’”
Christensen also spoke briefly about his decision to seek the office of Treasurer instead of pursuing a campaign for Secretary of State.
“As a member of the Wyoming Republican Central Committee who voted on the appointment of a new Secretary of State, I am supportive of Governor Mead’s appointment of Ed Buchanan. We need stability, continuity and conservative leadership in statewide office on important state land and investment decisions. I am happy to support Secretary Buchanan as the incumbent candidate for Secretary of State.”
