Dear editor,
Well, I have to admit it's a strange feeling to find myself agreeing with Tom Lubnau — the very same fellow who was the driving force behind the wildly unconstitutional Senate File 104 (aka the "Cindy Hill" bill) and who later went on to sue the Wyoming GOP when he didn't get his way during another state superintendent selection process.
This guy is not shy about kicking up dust when things don't go his way in Cheyenne. Still, here I am, tipping my hat to him.
Lubnau is right: you can't just pull legislative seats out of thin air like a magician at the county fair.
Currently, Wyoming's Senate is not equally representative, with some counties having more senators than others.
While admirable, Weston County's push for new representatives is like trying to lasso the wind — bold but bound to not catch much.
That said, the folks in Weston County have a point. They deserve their senator, just like every other county.
Wyoming, with its strong tradition of rugged independence, is a state where each county should have its own seat at the table, at least in the Senate. It's about time we upheld this tradition and got that right.
Taking a page from the original U.S. Constitution—before the 17th Amendment—the House of Representatives was meant to represent the people, while the Senate was there to give each state equal footing.
That's a model we ought to follow here in Wyoming. Let's ensure the House represents each county based on its population with every county having at least one member of the House of Representatives.
At the same time, every county also gets its own senator—just one—and no more. That way, every voice gets heard, but the smaller population counties don't get lost in the shuffle.
Weston County's right to seek fair representation—they've been waiting a long time for it.
Let's just ensure we do it the Wyoming way, without bending or breaking the law, and with a good dose of that Wyoming common sense.
Fair and sensible representation for all should be Wyoming's goal.
Doug Gerard
Gillette, Wyoming
