Politics USA Wyoming

House District 33 Candidates Present Contrasting Views at Riverton Forum

House District 33 Candidates Present Contrasting Views at Riverton Forum
County 10 via YouTube
  • PublishedOctober 15, 2024

The candidates vying to represent Wyoming House District 33, incumbent Republican Sarah Penn and Democratic challenger Ivan Posey, expressed differing opinions on several key issues during a recent forum in Riverton, County 10 reports.

While both agreed that rising property taxes are among the most pressing concerns for the district, their proposed solutions diverged sharply.

Republican Sarah Penn emphasized the need to control government spending and apply any surplus to reduce property taxes.

“It’s not a difficult scenario,” she said.

Penn noted the importance of focusing government efforts on core responsibilities.

On the other hand, Democratic candidate Ivan Posey called for a needs-based approach to property tax reductions, with a residency clause to prevent cuts from undermining local services like education and road maintenance.

Regarding healthcare, both candidates agreed on the need for better access to medical care but suggested different paths forward. Penn advocated for tort reform to attract more providers to the state and proposed “conscience protection” legislation for healthcare workers, ensuring they aren’t forced to participate in procedures they morally oppose. Posey, while also identifying as pro-life, stressed that reproductive health decisions should remain with women, and not the government.

On mental health, Penn focused on prevention, pointing to research linking diet to mental well-being, and opposed expanding government involvement in mental health services. Posey, however, supported local solutions to mental health and substance abuse issues, including job training and housing for recovering patients.

Joe Yans

Joe Yans is a 25-year-old journalist and interviewer based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. As a local news correspondent and an opinion section interviewer for Wyoming Star, Joe has covered a wide range of critical topics, including the Israel-Palestine war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the 2024 U.S. presidential election, and the 2025 LA wildfires. Beyond reporting, Joe has conducted in-depth interviews with prominent scholars from top US and international universities, bringing expert perspectives to complex global and domestic issues.