06/01/2026
Important political message to my Wyoming friends:
About 2 ½ years ago in January of 2024, I was considering running for State House Representative for House District 59 but decided not to run as JR Riggins wanted to run as a conservative and I didn’t want to split the vote against a “moderate” republican predecessor that spent tax money like a democrat.
JR had promised a campaign of “big government stinks” and promised to “shrink the government’s role in our everyday life”. With those promises and a promise to me that there would be “sensible property tax reform”, I supported JR Riggins in 2024.
Since his election and service in office, JR Riggins did not keep his promise and did not pan out as a true conservative as he did the following:
Riggins voted yes on HB0001-2079 to restore $50 million dollar funding to the Wyoming Business Council (WBC) (which does not solely focus on public infrastructure projects but also corporate welfare for private businesses for the politically connected). Another egregious issue is that WBC Director makes a salary off taxpayer dollars of $288,000/year (Higher that US Secretary of Defense with a salary of $246,000/year). This same Director said to the appropriations committee that Capitalism doesn’t work and requires government intervention. That is socialism folks. Riggins should have worked with conservatives in forcing extensive and responsible reform.
Riggins voted yes on HB0001-3099 to give government employees raises totaling $11 million dollars while private businesses in Wyoming are struggling. Government raises should not be a priority when the private sector is mostly suffering while also continuing to place tax burdens on residential property taxes in increases.
Riggins was the deciding vote against HB124 and SF110 that would have reformed residential property tax assessment to prior assessed value of property that would have lowered residential property taxes by half the burden amount. If the State doesn’t discern that there is a problem on the amount of awarding $100 million to BTXT of Gillette and another $50 million to WBC, while delaying needed relief to residential property owners, there is a real problem with the mindset in the legislature of Wyoming regardless of “what spending bucket it comes from”.
I have had many personal conversations with Riggins, including an in-person meeting at my house last December. I don’t have anything personal against Riggins as he is approachable and courteous. Unfortunately, his political policies were opposite of what he promised. You can’t campaign on “big government stinks”, “shrink the government’s role in our everyday life” and provide “sensible property tax reform” when you vote on bills that create the opposite impact on Wyoming citizens.
The vote for restoring $50 million dollars to a dysfunctional WBC that is an inappropriate use of tax dollars while not providing appropriate residential property tax relief of 50% reduction was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” so to speak for my position.
Consequently, I am supporting Neil Jeske for House District 59 State House Representative instead as I have talked to him personally and found that he has the following positives that Riggins does not have:
Neil is a business owner and understands the value of hard earned dollars that go to state revenue and should be spent wisely that is appropriate for government appropriate role.
Neil agrees with me that state tax subsidies supporting private businesses or an organization like the Wyoming Business Council are not an appropriate use of state tax dollars. The government/city/county infrastructure projects would be better served on previous State Boards for appropriations where there is better oversight on tax dollars spent wisely.
Neil has the same mindset that I do that government budgets should be responsible in limiting spending on roles appropriate that government should cover.
Neil believes similar to my thinking that limiting state government spending to appropriate funded roles would enable the State to provide needed property tax relief for residential property owners.
My hope is that you will join me in supporting Neil Jeske and go to his page at Neil 4 Wyo.
If you have a different opinion, please refrain from making comments as such as I will remove any comments that take away from my post on this issue. If you want to talk to me about this post, feel free to text or PM me.
Thank you for your attention and most importantly, vote in the Republican Primary and support Neil Jeske for House District 59 Representative if you believe state government spending should be more responsible.
