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.
