Art Washut

Art Washut was born in Casper, Wyoming.[1] He earned an associate degree from Casper College in 1978, a bachelor’s degree from Chadron State College in 1978, and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Wyoming in 1994. His professional experience includes working as a police officer, police administrator, and college instructor. His organizational affiliations include the St. Anthony Manor board and the Wyoming Medical Center Foundation Heroes' Fund Committee.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Casper native and a graduate of Kelly Walsh High School and Casper College. I had a very successful career with the Casper police department for twenty years and rose through the ranks, retiring as the interim-chief of police. While at CPD I earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Wyoming. Since retiring from CPD I have been teaching criminal justice, political science and addictionology classes at Casper College and have won a number of prestigious awards for my teaching. My wife Megan and I have raised six children who are all now adults. I am a practicing Roman Catholic and serve on the Board of Directors at St. Anthony Manor. I also serve on the Board of Casper Midget Football. My hobbies include gardening, shooting, enjoying the great outdoors, with some fishing and hunting occasionally mixed in.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Effective - I have sponsored 5 bills all five are now law. In 2022 only 43% of the bills passed. Being 5 for 5 demonstrates my effectivenessRespected - After only 1 term, I was selected to be the vice chairman of the prestigious House Judiciary Committee.Conservative - My voting record and endorsements reflect this.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public Safety - I have spent almost all of my life in and around criminal justice. Public safety is a core function of government. The people of Wyoming deserve to have public safety professionals who are carefully vetted, well trained and properly equipped.

Property taxes - Retired folks are being taxed out of their homes due to sky-rocketing property assessments.

Pro-life - I have always run as a pro-life candidate and consistently voted as such.

Second Amendment - When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

Keeping Wyoming Special - the last thing we want is for our state to become more like Colorado!

Outdoor recreation - we have a beautiful state, our state parks and public lands are a real treasure.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I work very well in teams and being a legislator is a team sport. I am articulate and effective speaking to groups. I am a life-long learner and an avid reader. I am inquisitive and curious by nature, I love to learn new things. I have spent my life serving others in my family, faith community and/or in my professional roles. I truly enjoy helping students navigate their path through college. I am a people person and problem solver. In policing I was focused on resolving conflict and those skills carry over to the legislature.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I am a limited government guy, but I recognize that unlike the national government where the vested authority is very restricted, states have broad authority. I believe we must always look at the core functions of government and make certain that those functions, especially the constitutionally identified functions are properly funded, staffed and empowered to act in robust ways for the people of Wyoming. To accomplish this is not always easy in our boom-and-bust economy. When money gets tight there will always be those who propose new taxes like an income tax or increasing an existing tax such as the gasoline tax. I tend to be leery of such proposals. I also think that even Constitutionally mandated functions need to be frugal with the taxpayer's money. With that said, a good legislator has the core responsibility to LEARN. Read the bills, study them, listen to the testimony, ask good questions. This is demanding stuff! When we have hundreds of bills and short sessions, triage is always necessary. I do my very best to constantly learn. New legislators often arrive with one or two big topics that they know about and want the legislature to address. They are quickly slapped in the face with the volume of other topics that they know little about but which people in the state need addressed. A good legislator has passions, but always puts the needs of the people at the top of the list.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want Wyoming to still be a great place when I leave office. I don't want Wyoming to be like Colorado and so many other states that have changed so dramatically from what they once were. Not all growth is progress and not all "progress" is desirable.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was delivering newspapers early each morning. I did that for several years starting when I was around 11 years old. Winter and summer in all sorts of weather I was out there. My route was several blocks from my house so I would load up my bags and walk through the dark. Back then the job also required the carriers to go door to door and collect payment for the papers after the papers had already been delivered. I met some amazing people doing collections. Many gave me tips because I put their paper inside the screen door for their convenience. Some gave me food like fresh baked rolls because I happened by as they were preparing dinner. Others would refuse to answer the door when they saw me, and some moved away without ever paying their bill. I learned a great deal about responsibility, customer service, fulfilling my obligations and injustice by being a paperboy. I also learned about fear, imagine being twelve years old and walking around at night with a bag full of cash. Or rounding a corner and facing down a snarling dog. Or occasionally, stepping off a porch and finding a skunk at the bottom. Yes indeed, Learned some great lessons on Route 312!

What is your favorite book? Why?

I have many favorites some very old and some modern. Not long ago I finished Alice and Gerald by my friend Ron Franscell. I found the book fascinating because I knew so many of law enforcement professionals who worked that case both at the beginning and years later at the end. It was a great story of how a group of investigators knew what needed to be done but were stymied because of budget constraints. Not being able to solve a murder because there is insufficient money in the budget - what a crock! Finally, a strong leader emerges who finds a way to secure the resources and move the investigation forward. A great story!

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

My wife and I made the decision years ago that we wanted her to be a stay-at-home mom. Being a single income family living on a policeman's wages was a real struggle, but we survived. I learned to differentiate between wants and needs and to enjoy the simple things in life because I could not afford grand vacations and lots of toys in my garage and driveway. I learned to love Wyoming from municipal parks where walks and picnics constituted our date nights to our open spaces dotted with state and national parks. These were the affordable places to which that my family escaped. I like to say that one of the greatest joys in life is watching a kid catch a fish!

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

There is a steep learning curve in the Wyoming Legislature. A new legislator will find it overwhelming at times. The finances of the state and budget document itself can be very intimidating. It will take more than one session and more than one budget session to begin to feel comfortable. In addition, getting bills passed always requires a majority on both ends of the building. The key to success is all about relationships. New representatives spend weeks trying to get to know and be known by their fellow House members. They rarely know very many Senators. When there are representatives and senators who know and respect you, it does make getting things done significantly easier (but never easy).

As a freshman back in 2019, I found my prior experience with the municipal budget did provide me a bit of an advantage over legislators who had not worked in government. I also believe that having worked in government I had an appreciation for public employees that not all legislators shared. In Wyoming over 24% of the workforce is employed at some level of government and that totals over 66,000 people! Many of the folks living in my district are active or former government employees and I do my best to represent them along with all the others in House District 36.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

Judiciary was a perfect fit for me. Having spent my life in and around the criminal justice system, I found many of the topics very familiar. I felt like I could make an important contribution right away. The Judiciary Committee is often tasked with bills that are controversial or which require a great deal of detailed work. I love both! The controversial bills are fascinating because the witnesses are so passionate and the choices so stark. Hearing people from around the state tell us their personal stories is very enlightening and it often tugs at my heart as I consider what they have been through. I always smile when someone asks me my position on a particular bill because frequently there is more to the question than you might think. The devil is always in the details and that is where the Judiciary Committee lives and works. We consider not only what the bill is intended to accomplish, but also what the unintended consequences might be. We also look at how the proposed language fits with existing statutes. Sometimes the bills will repeal parts of existing statute, so it is important to examine what is being removed as well as what is being added.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

In 2021 a young woman called me and asked me if I would meet with her to discuss her idea for a bill. She told me about her young son, Sawyer, who has Down Syndrome and that statistically speaking, it is fairly likely that he will need an organ transplant at some point. Then she told me that people with disabilities, are frequently discriminated against when they need a transplant. Key decision makers will often prefer that the organ go to a "normal" person who is also in need. While this is illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act, I was told that the Act does not provide timely remedies. She told me that several states had passed statutes to prohibit such discrimination. I was hooked. She provided me with some information from the National Down Syndrome Association and others. I sent that information to the Legislative Service Office and requested a bill draft. I met with this woman again and we examined the draft and I asked if it met her expectations. She was thrilled. Then the work began. At the legislature I asked this woman to testify and of course she brought her family including Sawyer. Her testimony was compelling, and I was very impressed by her poise and the depth of her love for little Sawyer. She also introduced me to other folks who wanted to testify, and I made that possible. At the end of the committee meeting the bill passed. It also sailed through the House with a dissenting vote. This wonderful mother joined me again when the bill went before the Senate committee. She repeated her story, a few tears were shed, and the bill again passed. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and the family and their friends all came to Cheyenne to watch the Governor sign the bill into law. Working with this woman and getting to spend time with young Sawyer was without a doubt, my best experience as a legislator. When the House stood and applauded this family in the gallery after the bill signing, I was thankful we had met.

Art Washut did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

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What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

The budget, substance abuse and preserving the culture and beauty of our state. The legislative process is not dependent on any one individual solving these complex issues. Rather it is a joint endeavor where ideas can surface, be debated, discarded, accepted or modified. Years ago Governor Hathaway and Republican legislators showed great vision and put the Permanent Wyoming Mineral Trust Fund before the voters. We must look ahead and identify the things we can do today that will pay huge dividends down the road. Adding new taxes is generally a bad idea, but if renewable energy is to off-set declines in coal, Wyoming will need more revenues from renewables.

Substance abuse is a problem that causes great expense. Individuals and families, the criminal justice system, the health care system and the education system bear the brunt of substance abuse. We spend significant sums trying to cope with the problems. Above all each of us as citizens will have to stand together to change the culture that tolerates underage drinking, encourages binge drinking, and accepts illegal drug use. Experiments in other states will in time provide us with information we need to set sound policy with regards to marijuana. At this time however, there really is no debate, Wyoming should not legalize marijuana in any form.

One of the great joys in life is watching a kid catch a fish. Enjoying Wyoming’s great outdoors is part of what makes this place so special. I am an advocate of multiple use of public lands while respecting private property rights.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a Wyoming native I care deeply about this special place and want to preserve both its beauty and its traditional western culture.

As a conservative family man I recognize that families are central to the socialization of children and that when families fail, the burden of socialization and its cost are forced completely on to schools, churches and the criminal justice system. Government must support families whenever possible and not act in ways that hinder families.

As a retired police officer and administrator who now teaches criminal justice and political science, I am very aware of the critical importance of public safety and the criminal justice system. We spend an incredible amount of money on criminal justice and we need to constantly re-evaluate our efforts to assure the taxpayers that those dollars are being spent wisely and with the greatest effect.

As a Christian I am proudly pro-life!

As a pro-gun sportsman I recognize that firearms are important in Wyoming and our people have a right to keep and to bear them for self-defense and for sporting purposes. That right is guaranteed by our state constitution in very clear terms.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Human beings all have failings and that is part of our fallen nature. Ronald Reagan was my favorite president, his wit and humor were refreshing while his steadfast positions on important issues showed great confidence and conviction. Another person who inspired me was my father. Part of the "Greatest Generation" he endured a childhood marked by the depression and a young adult life under the cloud of world war. He had an incredible work ethic and an amazing way of interacting with people of all backgrounds. He was a humble meat cutter who never forgot those depression days. I recall going to a very poor black man's home where my dad processed some of his roosters to make them capons and better to eat. It was the first time I had ever been in a black man's home and it reflected the owner's poverty. My dad was completely comfortable there and enjoyed a cup of coffee with the fellow before getting to work. At the same time my dad could interact with wealthy businessmen, lawyers, doctors and the Governor of Wyoming with equal grace and confidence.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Two books actually will help people appreciate my political views. We Still Hold These Truths by Matthew Spalding and Scalia Dissents by Antonin Scalia. These two men have a great appreciation for our founding and for the wisdom contained in the U.S. Constitution.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

For a legislator to be successful many things are required. Perhaps most important is a desire to do what is best for the people of the state and to respect the constitutional limitations placed upon elected officials. Legislators have the benefit of working in a collaborative environment. Lobbyists will share information, witnesses will testify about pending bills, and colleagues will make suggestions and arguments.

Compromises are often necessary and as long as they are constitutional, principled and ethical, such compromises are appropriate. In our system with our limited authority, none of us will get 100% of what we want. Only dictators have such power. Legislators need to be able to read and comprehend a great volume of information and to then ask the right questions to bring about a shared understanding of the issues. Lastly legislators need to have the courage to vote their conscience even in the face of great pressure to do otherwise.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I spend significant time each semester looking at and teaching the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions. While I don't claim to be a Constitutional expert, I am certainly well versed in these important documents and I honor their dictates and limitations on the authority of the elected officials in this state. As a former police officer I bring to the legislature a perspective not shared by many people in our state. Crime, poverty, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and a myriad of other issues dominate the working world of those in policing and are frequently before the legislature. As a former administrator in municipal government I have experience with government budgets and appreciate the challenges of our cities and towns when the money is tight and the demand for services is high. I have been blessed with an amazing family full of teachers and rural folks who run small ranches. These wonderful people have been very open about their views and the challenges facing them.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Legislators must take their oath of office seriously. They need to listen carefully and read thoroughly and to communicate effectively. In addition they need to devote the time necessary to stay abreast of the issues and the curiosity to learn about things that are beyond their primary interests. Legislators also need a thick skin because many votes will not be popular with a segment of their constituents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

There is an old saying that Wyoming is what America was. I would like to leave the legislature knowing that I did my part in protecting the heritage and culture of this wonderful state.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the day when President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. I was only six years old but I recall my mom kneeling in prayer in the kitchen while the radio by her sink broadcast the news. What that day came to signify for me was that a system of government where authority passes through ballots is far superior to one where differences are settled with bullets.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I delivered newspapers for several years as a kid and in those days we had to go to the customer's home and collect the payment after we had delivered the papers. I got stiffed by several people who deliberately or inadvertently moved without paying so I ended up paying for their newspapers. I learned a lot about customer service and even fear as I walked home in the dark with a bag full of cash or encountered skunks as I came off of a customer's porch in the early hours.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Easter. The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in all of human history.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Dierks Bentley, "God bless this woman, Amen!"

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not always. As a citizen legislature there is value in having a variety of folks from different backgrounds participating in the legislative process.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Preserving our state with its western heritage, rural lifestyles and traditional culture while the population of the state swells with folks from elsewhere. Lots of people come here to experience what Wyoming is and then end up changing it to be something different, more like what they had someplace else. In addition we see the effects of creeping centralism where more and more policies are set in Washington, D.C. and the idea of federalism is ignored. It will be very hard for Wyoming to remain Wyoming when states are forced to be identical.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

Governors should be open and honest with the legislature about critical needs and their funding priorities. The legislators should not hesitate to communicate the areas where they believe the state needs to change and areas where they are unwilling to accommodate the governor. Hidden agendas and incomplete disclosures undermine trust and confidence. We need to know where one another stand, where we are flexible and where we are steadfast.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Of course, that is how things can be accomplished in the legislature. The Lone Ranger might make a fine governor, but legislators need to work collectively. Legislators should not compromise their strongly held principles, but on many issues there are ways to give a little and to persuade others to give a little in order to stop bad bills or to pass needed legislation.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

The committees I would be most interested in are the Judiciary Committee, the Labor,Health and Social Services Committee or the Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources Committee. I believe my criminal justice background would serve the people of Wyoming well if I were on the Judiciary Committee. The critical health issues caused or exacerbated by substance abuse would be areas where I would like to focus if I were on the Labor, Health and Social Services. The Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources Committee would be the one where I would have the biggest learning curve to overcome but areas of Wyoming life that I am deeply interested in.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

No, I am not desiring to become part of leadership.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Not just one, but the group of legislators including Senator Dick Jones who many years ago drafted the Permanent Wyoming Mineral Trust Fund amendment. The forethought that went into that is what I admire. Imagine what Wyoming would be like today if we did not have the revenue from the PWMTF to bolster our budget.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No I am old enough now that this will likely be the capstone for me.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I heard about retired folks who face increasing property taxes every time we have a boom, even though their income rarely benefits from the boom. I am thinking that some form of tax relief for such folks is needed. We do give a tax deduction to combat era and disabled veterans, something similar for our older home owners who are receiving social security makes sense. I am not sure a tax break can be passed in this economy, but it is an idea we should definitely consider.

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What is your political philosophy?

Conservative

Is there anything you would like to add?

Wyoming Native[2]

—Art Washut[1]