Jackson, WY — At a Oct. 21 forum hosted by Protect Our Waters and the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Wyoming House District 23 candidate Liz Storer stressed the need for state leaders to give local governments the resources and authority to manage growth responsibly.
Priorities Centered on Community and Faith
Storer, a longtime resident of Teton County, framed her platform around five core priorities that she says will protect water quality, wildlife habitat, affordable housing, and the traditional values of families in the area.
1. Put Wyoming’s permanent funds to work responsibly
Drawing on her experience overseeing an endowment, Storer pledged to scrutinize investment costs, support sound management, and pursue statutory changes that improve returns. She argues that higher returns are the best way to replace diminishing mineral revenues while keeping taxes low for hardworking families.
2. Build a fairer revenue system
Wyoming’s tax structure, she noted, offers significant benefits to wealthy corporations and individuals, including no state income tax and favorable trust laws. Storer proposes a revenue approach that reflects who benefits most, giving low‑ and middle‑income working families a break while ensuring the affluent pay a fair share. New revenues, she says, would fund the investments needed for a prosperous future.
3. Make local control more than a campaign slogan
Storer criticized legislators who promise local control during campaigns but then overturn local rules. She will work to strengthen land‑use authority, give communities a meaningful voice over state‑owned lands within their boundaries, and resist efforts to use the legislature to nullify local decisions.
4. Stand with communities on federal public‑land decisions
While the state cannot give counties a veto over federal land management, Storer pledged to provide financial and legal support so local governments can participate effectively in federal reviews. She will urge the governor and Wyoming’s congressional delegation to demand transparent processes, thorough environmental analysis, and meaningful responses to local concerns.
5. Give communities more ways to meet local needs
Storer supports giving localities the option to adopt a real‑estate transfer tax, with exemptions protecting modest‑priced primary residences. She emphasizes that this is not a Cheyenne‑imposed tax but a tool for communities to address affordable‑housing, aging water infrastructure, and modern highway planning challenges.
Faith‑Based Values Guiding Policy
Storer linked her policy goals to the values of Teton County families, noting that the recent defeat of the Freedom Caucus’s “ideology‑driven agenda” opens a path for practical, faith‑informed solutions. She warned that the Freedom Caucus’s approach often placed rigid political and religious beliefs ahead of real‑world problems, stripping local governments of resources and overriding local decisions.
Looking Ahead
Storer concluded that the community needs more than agreement on challenges—it needs results. She promised to bring leadership, experience, and the ability to build legislative support while staying true to the traditional values of families and businesses in Teton County.
Voters in House District 23 are asked to consider Storer’s platform as they head to the polls.
Original reporting: Buckrail (Jackson WY) — read the source article.
