GILLETTE, Wyo. — County 17 has sent out a questionnaire to those running in the primary election in August. The following are the answers from Rusty Bell, who is running for State Representative for District 3.
1. Please introduce yourself and describe your educational and employment history. Please include your name and hometown and highlights of past Campbell County involvement.
My name is Rusty Bell, I was born and raised in Gillette, Wyoming. I graduated from Campbell County High School in 1992. I attended Jamestown College following High School and graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology. I worked for Hladky Construction in high school and summers in college until being hired by the USDA Forest service as a firefighter for the Pine Ridge Ranger District in Chadron, Nebraska. After College Graduation I was hired as part of the 1998 Zig Zag Hotshots out of Mt. Hood, Oregon. I was married to Toni Bray in 1998 and we lived in Troutdale, OR until we moved back to Gillette in 2001.
Since moving back to Gillette, I have been a basketball coach (Sage Valley 9th grade boys 2001-2011), substitute teacher and started my own business in 2004.
I opened Rusty’s Taxidermy in 2008 and currently own and operate that today. I am also part owner of Stick N’ Fins Bowfishing Adventures established in 2012, and in 2019 my wife and I are part owners of Grinners Bar & Liquor, allDimensions Fitness, The Axe House, and Coffee Beanery. Toni and I have 2 boys, Bowen 19 and Blake 17 who have received their education through the Campbell County School District.
I was elected in 2014 and 2018 as Campbell County Commissioner. I am a founding member of the Wyoming Sportsmans Group non-profit that keeps all funds raised in NorthEast Wyoming. I have been a part of the Campbell County DUI Taskforce since the inception, and am currently the Co-chair of the Governor’s Council for Impaired Driving. I am a graduate of the class of 2018 Leadership Wyoming Class. I have been on the Business Advocacy Committee for the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce since 2013. I am Co-chair for the Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce that was initiated in June 2021. I have also been elected as a Republican precinct committeeman in precinct 3-1, 3 times. I have had numerous roles as County Commissioner as liaison or voting member of a county board and as member of the Wyoming County Commissioner Association (WCCA). I was selected by the WCCA members to receive the 2020 Riding for the Brand award as the most outstanding commissioner. I am also currently a board member for the Wyoming Community Foundation.
2. Why have you decided to run for this office?
I am running for Wyoming House of Representative District 3 because I have a great love for Campbell County, the people, the businesses, and the Community. I have developed leadership skills and relationships that will help Campbell County businesses and mineral industries continue to thrive long into the future. I want to see Campbell County continue to be the industry and energy leaders long into the future and continue to create an employment landscape that allows our children and grandchildren to keep jobs in Wyoming. Gillette and Wright and all of Campbell County is an amazing place to own a business, raise a family, and I would like to be a part of making sure that it stays the great place that it is now. I will work to make sure Campbell County has a strong voice at the State Level.
3. Compared with other candidates running in this election, why are you the best candidate for this position?
I am the best candidate for this position because I have proven experience in dealing with serious issues that will impact Campbell County businesses and industry. Proof of this is the endorsement by the Wyoming Mining Association. The miners and the businesses in Campbell County can trust that I will fight for their interests. I have worked for 10 years on the Business Advocacy Committee and as a Commissioner to ensure that we fight for policy that continues a friendly tax policy, and additional policies that encourage research, manufacturing and continued thermal use of all of our counties natural resources.
Additionally, I have a great knowledge of wildlife issues facing Wyoming. My work on the Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce has worked to address resident sportsmans issues as well as the outfitting and tourism industry. I have worked many bills through the legislature from start to finish. I have provided testimony to almost every legislative joint committee. I understand the process, procedure and decorum to be an effective legislator for the residents of Campbell County. Recent successful bills include the Severance Tax reduction for the Coal industry and 90/10 once in a lifetime for Moose, Sheep, Mt. Goat, Bison and Grizzly bear. I worked to reduce regulations and paperwork for the taxidermy industry. I worked hard to get the Gillette College vote on the ballet and worked to allow people to vote on that issue.
4. What is your vision for the future of your district? What, if any, new initiatives would you like to implement if elected?
My vision for Wyoming House District 3 is for continued growth. Gillette, Town of Wright and the State of Wyoming depend greatly on continued mineral extraction. I have a track record of support for coal, oil, natural gas and uranium and will continue to fight for those industries to thrive. I see the Campbell County housing market continuing to grow towards the south which is in house district 3. I see and support continued technological advancements that will see companies using coal for more than just thermal uses. I see the Town of Wright continuing to have more growth and strong business opportunities. I will use my legislative position to make sure Campbell County communities and businesses have a strong effective voice in making sure that we stay the reason Wyoming is the greatest place on earth to live. One of my first initiatives will be to continue to work with the mining industry to alleviate some of their bonding burdens, especially the industrial infrastructure. I have already testified to the joint minerals committee on this matter and hope to see a bill presented in the coming year. Retaining valuable infrastructure and turning the bonding burdens from liability to an asset. I will also continue my work for sportsmen and women in Wyoming to ensure they continue to have amazing hunting and fishing opportunities that are unmatched in the United States.
5. How will you effectively manage taxpayer dollars? Do you plan to promote any changes to existing taxes? If so, why?
I will be very prudent with taxpayer dollars. The Wyoming legislature must present a balanced budget and I plan to make sure we continue to effectively do that. As the ups and downs of the mineral industry make budgeting in Wyoming a challenge, we need to make sure we are looking at every area of the budget to make sure we are being efficient. I think it is important to talk to the residents of my district and the state to find out what services are expected and at what level the expectation is. The Wyoming Constitution requires that K-12 education is funded equally across the state. K-12 education is very important and needs to be funded, but the legislature needs to make sure we are focusing on the teachers in the classroom and making sure those teachers are valued and that they are continuing to educate our youth at the highest rate possible and support them in that effort. I promise to scrutinize any additional revenues through taxation very closely. Wyoming’s tax structure is one of the ways that make it a great place to have business. We need to make sure that any potential tax idea is fully vetted as to the ramifications it may have and if the need is warranted.
6. Is there anything else voters should know about you as they determine whom to vote for?
I would like my voters to know that I will be a legislator that will be thoughtful, respectful and dedicated to the residents of Campbell County and the State of Wyoming. I will fight for the residents of Campbell County and Wyoming with grace and determination that they will be proud of. I welcome their calls, emails and questions. I thank them in advance for their support for me as the next Wyoming House of Representative from House District 3.