Tom Walters, 32, is taking a second chance at running against incumbent Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper, to represent Wyoming Senate District 30 in Natrona County.

Scott, 63, and Walters will go head to head in the Aug. 19 primary election. Barring a Democratic write-in, the winner of the primary takes the seat. Walters also ran against Scott in 2004.

Scott graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor's degree in government, and went on to Harvard Business School to earn his master of business administration.

Walters graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor's degree in animal science and agriculture business.

Both candidates are ranchers and grew up in the Casper area.

While the candidates share similar views on some issues, their solutions for some of Wyoming's biggest issues are often very different.

Rising property values

Scott said the state could reduce property taxes by cutting assessment ratios, and pointed to a proposal he made last session that would have done so. The proposal would have cut the assessment rate from 9.5 percent to 7.5 percent, which would have amounted to an overall 21 percent tax cut.

The continual rise in taxes is hurting Wyomingites, Scott said. "Without any justification for taxes, they've risen," he said.

Walters said the state Legislature should not intervene in any way with property taxes. "Property taxes are going to be part of what is necessary for citizens to pay," he said.

Highway funding

Scott said he's against boosting fuel taxes, as high gasoline prices are already hurting those living in the Cowboy State.

"I don't know whether to tell you the answer is no, or hell, no," he said. "Tolls on I-80 are a little more complicated."

Scott said the state previously repealed a tax designed to recover the cost of maintaining and building highways from large trucks. If the state could find a creative way to tax only large trucks, in accordance with federal guidelines, he could be in favor of that proposal.

"But I suspect we're going to have to use general funds," Scott said.

Walters said using surplus funding is one way the state could improve its highways, instead of raising the fuel tax. Appointing a tax on vehicle sales is another possible way to raise money, he added.

Walters is not in favor of a big truck toll on Wyoming's highways.

"If it's a toll, it should be for all, and I'm sure not in favor of a toll for all," he said.

Health care

Scott said a bill he proposed last year, Senate File 85, should have been passed. The bill addressed the need for health care in Wyoming, he said.

He also has worked on developing a pilot program to help provide lower deductibles and provide health insurance to those who can't always afford it. Developing a stronger health care system and adjusting wages are both ways to recruit more doctors to Wyoming, Scott said.

"We have a big shortage in primary care," he said.

Walters said partnering with more medical schools is a short-term avenue for encouraging Wyoming students to pursue health care careers.

"A young individual from Wyoming is more likely to return to Wyoming," he said.

In the long run, Walters said, he'd like to see salary increases as a way to keep health care professionals practicing and recruit more people interested in pursuing the field.

Community colleges

Scott said little should be done to interfere with community college governance.

"Their governance is fine," he said. "I don't see any real need to change there."

What might need to change is how counties fund community colleges, he said. It's not fair to have just one county pay for buildings and programs that are being used by communities in another county. The state should keep working to build its community college system.

Walters said community colleges should be funded at the state level and controlled at the local level, but acknowledged the issue of governance is a tough one. But community colleges should be held accountable for growing and succeeding, Walters added.

"The state needs to provide oversight," he said.

Drunken driving penalties

Scott said he favors stiffer penalties in general, but that the state has struggled to get those penalties enforced.

He added that adequate treatment for those with alcohol problems should also be offered, which is often best provided by drug courts. Education for recreational drinkers is also important.

"At this point, the law may be adequate on penalties, but you have to get it enforced," Scott said. "And we've had problems with that."

Walters is more in favor of enforcing current drunken driving laws instead of providing harsher penalties.

Wyoming has made stiffer and stiffer penalties over the years and still has a problem, he said. The state should work to provide more alcohol education, not more legislation.

"Unfortunately, you can't legislate behaviors," Walters said.

Spending priorities

Scott said he has two priorities for surplus money. One is spending more money on health care, which includes recruitment of physicians, preventive measures and providing insurance for the uninsured.

The second is education, which has been Scott's top priority since he was first elected, he said.

"We've got the funding now," Scott said. "I think we're in the position where Wyoming can have the best public education system, kindergarten through graduate school, in the United States."

Scott would also like to increase the endowment for the Hathaway Scholarship Program, so the state can increase scholarship amounts.

Walters said the state should plan to save large amounts of any surplus it sees. It was less than 10 years ago the state couldn't meet all of its budget requirements, he added.

"The state needs to be looking forward," he said.

In the short term, some surplus money could be spent on the infrastructure necessary for projects such as improving roads, he said.

Smoking ban

Scott supports a statewide smoking ban. He said an advantage to a state ban is that businesses won't compete with one another for customers who smoke, as research shows second-hand smoke is harmful.

"Society's view of smoking has changed rapidly," he said. "It's a basic public health measure."

Walters said any smoking bans should come from business and industry, not the state. Owners should have the right to choose whether their patrons can smoke in their businesses, he said.

"You can't control business," Walters said. "I don't believe the Legislature should do that."

Land regulation

Scott said mild regulation is already in place for developing large subdivisions, which helps avoid fraud and makes sure developments offer adequate water and sewer systems.

But requirements that are unnecessarily stringent could limit building affordable housing, he said.

"You've got a balancing act," Scott said. "You've got two sides to that problem - getting it done well enough so you don't have big expenses down the road, and getting it done cheaply enough so people can afford to live. I'm not sure we've got the balancing act."

Walters said part of Wyoming's beauty is in its open spaces, a feature everyone in the state appreciates. More land development means less open space, but at the same time, landowners should be able to develop their holdings.

"Landowners have the right to use land as they see fit," Walters said.

Economic diversity

Scott said he's not in favor going out and "buying" big businesses to come into Wyoming. If the labor market gets tight, those businesses tend to leave.

What the state can do is build a first-class education system that readies students for college and the work force, he said. Building an infrastructure to provide workers will help the economy.

"Probably right now education and work force are the keys," he said.

Walters said Wyoming should focus on what it does best, and not try to follow other states. A variety of career opportunities are presented by the state's large mineral industry, he said.

"The state needs to work more on expanding the economy we already have," Walters said. "The state should increase those options, and that will expand the already vibrant economy."

Worker, housing shortage

Scott said part of addressing Wyoming's worker and housing shortage deals with building a strong education system, making sure affordable housing is built and reining in excess spending.

Walters said it falls on the shoulders of private industry to help address the worker and housing shortages in Wyoming. Those industries should continue partnering with schools to develop the programs and workers they need, he said.

Specifically in terms of housing, Walters said he thought the state could make it easier for private citizens to obtain development permits, which could help alleviate the state's shortage of affordable housing.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.