Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:00 am
Democrats name Martin's replacements
ROCK SPRINGS - Democrats in Sweetwater County have nominated three people to replace state Rep. Marty Martin for the next couple months.
Martin was recently chosen to replace state Sen. Rae Lynn Job, who didn't seek re-election this year and stepped down shortly after the election. Martin ran unopposed for the Senate seat, so he has been appointed a couple months early to the same seat he won in the election.
Martin's appointment leaves his state House seat vacant until Democrat Joe Barbuto takes office in January. Barbuto ran unopposed for the state House seat.
Barbuto is among the three chosen by Sweetwater County Democrats to fill the House seat for the next several weeks. The other two nominees are Rod Watkins and Mark Kot.
The replacement will be chosen by the Sweetwater and Fremont county commissions.
Lawmakers to review smoking ban bill
CHEYENNE - A legislative committee plans to review a draft bill for a statewide smoking ban when it meets in Cheyenne next week.
Wyoming and Alaska are the only Western states without some form of smoking ban in public places.
A proposed statewide smoking ban made little headway in the Wyoming Legislature in 2007 and 2008.
Some state lawmakers say businesses should be free to decide whether to allow smoking, and people should be free to decide whether to patronize such businesses. Proponents of a statewide smoking ban say that's not fair for waiters, bartenders and others who work in places that are filled with dangerous secondhand smoke.
The smoking ban bill is being reviewed by the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee.
Nonprofits association suspends activities
CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Association of Nonprofit Organizations says it is suspending all activities effective Jan. 1.
The group works to boost the effectiveness and efficiency of Wyoming's nonprofit organizations.
The organization says in a press release that insufficient funding is the main reason for the decision to suspend all meetings, memberships, membership services and advocacy.
Some services will continue through the Wyoming Community Foundation. They include a nonprofit listserv and an online forum.