Dear editor:

Partly in response to Mr. Johnson’s letter regarding Sen. Laursen, I would like to fill in some of the details surrounding the Senate president’s refusal to allow Sen. Laursen any committee appointments. It is obvious from his letter that Mr. Johnson doesn’t know either Dan Laursen or Senate President Ogden Driskill. I do know both, and can clarify this issue.

Sen. Laursen is a decent, honorable man who has represented the people of Powell with dignity and courage, and the voters obviously agree, as they elected him by a wide margin in Park County. He has stood valiantly for liberty and has sponsored many which reflect the will of voters not only in Park County, but across the state. In short, he is a good man.

The other player in this drama is a tremendous contrast. Ogden Driskill, the current Senate president, has been asked many times why he chose not to assign Dan any committee seats. His response has always been the same- “I don’t like Dan, and I don’t have to. Nobody can make me.” If that sounds like the response of a spoiled 8-year-old, then you have the core of “Boss Ogg’s” personality. He was a grade school bully, and has never grown up. His career in the Senate is marked by numerous incidents of childish and petulant behavior, hence the reason that neither Park County senator voted for him to be in leadership. Ogden Driskill is a despicable human being, and I applaud Dan for not being his friend, but never in our state’s history has a Senate president denied a district representation. This is absolutely in line with Sen. Driskill’s personality.

Sen. Driskill is the worst leader that the Wyoming Senate has ever elected, and the most corrupt (and I know the history of the Johnson County War). His recent deal to acquire state land bordering on Devils Tower, while 100% legal, was one of our state’s most corrupt deals (Teapot Dome notwithstanding). His actions with regard to the citizens of Park and Big Horn counties, while completely in character, is childish, and reflects the lowest form of personal bullying that I have personally seen. There is absolutely nothing that Sen. Laursen can do to change who Ogden Driskill is, nor should he.

I encourage all of the disenfranchised voters of Senate District 19 to let ‘Boss Ogg’ know how you feel about his actions.

Troy Bray

Powell