CHEYENNE – A principled conservative with a huge heart for people, Darin Smith, also known as a tenacious problem solver, is launching his campaign today as a Republican for Wyoming’s at-large Congressional seat.
Darin Smith, a Cheyenne resident, is a fourth-generation Wyoming native who was raised in Rock Springs.
Smith, an attorney, has spent the last 11 years working for the Christian Broadcasting Network.
As an executive with CBN, he leads a team of 15 development professionals. Using the resources generated, simple solutions such as micro-enterprises, vocational training, and water wells are designed to address complex global issues like poverty, homeless orphans, and chronic sickness.
As an executive with CBN, he leads a team of 15 development professionals. Using the resources generated, simple solutions such as micro-enterprises, vocational training, and water wells are designed to address complex global issues like poverty, homeless orphans, and chronic sickness.
“There is a huge disconnect between our political class and what’s happening in America. Most in the political class don’t know what it’s like to struggle to pay their bills or make payroll,” Smith said. “Other states in the West have already thrown off the political establishment. Now it’s Wyoming’s turn to add to the growing cavalry of non-politician reformers being sent to D.C.”
Smith’s policy priorities include:
1. Gut the federal bureaucracy and halt its unconstitutional abuse of power. Agencies like the EPA are choking out business and agriculture in America and putting a huge and unnecessary tax burden on the backs of the American people. An at-will federal employment system is the first step. Also, any agency regulation that infringes on constitutional rights or affects more than $10 million in property should require Congressional approval to avoid abuse or oppression from unelected officials.
2. Hold Congress accountable to serving the people instead of putting themselves above the people. By ending federal pensions for Congress and forcing legislators to rely on the Social Security system that most Americans do, legislators will have the incentive to shore up Social Security because it directly affects them. Also, Darin will support the bill already before Congress to dock members’ pay 10 percent each year they don’t balance a federal budget. Darin Smith will not be taking a federal pension upon his election because he feels it is immoral.
3. Go on the energy offensive to put energy jobs back in Wyoming. Increase the demand for natural gas and lead the nation by requiring every publically funded vehicle fleet in Wyoming, all the way down to the local school buses, to run on natural gas, as well as incentivizing energy companies to do the same. Increased natural gas demand will equate to higher coal prices, which will result in more revenue for the state. Additionally, Wyoming coal is cleaner than the coal currently being used in most of Asia, so we must get it to market. Smith would move swiftly to build a consortium of partners (federal, state, and private industry) to encourage Oregon and government agencies to step aside and open their ports to Wyoming coal. If they continue to stall, we will have no choice but to constitutionally force their ports open via the Commerce Clause (Art I Sect 8, Clause 3).
“At $19 trillion dollars in deficit, I believe we are at a tipping point with runaway government spending, and we must stamp out government corruption and restore the Constitution and balance of power,” Smith said.
Smith’s parents and brother are small business owners, and he shares their entrepreneurial spirit. He has seen firsthand that freedom from crippling government regulation is crucial to succeeding in business.
A former Cowboy wrestler, Smith has been active in community service. He and his wife Alicia have five children: Katy, Tucker, Cooper, Ashley and Sawyer. Smith said he tries to teach his children the importance of ensuring the America we leave behind is as free and as prosperous as the America we were blessed to inherit.
Smith concluded, “Even though I will be outspent 20 or 30 to 1 by the political class in this campaign, I believe that better ideas can still win over money and that elections cannot necessarily be bought, especially in Wyoming.”
