Speaking Up for Property Owners

When the Laramie County Commissioners met to discuss land use rules, I knew I couldn’t stay silent.

The county has been using “enforcement problems” and “public safety” as justifications for invasive permit requirements. But the actual data doesn’t back them up.

The Facts They’re Ignoring

In the past 19 months, out of nearly 46,000 parcels in the county:

• 126 total complaints.
• Around 40 for building without a permit.
• Nearly 40 for living in an RV.
• The rest were mostly minor issues — with maybe two tied to actual safety concerns.

That’s 0.17% of a percent in annual complaints — hardly a crisis. Yet these numbers are being used to justify more regulations that burden responsible property owners.

The Flawed “Safety” Argument

The idea that more permits will keep people safe is as flawed as the logic behind gun-free zones. Passing a law doesn’t make the bad actors suddenly follow it. While I didn’t get to bring this up due to time constraints and I wanted to let others speak… hear me out:

“If someone’s running a meth lab, do you really think they’re going to register their business with the county?” Criminals aren’t lining up for compliance. These policies just put more pressure on the law-abiding.

Giving the County the Right Tools

Some people think defending property rights means opposing all regulation. Not me. I believe the county needs effective, constitutional tools to do its job — but they should be targeted, not heavy-handed.

That’s why I’ve proposed a 3-step common-sense plan:

1. Remove overly intrusive regulations — Eliminate blanket rules on home occupations and private property use, replacing them with Good Neighbor Policies that protect rights while allowing the county to act on legitimate issues.
2. Rezone to a single LU Residential Zone (giving the county a bone) — Streamline land management, reduce complexity, and make it easier to enforce fair rules.
3. Establish clear Good Neighbor Policies — Focus on genuine problems like industrial-scale activities, environmental harm, egregious noise, and illegal operations, with clear definitions so residents know exactly where the lines are.

This approach balances individual freedom with community well-being — giving the county the authority to act when it’s truly needed, without micromanaging every parcel.

Be Something Different

Being something different means not just opposing bad ideas, but offering better ones. I’m not here to strip away the county’s ability to keep people safe — I’m here to make sure those powers are focused, fair, and constitutional.

More Than a Political Talking Point

“Property rights” isn’t just a slogan in my campaign. It’s a principle I defend with facts, plans, and action. I’m willing to sit down with officials, present solutions, and help craft policy that respects both freedom and responsibility.

The Bottom Line

We can Give Freedom Back — because real freedom doesn’t need permission, and we can do it while ensuring our county has the right tools to do its job effectively.

Sometimes that means saying “no” to unnecessary restrictions — and sometimes it means putting better ideas on the table.

Watch my remarks from the Laramie County Commissioners meeting: The Data Doesn’t Lie