Governor Gordon Signs Executive Order Prohibiting Campaign Contributions on State Property

Governor Mark Gordon signed an executive order Tuesday prohibiting the solicitation, delivery, or acceptance of campaign contributions on property where state business is conducted, such as state office buildings, and commercial buildings where the state leases offices, including the Wyoming State Capitol and Capitol Complex. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has more.

The Governor’s decision to sign the Executive Order is in response to a recently announced criminal investigation by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office stemming from public reports and photographs showing checks being distributed on the House Floor and in the Capitol. At the end of the first day of the session on Monday, February 9, Teton County Republican Party State Committeewoman Rebecca Bextel was photographed handing a check to Republican Representative Darin McCann of Rock Springs on the House Floor.

The check was one of 10 that was given to Bextel by Jackson resident Don Grasso to disseminate as campaign donations to Republican legislators, including Wyoming Freedom Caucus members John Bear of Gillette and Speaker of the House Chip Neiman of Hulett. Former State Representative Mark Jennings of Sheridan, who recently announced his candidacy for House District 30, was also on the list as one of the check recipients.

The Governor’s Executive Order does not apply to those areas of the Capitol that, by law, are managed by the legislative or judicial branches, such as offices of the Legislative Service Office, committee rooms, and the Senate and House Chambers. The Executive Order will remain in effect until the Governor, as Chairman of the State Building Commission, can bring the matter before the Commission where, by a majority vote of the Commission, it could become a matter of permanent rulemaking. The Executive Order takes effect immediately.