Hunkins Denies Role in GOP Probe; Freudenthal Says Statement Untrue

CHEYENNE - The Republican gubernatorial candidate disavowed any responsibility for the actions of the Wyoming Republican Party on Thursday and said he wanted to be responsible for leading the party back into a Reagan-esque era of unity.

"The request was not made on my watch, so it is neither fair play nor 'clean politics' to associate this records request with me in any way," Ray Hunkins said. "This same principle holds true with respect to the radio advertisement: It was created and run before I became the Republican nominee for governor."

Hunkins' response follows a discordant primary season where some Republicans felt their party was out of step with Wyoming values and ethic. It began with a public records request in June by Wyoming Republican Party chairman Drake Hill that has been variously described as broad and a "fishing expedition" by members within both the Republican and Democrat parties.

It culminated with a "party plane" radio ad that depicted a lavish gubernatorial lifestyle being led by Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat. The plane in question was used by the Wyoming Department of Transportation for aerial surveying and presented taxpayers with a 3-to-1 cost savings ratio over conventional surveying methods.

The ad spurred an angry response from at least one member in the Republican Party's inner circle.

"The state party knows that I'm not pleased by the personal attacks," Bill Scarlett said last week. Scarlett serves on the party's State Central Committee and sent a letter to Hill asking him to cease using such tactics. "I think Ray Hunkins can win on the issues, and we don't have to get into the silly ad attacks."

On Thursday, Hunkins said he would not support any "fishing expeditions" made through the vehicle of a public records request.

"They are not a good use of taxpayer money or of state employee time, and they are not a fair political tactic," Hunkins said.

Hunkins said the current records request was justified, however, because state residents have asked him how the state's assets are being used and if they're being used properly. He said he assumed Hill had been asked similar questions and that was the reason for the request.

"In terms of the records request, we, by law, have every right to seek information," Hill said. "One thing that is very important in an election year is to put information before the voters. I have great respect for the voters."

Hunkins said that he and his staff soon would be reviewing the documents produced through the request to see if anything within them rises to the level of a legitimate concern.

"I will make that judgment, and I will be responsible for that judgment," said Hunkins, who reiterated that he would not take responsibility for the initial request. "Because I did not have input into the records request, it's not fair to hold me responsible."

"Those were decisions I made. He's correct," Hill said. "Those were not his decisions, those were decisions made by the party."

"I think it aimed at the wrong target," Hunkins said. "I don't think it was a particularly good ad."

He said the fallout from the ad within his own party was "very unfortunate." Asked whether he was concerned by letters to newspapers throughout the state from readers who said they were changing their party affiliation, Hunkins said some of the letters were likely legitimate. Others, he said he suspected, were planted to keep the controversy alive.

"I'm sorry about it," Hunkins said of the ad's fallout. "I can't put the genie back in the bottle."

While acknowledging the possibility that the tactics used by the Republican Party during the primary could leave voters with a negative view of the party and his candidacy, Hunkins defended Hill and Hill's role as chairman.

"I don't like the call for his resignation," Hunkins said in response to reports that some in the party had made that move. But he added, "I think that ultimately is a matter for the Republican Party. As a candidate, I don't have any legal right to inject myself."

Freudenthal rejected the notion that Hunkins was not involved in the Republican Party's activities.

"I can't imagine that Ray expects people to actually believe his statement that he had nothing to do with it," Freudenthal said in a statement. "He continues to fail at repudiating campaign tactics of which he was fully aware unless he hasn't read a newspaper since June, and he continues to reserve the right to take full advantage of any benefits produced by said tactics."

Hunkins said the governor's continuing characterization of the Republican Party's tactics as the "Drake and Ray" show was inaccurate.

"I would repeat what I've said before," Hunkins said. "A lot of this hullabaloo can be attributed to the 'Drake and Dave' show."

"The only person trying to drive a wedge between Republicans is Dave Freudenthal," Hill said.

"It has been said that organizing Republicans in Wyoming is like trying to herd a group of cats," Hunkins said.

He said the cure for such a situation was strong leadership, and he pointed to the efforts of Ronald Reagan to unify the national Republican Party in the 1980s.

"Well, I'm a Reagan Republican. I understand what leadership requires," Hunkins said. "And the Republican Party in Wyoming needs leadership now more than ever. As the Republican nominee for governor, I intend to provide that leadership."

CHEYENNE - Republican gubernatorial candidate Ray Hunkins challenged current Democratic Gov. Dave Freudenthal on Thursday to join him in his proposal for the creation of a private foundation for the Governor's Residence.

Freudenthal promptly invited Hunkins to join the foundation that already exists.

"A foundation to benefit the residence is a great idea - one has been around since 1989," Freudenthal said of the Governor's Residence Foundation. "In fact, Nancy and I transferred to the foundation $80,400 of unused campaign and inauguration donations soon after taking office."

When outlining his plan, Hunkins said the foundation could be used to generate private funding for amenities in the residence that is used to entertain dignitaries to the state.

"I do not believe, however, that these items need to be purchased by the taxpayers of Wyoming," Hunkins said at a news conference to announce his initiative. "There are ample private funds available and people interested in such a project to cause me to believe it would be easy to accomplish the formation and funding of a private endowment for such a purpose."

Hunkins' plan came about as an extension of the Wyoming Republican Party's public records request in June of this year. Using documents produced by that request, Republican Party chairman Drake Hill levied charges of lavish spending against Freudenthal, including the purchase of new china and renovations to the Governor's Residence as well as a large sculpture for the public entrance to the residence.

"Fine art, fine china and silver, and other amenities are important to the dignity of the Governor's (Residence)," Hunkins said, but stressed not at taxpayers' expense.

Each of those items were approved for purchase by the Republican-dominated Legislature.

"Under the prior administration, the foundation board concluded that replacement china and crystal were to be purchased with state appropriations," Freudenthal said.

Freudenthal said he would welcome Hunkins' support on the Governor's Residence Foundation.

"We would be glad to accept a donation from Ray to the foundation," Freudenthal said.

"It has been said that organizing Republicans in Wyoming is like trying to herd a group of cats," Hunkins said.

And, it's that mentality among the WY GOP that keeps producing Democrat governors.

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