Charlie Hardy in The Casper Star-Tribune

On Drugs: Legalize marijuana

The Democratic candidates tangled over the oft-maligned filibuster that has continually left Congress in gridlock. Charlie Hardy, a retired priest from Cheyenne, compared Congress to children. "As we look at Congress, it's a bunch of misbehaving children not giving each other the chance to talk about things," Hardy said. "I don't think people should cut off the right of other people to discuss things in Congress."

Rex Wilde, a former Texan working in the energy industry in Cheyenne, said he would block the filibuster. "Yes, I would," Wilde said. "On the Hill right now, those people have totally lost touch with the working class."

Both candidates agreed that marijuana should be legalized. "I'm for full-blown legalization as soon as possible," Wilde said.

Source: Casper Star-Tribune on 2014 Wyoming Senate race Aug 14, 2014

On Budget & Economy: Cut wasteful spending but increase other spending

Charlie Hardy criticized the Senator Enzi's so-called penny plan, which would cut 1% from total federal spending for three years to balance the budget by 2017.

On June 30, Enzi's campaign sent a press release calling on Wyomingites to support his penny plan bill by signing their names on the website PennyPlanSolution.com. Enzi has introduced and supported the penny plan in the past.

Hardy, in a statement Wednesday, said the penny plan represents laziness. Some programs should be cut more than 1%, and others need more funding, he said. "Instead of facing the problem of wasteful spending in some areas, it simply punishes all programs and the people who are touched by those programs," he said. Hardy believes that programs benefiting veterans, senior citizens and children should receive more attention.

A campaign spokeswoman for Enzi said, "If Congress fails to make those tough decisions, then automatic cuts would be imposed to meet the 1% overall reduction."

Source: Casper Star-Tribune on 2014 Wyoming Senate race Jul 9, 2014

On Foreign Policy: Rejuvenate the Peace Corps

Hardy, 72, has moved back and forth for years between Wyoming and Venezuela. He has been a columnist and is the author of "Cowboy in Caracas: A North American's Memoir of Venezuela's Democratic Revolution." He also is a speaker on foreign affairs, primarily dealing with Venezuela. Hardy said he decided to run because of his unhappiness with America's foreign policy. One of his goals would be to rejuvenate the Peace Corps. Source: Casper Star-Tribune on 2012 Texas House campaign Mar 30, 2012

On Government Reform: 2012 House race: Won't accept any campaign contributions

Hardy must gather the signatures of 3,740 registered Wyoming voters to get on the 2012 general election ballot. Hardy said he doesn't intend to accept any campaign contributions. He said he probably will formally declare his candidacy at a news conference in a couple of weeks Source: Casper Star-Tribune on 2012 Texas House campaign Mar 30, 2012

The above quotations are from Media coverage of WY political races in The Casper Star-Tribune. Click here for other excerpts from Media coverage of WY political races in The Casper Star-Tribune. Click here for other excerpts by Charlie Hardy. Click here for a profile of Charlie Hardy.
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Page last updated: Feb 18, 2019