Block, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
57,799
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 40:
Line 40: − + − + − +
→As House Speaker
The fiscally [[conservative]] Morton was a director of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, but he an atypical Wyoming Republican. He supported [[abortion]] and [[gun control]] laws, particularly opposed by his state's large community of hunters.<ref name=statement/> As House Speaker, his colleagues considered him strict, smart, and fair. Tom Stroock, a former state senator from Casper and a United States Ambassador to [[Guatemala]], described the former Speaker as "brilliant. . . Warren had an important part to play in the history of Wyoming in the 1970s and 1980s. He was clearly an outstanding Speaker and an excellent legislator," though Stroock said that he did not always agree with Morton's political positions.<ref name=cst>Joan Barron, "Former House Speaker dies at 77: Casper oil man Morton devoted much of life to civic service," ''Casper Star-Tribune,'' February 20, 2002, pp. 1, A14.</ref>
The fiscally [[conservative]] Morton was a director of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, but he an atypical Wyoming Republican. He supported [[abortion]] and [[gun control]] laws, particularly opposed by his state's large community of hunters.<ref name=statement/> As House Speaker, his colleagues considered him strict, smart, and fair. Tom Stroock, a former state senator from Casper and a United States Ambassador to [[Guatemala]], described the former Speaker as "brilliant. . . Warren had an important part to play in the history of Wyoming in the 1970s and 1980s. He was clearly an outstanding Speaker and an excellent legislator," though Stroock said that he did not always agree with Morton's political positions.<ref name=cst>Joan Barron, "Former House Speaker dies at 77: Casper oil man Morton devoted much of life to civic service," ''Casper Star-Tribune,'' February 20, 2002, pp. 1, A14.</ref>
Marlene Simons of Beulah, who was a freshman representative when Morton was Speaker, said that he had been a mentor to beginning legislators, seating them among the more experienced lawmakers. "He ran a tight ship. He was a kind, gentle man, but he was stern."<ref name=cst/>
Marlene Simons of Beulah, who was a freshman representative when Morton was Speaker, said that he had been a mentor to beginning legislators, seating them among the more experienced lawmakers. "He ran a tight ship. He was a kind, gentle man, but he was stern."<ref name=cst/>
==Gubernatorial campaign==
==Gubernatorial campaign==
Morton easily won the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] [[primary]] to challenge two-term Democratic [[Governor]] Edgar Herschler of Kemmerer in Lincoln County. Morton polled 52,536 votes (74.3 percent). Rex G. Welty (1921-1992) of Afton in Lincoln County received 9,106 ballots (12.9), and Earl A. Johnson drew 9,025 (12.8 percent). Nels J. Smith of Sundance in northeastern Wyoming, who had been Morton's predecessor as House Speaker, filed for governor but withdrew before the primary. In a nationally Democratic year, Herschler charged that Morton was a tool of the energy interests.<ref name=fof>''Facts on File Yearbook, 1982,'' p. 822.</ref> Morton was active in the Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association, having been the president of the [[interest group]] from 1963 to 1965.<ref name=obit/> In addition to his own MKM company, Morton was a director of the American Petroleum Institute and was the Wyoming representative on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission from 1962 to 1972.<ref name=cst/>
Morton easily won the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] [[primary]] to challenge two-term Democratic [[Governor]] Edgar Herschler of Kemmerer in Lincoln County. Morton polled 52,536 votes (74.3 percent). Rex G. Welty (1921-1992) of Afton in Lincoln County received 9,106 ballots (12.9), and Earl A. Johnson drew 9,025 (12.8 percent). Nels J. Smith of Sundance in northeastern Wyoming, who had been Morton's predecessor as House Speaker, filed for governor but withdrew before the primary. In a nationally Democratic year, Herschler charged that Morton was a tool of the energy interests.<ref name=fof>''Facts on File Yearbook, 1982,'' p. 822.</ref> Morton was active in the Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association, having been the president of the [[interest group]] from 1963 to 1965.<ref name=obit/> In addition to his own MKM company, Morton was a director of the American Petroleum Institute and was the Wyoming representative on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission from 1962 to 1972.<ref name=cst/>