After 47 years, Charlie Scott Writing Book On Lifetime In Wyoming Legislature

As he walked up to the Wyoming Capitol Building on his first day as an elected member of Wyoming’s legislature in 1979, Sen. Charlie Scott, R-Casper, said he was overcome with a deep respect for the tradition of democratic government.

“That first day, I really got hit with just a feeling of tremendous awe and responsibility,” he said in a Friday phone call with Cowboy State Daily. “Electing the Legislature, having it meet and govern things. That's how free people govern themselves. And here, I had been elected by free people to help in that process.

“That's a pretty awesome responsibility, when you think about it,” he added.

Scott said he was so profoundly struck by this feeling that he vowed never to lose it. Forty-seven years later, the state's senior legislator said it still hasn’t left him.

“I’ve still got it, but I’m 80 now. I don’t know if I’ll ever run again,” he said. “I may or I may not.”

The story is one of several which Scott said he’s including in his forthcoming book about his experiences in the Legislature. He described the project as “quasi-autobiographical” with a storytelling voice which will engage even casual readers.

“What I'm trying to do is give people a feel for what it's really like to be in the Legislature,” Scott said. “Now, if politics don't interest you at all, and you could care less what the government does, then you might think twice.”

Russ Zimmer’s Truck

Scott said the book begins with the story of Russ Zimmer’s truck, which is passed down to the new lawmakers as an example of how the Legislature works.

The Wyoming Department of Agriculture at the time was in charge of testing large scales used to weigh goods for sale. The department used “a big semi,” in that process, which it decided was becoming too old and worn down.

“They came through the normal budget process and asked for $50,000 for a new truck,” Scott said.

After the Joint Appropriations Committee turned the request down, Agriculture Committee chairman and former Senate president Sen. Russ Zimmer, R- Torrington, brought a budget amendment to restore the $50,000 request. 

“And the pitch was, your car wears out and repair bills start getting money and you need, at that point, to get a new one,” Scott recalled of the debate at the time. “And I think he was going to sell the thing. I think it was going to pass.”

That was until former professional trucker Sen. Jerry Geis, R- Worland, spoke up. Geis said the committee didn’t need to approve a whole new truck when only parts of it needed repair.

“He said ‘look, when those of us in this business have this problem we don't buy a new truck,’” Scott recalled. “It's the tractor part of the semi that needs work, and what you do is overhaul it. That'll cost you about $5,000 and that's already in the budget.”

Scott said the story illustrates how the unique backgrounds of individual lawmakers can become incredibly valuable in discussions.

“And we tell that to new legislators, tell them what to expect,” he said. “Somebody in the Legislature knows something you don't, and when you bring something in based on the base information you have, it turns out there was some part of the story you didn't hear, and down you go.”

“And you better get used to it,” he added. “That'll happen.”

In the ironic “sequel” to the story, Scott explained he was selling his cattle in Torrington where he noticed the Department of Agriculture setting up shop.

“And there was the Ag Department truck on Russ’s scale testing it, and guess what? It was brand spanking new,” he said. “They just waited till we went home and found enough slop in the budget and bought it anyhow.”

Harvard Background

Scott is a two-time graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1967 and a Master of Business Administration in 1969. That experience, he said, primed him for a career in the Legislature.

He recalled taking one course on business writing, which pushed students to write succinctly. Exceeding the word count on a paper by even one word resulted in a failing grade.

“They said, ‘look, you're writing for busy business people,’” he said. “’You got to get all the essentials in as succinctly as possible so they got time to read it,’ and that was a fierce course.”

Scott also said he benefitted from taking classes with 100-person discussion sessions, which graded based on participation. He said he participated “vigorously” in those courses, which helped him cultivate experience in open public debate, like what takes place in committee meetings.

Despite his prestigious Ivy League background, Scott said such an education is not a prerequisite to being involved in government. He said he’s seen freshman lawmakers come in with no knowledge of the government and end up just fine.

“If they are willing to do their own thinking and use a little common sense, anybody of ordinary intelligence or better, with even a modest education, can function quite well in the Legislature,” Scott said. “You got to have common sense, and you got to be willing to do some work and find out what's really going on and think about it and learn. But I've seen a wide variety of people succeed.”

“It is a lot of work,” he added. “If you don't like a lot of work, don't apply.”

Scott said part of his book will explain the intricacies of campaigning, which he hopes will promote a greater interest in public service among Wyomingites.

“I do make the pitch in there that we're having trouble getting people to run for the office often enough, we have too many uncontested seats,” he said. “I want to see more people running, because if a democracy is really going to work, people need a choice in the election.”

“You need two candidates for a choice, and the losing candidate doesn't have anything to show for his labors, but he's done a major job to help our democracy work, and we ought to respect him for that,” he added.

The Spice of Life

Scott said that even after his many years in the Legislature, he still feels called to public service for the way it improves his life. Day in and day out, being involved in Wyoming’s government is a thrill unlike any other, he said. 

“It really adds an extra spice to life,” Scott said. “It is public service and I think everybody owes a certain amount of public service, and you ought to do something that's fun.”

Legislating, he said, requires creative thinking and problem solving, which proves just as stimulating today as it did in 1979.

“I find, you know, I have to think about all kinds of things I never even think of,” Scott said. “I have to get solutions to their problems and figure out what can pass and what can't and get it done.”

“It adds a very interesting dimension to my life, and that's one things I'm trying to convey,” he added. “That's a good reason for people to run for the Legislature, because it does add a spice to your life.”

Jackson Walker can be reached at walker@cowboystatedaily.com.