Committee Votes to Reject Challenge to Greene’s Residency

A Special House committee voted 6-3 Thursday to reject a former legislator's challenge to Republican state Rep. Matt Greene's residency.

Former Democratic state Rep. Seth Carson charged that Rep. Greene was not a resident of House District 45 for a full year.  The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Greene, a major in the Wyoming National Guard, was on a year-long deployment to Afghanistan until June.

Greene told Carson Wednesday he considers the challenge to his eligibility for election to be an insult to all service members. 

According to the Laramie Boomerang, Carson told the committee the complaint was not personal in nature, that he was there to defend the constitution.  The Wyoming Constitution requires candidates to live in their district for a full year before the vote.

Greene's lawyer, Pat Crank, told the committee that Greene left his belongings in the district while he deployed to Afghanistan.  Greene said his intention was always to live in House District 45 and that he would have, had he not been deployed.

Carson lost to Greene in the November election for the House 45 seat, which represents west Laramie.

The special committee of six Republicans and two Democrats began hearing testimony Wednesday and will present their recommendation to reject the challenge to the full house on Monday.

"We're pleased with the results of the committee.  I'm hoping the whole body will come to the same conclusion Monday." -Rep. Matt Greene

Greene also added that he is qualified to serve the people of House District 45 because of his ability to listen to the people and voice their concerns in Cheyenne.