Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper, announced Wednesday he will seek his party's nomination to run again to represent Wyoming Senate District 30 in northern and western Natrona County, according to a news release.

"My first priority for the next four years will be to preserve important state services without increasing taxes," Scott said in the news release.

The Legislature began building a reserve fund in 2005 to cover essential services without tax increases when the next economic downturn came, he said. "To keep spending down, I think we need to defend those programs that are successful and reform, reduce, or eliminate those that are not successful."

Scott lead much of the opposition to Gov. Matt Mead's proposal -- joined by a broad coalition of support from business, health care, progressive and other groups -- to expand Medicaid to offer health care insurance to about 20,000 Wyoming citizens. The proposal would have added about $268 million from the federal government to the 2016-2018 budget.

He did not mention his opposition to Medicaid expansion in the press release.

Scott favors diversifying the economy by maintaining a favorable business climate, an excellent education system, good transportation and communications systems, and outdoor recreational opportunities, he said in his news release.

He operates the family Two Bar Ranch in Bates Hole southwest of Casper.

Scott, 70, was elected to the State House in 1979, and was elected to the Senate in 1983. He has been chairman of the Labor Health and Social Services Committee, and has sponsored numerous bills that have become law including the establishment of the Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park and the Hathahay Scholarship.

Scott is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School.

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