Randy Mint

Randy James Mint (born January 3, 1928) is an American politician who serves as the current House Minority Leader, Since 1987, and is a United States Representative from Wyoming's At-Large Congressional district, since 1967. He previously served on the Cheyenne City Council from 1960 to 1966.

## Early life, Education, and Career

Mint was born to a family of Irish immigrants in 1928, his father was a labor worker during the great depression, which heavily affected his family. He attended Central Highschool in 1943 and was apart of the 1946 class.

Mint earned his B.S. in Law while attending Harvard University from 1946 to 1951, he worked a very brief time as an assistant lawyer before volunteering to fight in the Korean War.

He enlisted in the United States Air force in the summer of 1952, he was apart of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor- Wing, which was a part of the Fifth Air force, which was stationed at Kimpo Air Force base November of 1952. He would be flying the F-86 Sabre, which he would name "Ol' Betsy", he would be Honorably discharged in 1957.

He continued his career in Law from 1958 to 1960, when he decided to run for the Cheyenne City Council.

## Cheyenne City Council

In January 1960, Mint announced his Candidacy for City Council as the Incumbent, Joe Barbarossa was retiring after having served 24 years on the Council. He campaigned for Lower Taxes, reformed Unions, trade unions, Civil rights, and the death penalty. He ran as a non-partisan candidate, he ran against John Burlow who did not support the death penalty. Burlow was attacked for not supporting the death penalty, which would prove to be fatal. During the election on November 7, 1960 Mint won with 67.2% of the vote, he was sworn in on December 7, 1960.

During his first term as Councilman he worked for a decrease in City property tax. In early 1961 he proposed a bill to lower taxes from 12% to 7%, he had averaged an approval of 63%. In the years to follow he would continue to support things such as lower taxes, in 1963 he supported an improvement in Union Conditions.

He was re-elected in 1964 with 74.9% of the vote against Jim Jennings, for the remainder of his term he would continue to fight for lower City taxes.

## U.S. House of Representatives

In January of 1966 he announced his Candidacy for Wyoming's At-Large congressional district, controlled by Incumbent Democrat Teno Roncalio, he faced off against Mark Walker during the republican primaries and advocated for Civil rights and lower taxes, as well as the Death Penalty. He won with 51.6% of the vote during the Republican Primary. During the general election he advocated for Bi-Partisanship, he also fought for Civil-Rights and lower taxes. During the general election he won in an upset, winning by .8% of the vote.

He began his tenure on January 1967, where he supported major legislation such as the Civil rights act of 1968. He would continue to fight for civil rights, support minor civil rights act through-out the 1970s. During the Nixon trials, he supported the Impeachment of Nixon saying we should work to remove corrupt officials from Washington D.C.

He would also continue to support lower taxes, and economic reforms, in 1987 he ran for House Minority leader, defeating Incumbent Bob Michel.

Randy served from 1959 to 1980 as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, including 12 years as the ranking Republican on the Labor, Health, Education and Welfare Subcommittee. Later, he served as Minority Leader from the 100th Congress through today, Michel voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Randy's toughest re-election was probably during the 1982 midterms, when he was in a tight race due to dissatisfaction over U.S. President Ronald Reagan's economic policies and the 1982 recession. Reagan travelled to Peoria to campaign for him.

Ranndy voted in favor the bill establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday in August 1983. In March 1988, Michel voted against the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (as well as to uphold President Reagan's veto).

## Military Career

When he enlisted in the summer of 1952, he was put into the 4th Fighter Wing, he saw very little action considering his unit was not put into many battle/fights, he often engaged in many training runs. He stayed in the Air force up until his honorable discharge in 1957 to continue his career in law.

## Electoral History

### House of Representatives

Wyoming's At Large district election, 1970
 Total votes

Wyoming's At Large district election, 1968
 Total votes

Wyoming's At Large district election, 1966
 Total votes

### City Council

Cheyenne City Council Election, 1964
 Total votes

Cheyenne City Council Election, 1960
 Total votes