Wyoming Governor Matt Mead addresses members of the press at the Wyoming Press Association convention in Casper on Friday, Jan. 19. Mead discussed some of the problems Wyoming faces and potential solutions. (COURTESY PHOTO / David Bush)

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead addressed members of the Wyoming Press Association, including reporters and editors of the Kemmerer Gazette and the Uinta County Herald, at the WPA convention on Friday, Jan. 19 in Casper.

Gov. Mead acknowledged the financial strain Wyoming has faced recently, but said the state’s government must do more than just crunch numbers in order to make real change.

“We are more than accountants,” Mead said. “We have services we need to provide to the people of Wyoming.”

Gov. Mead discussed the most recent recommendations of the ENDOW executive committee. ENDOW stands for Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming.

“We need to provide predictability and stability in our economy,” Mead said.

Mead mentioned the ENDOW  committee’s initial recommendations that will benefit Wyoming residents and attract new business to the state. They include improved air service, computer science programs, access to startup capital and improved broadband access.

“Technology is the great equalizer in a rural state,” Mead said. “We can no longer wait. We have to build our own future.”

Mead answered a question from the Gazette about what the state can do to address the problem of young people leaving Wyoming after high school or college, which has resulted in a critical reduction of the state’s workforce.

“We need to support young people when they want to get involved in politics,” Mead said. “That’s how we create the kind of state they want to live and work in.”

Mead said the state should also continue to promote Wyoming’s outdoor recreation opportunities in order to convince the Cowboy State’s young people to stay in the state.

“Young people want a life, not just a job,” Mead said. “We should really focus on the amazing recreation opportunities we have right in our backyard.”

Mead also addressed the big issues of the upcoming state legislative session.

“We are lucky in Wyoming to have a citizen legislature,” Mead said. “Disagreements are healthy and produce strong ideas.”

One of the most talked-about issues state legislators will address in the upcoming session is education funding.

“We need long-term solutions for education,” Mead said. “Our ‘rainy-day fund’ can’t sustain us forever.” 

Mead pointed out that the executive branch of the state government doesn’t cut education funding, but carries out directives from the state legislature when it comes to funds.

When asked about the political platforms of Wyoming’s gubernatorail candidates, Mead said he didn’t want to appear to be criticizing any one candidate, so he instead addressed what he sees as the responsibilities of Wyoming’s governor.

“If your goal is to fight the feds, run for Congress,” Mead said. “As a governor, you’re taking care of your state. You have to have more of a platform than ‘no.’ There has to be some positive push for change.”

Mead said he will not run for public office again because he has never believed in a long career in politics.

“I’m proud of our achievements, like our water and energy strategies and the global technology conference, but we have so much more to do,” Mead said.

The governor also expressed appreciation for Wyoming journalists who keep the public informed.

“The work of journalists is important and necessary for a functioning democracy,” Mead said.